Tulips, you see, have a special place for me and the kids.................
When they were little I had a story I made up for them and each night the characters in the story would go on a different adventure -
The characters were as follows
Sir Gordon Brave-A-Lot - who carried the sword of truth and protection
Princess Ashley of Grace - who wore a pointed hat with the lace of love cascading down the back
Princess Lindsay of Hope - whose magic shoes restored hope wherever she stepped
And Donald the Dragon - their faithful pet.
( the King and Queen always slept through the children's adventure's )
They lived in a Castle set high on a hill and reigned supreme over all of the forest animals - no animal was too small or insignificant for these brave children of royalty to lend a helping hand to.
There was a perpetual Triple Rainbow that arched over the castle - which protected their Kingdom from war, drought, disease and famine - there were however constant mysteries to be solved - which Donald the Dragon would ask their assistance in solving.
One of the stories went like this.........................( or as much of it as I can remember - there's a little improvising involved because this was 25 years ago after all !)
Titled " The Mystery of the Missing Tulip Petals "
One day Donald the Dragon came to the children with a large frown over his already very wrinkled face, in a state of panic
My oh my - said Donald - we have a terrible problem in the forest.
What is it ? - The children asked
Well - all the fields of tulips have been plucked dry -
There's only stems left - not one petal remains on the stem - he sadly explained - as one long tear drop fell from his cheek - ( though it was quickly dried with a gust of fire that blew out as he spoke )
How can that be? the children asked
There hasn't been any terrible winds !
I don't know - Donald lamented - but it's the saddest thing that could ever happen to a tulip -
The stems are bowed down in shame and embarrassment - we HAVE to do something - please help !
So Sir Gordon Brave a Lot pulled his sword of truth out from it's case
Princess Ashley gingerly lifted her Pointed Hat of Grace from the box she stored it in
And Princess Lindsey quickly slipped into her Shoes of Hope.
Ready ! they exclaimed to Donald - who quickly lowered himself into a kneeling position - as the girls scrambled up his scales ( which formed a perfect staircase )
Sir Gordon Brave - A - Lot led the way ( as he always did ) and off they started on their journey.
During the course of that evening they ran into many many animals -
Molly the Merry Mole
Freddie the Funny Fox
Harriet the Happy Horse
Fanny the Furry Fawn
Graham the Gorgeous Goat
William the Wily Weasel - and so on.
But the conversation I remember most was with Mary the Mischievous Monkey......................
Oh Mary !
We have a terrible problem we need to solve !
What is it? asked Mary - lazily batting her very long eyelashes
The tulips are missing - and we need to find out where they have gone !
Did you take them by any chance ? ( because Mary the Mischievous Monkey was always pulling pranks in the kingdom )
TWO LIPS? Mary drawled - ( and what the children could not have known as little ones was that Mary the Mischievous Monkey ALWAYS spoke with a Mae West accent )
TWO LIPS? Mary repeated.
Why would I have to steal TWO LIPS - when I have two of my own?
My kids would go into fits of giggles over this line - every. single. time.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Although there were countless adventures the main characters went on nightly - this particular one was a favorite and one I was required to tell over and over again - which is why I ( and they ) remember it still.
To this day - I can't look at Tulips without remembering 3 children in their pajamas - curled up around me and ready to go on an adventure just before bedtime.
The years fly quickly
Mary the Mischievous Monkey and I would both agree
Far, far too quickly.
And sometimes I miss the little world where I reigned supreme.
It's the only time I was a Queen - and it's a hard place to step down from.
But real life replaces castles on mountain tops - cats and dogs make their way into hearts, replacing forest animals - rainbows show up only after rainstorms and love of a different sort consume worlds.................
Sir Gordon Brave - A - Lot is still a protector of tiny beings........................
Princess Lindsay still dreams and hopes of a better world for all animals - domestic and wild and lives her life rescuing and nurturing.- and further lives her truth by being a Vegan.
And Princess Ashley has filled her world with love and grace.
For those of you who are curious about where the Tulip Petals actually went?
All of the Mrs.Merry Mouse's had had babies that week - every last one of them - and since it would get chilly at night - the babies ( in their little walnut half shell beds ) would lay there shivering and so their Mama's gently placed a petal over each of their beds as a blanket.........................,
All of the forest animals donated fur and the children began to knit - until they had enough miniature blankets to cover every single mouse baby in the kingdom.
Upon being presented with them the Mama's wept for joy - and their tears watered the tulip fields with such abundance that legend has it that the next Spring the tulips sprung up in every color of the rainbow and doubled in size.
Mary the Mischievous Monkey says - Now why on earth do you have tears in yours eyes ?
Suzan says - Ahhhh - you know Mary - those were some pretty sweet memories we created
Mary the Mischievous Monkey says - It's all as it should be - they have new adventures that they must go on
now - adventures that don't require the Queen to oversee.
Suzan says - If you were Mary the Magical Monkey - you could bring back those days
Mary the Mischievous Monkey says - Life moves forward Suzan, and the best is yet to come my dear
Mary the Mischievous Monkey says - There'll soon be a new generation of Princesses and Princes to tell our stories to.................
Suzan says - Shhh................I haven't told Bloglandia yet that Princess Ashley is expecting
Mary the Mischievous Monkey says - I think it's time you did
Congratulations to my beautiful daughter Ashley and the thrilled to the moon Papa - Chris !
I know you'll be an incredible Mom & Dad.
And I can't wait for this miracle of an adventure to begin .............and the stories I'll get to tell.
Tulips...............a sign of Spring and New Life and Triple Rainbows....................
Life is good.
Life is so very very good.
( The first gift I purchased just HAD to be animals, don't you know? )
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Congratulations. BJ and I are expecting our first grandchild in September! Sooo excited!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Lynn !!!
DeleteThat's when Ashley's due date is too !
Lucky ladies we are !
xoxoxo
Congratulations. I'm sure the Queen will have many tales to tell the new princes and princesses. That was a wonderful fairy tale.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Suzan (and Ashley)! I am expecting my first granddarling in July too! <3
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you too Laurayne !!!
DeleteIsn't this over the top exciting?
xoxox
OMG you're waaay too young to be a Grandma! But what a precious story and now you'll have a grandchild to pass it down to - what a beautiful story! I have tears in my eyes now! Congratulations to you and your husband!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm really not LOL but thanks so much Sharon !
DeleteIt's not so much the stories I get to pass down because that's kind of the only one I remember from that particular series.............but there's the one where the giant Eagle swooped me up and only let me down when we arrived in China LMHO !!! And of course the news one I get to create !
XOXO
what a sweet sweet story I loved seeing the prince and princesses all grown up and lived happy ever after, thanks to their wonderful Mom and her story telling
ReplyDeleteIncredible, both the reality and the fairy tale. And Congrats!
ReplyDeleteOh my...I'm a recent fan of your blog and had to come out of lurkdom....with tears in my eyes. You see, I'm still the queen here, the prince is yet 8 and even my 13yo princess would agree (for now). But as an older mom (am 51) I have always had the wisdom EVERY DAY to see the end of my rule coming. It makes me sad, I'll admit. So your story touched me (both stories). But your happy ending was the bonus, the cherry on top. Yes, there is THAT to look forward to...life is such a circle. HUGE congratulations to all, and what an especially lucky baby to have a granny as magical as you :)
ReplyDeleteOh Kayleigh - enjoy your reign !!!
DeleteThanks so much for your kind words - it IS over the top exciting Although I'm already Lolli to John's grandkids - and love them to death since I've been around since most of them were born - this is the first one of " my blood " !
Now you can go back to ruling " supreme " LOL !!!
xoxoxo
Suzan- You really need to write this out in book form and publish it for your kids. My kids published one about 3 years ago and it was $20. a copy. That would make a great Xmas gift for each of your kids! They used actual family photos in there-much like you have here.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. How wonderful to be a Grandmom....doesn't get any better -but you already know that! xo Diana
What a great story, Suzan! Congratulations on your upcoming grandchild. Trust someone with five, you are in for the adventure of a lifetime!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Lynn !
DeleteI'm already Lolli to John's five grandkids so I kind of have an idea LOL - but I'm over the moon excited anyway !
This is the first one for any of MY " babies "
xoxoxo
Congratulations, Princess Ashley!!! What a wonderful tale you wove, Suzan; it brought a tear to my eye!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations i know you are very excited,it will be fun watching your daughter get bigger and feeling your grandbaby kick.Memories they are wonderful but with grandchildren they are exceptional.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much ! This is so over the top exciting !
Deletexoxox
Awesome in every way!! <3 <3 <3
ReplyDeleteAw thanks so much Kim - you'll recognize me - I'll be the one dancing around Fairview pushing a carriage next Winter LMHO !!!
Deletexoxo
What a lovely story!! Congratulations to you and your family, I see many, many years of fine stories to come...Mary the Mischievous Monkey, and you, weaving the tales away, so sweetly!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Cajun Cutie !!!
DeleteIt's over the moon exciting !
xoxo
Such beautiful stories you are able to create..I was caught up in it! Congratulations on your upcoming grandchild! What joy!
ReplyDeleteAwwwwwww :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the up coming of a new family member.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading such a wonderful story and what adorable pictures.
Susan, you need to write down your stories in a journal or make into a small homemade story book for your grandchild to have. What a great keepsake it would be.
Congratulations Suzan!!! How exciting. I love the way you told us...:) What a sweet story! You really should turn this into a children's book! I wish I had the gift of writing. It has always been my dream to write and publish children's books. I know you will enjoy telling these precious stories to your new grandbaby! I am so envious...lol! Have a blessed evening!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! My first grand baby is due to arrive any week now and I'm so excited. Suzan this story had me pulling out the box of kleenex. How blessed were your children to have a Mother with such a wild and creative imagination and the talent to put it into words so magically. How lucky is this next generation to hear these stories too when they have sleep overs at Loli & Gramps house.
ReplyDeleteOh congratulations Marie - how exciting !!!
DeleteI'm not sure my children were blessed with me as a Mom - I was ( and am ) a neurotic mess - but they did love my stories and so did all their friends - whenever there were sleepovers that's what their friends wanted the most - to hear my stories - too funny !
And we're Lolli & Pop ( lollipop ) not Lolli and Gramps lol !!!
XOXOXO
Aww. Such sweet memories to think of while looking forward to the new addition to the family. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Nancy !!!
DeleteI'm an emotional wreck LOL
xoxo
Oh wow congratulations!!! As you know I became a Nana last September and it's just the best thing ever, my only problem is she's growing too fast :-)) I think there may be a special connection when it's your daughter's child, although I haven't any other grandchildren to compare! You'd better start writing your wonderful stories down - I remember I was not allowed to get ANY details wrong (I was usually trying to cut corners and speed bedtime up a bit ;-) these days I would struggle to recall exactly what I'd made up before...Maybe I'll stick to reading, Natalie emailed me to tell me she had bought a whole load of old favourites from Amazon for Coral, I told her that if I had a pound (dollar to you) for everytime I'd read at least 3 of them I'd be living on my own Carribean Island now, back in the day I could have recited them backwards LMHO
ReplyDeleteYes I DO know you became a Nana Gerry !!! I guess Grandchildren grow up as quickly as children, right? LOL - Scary !
DeleteI spent one Winter reading the Narnia series to them - a chapter every night - sometimes 2 if I couldn't pull the book out of my own hands - they still talk about that and they're all readers and writers today - so my baby better pass that on !!!
xoxo
I'm so glad I read this post and learned of your exciting announcement! Yay!! You have a beautiful family and I so enjoyed reading about your bedtime story to them as children. Just adorable and precious! Yay for new babies. :)
ReplyDeleteAwwwww... such a beautiful story. Congratulations on the happy news! Best wishes to Ashley for a healthy, bliss filled pregnancy. OMG! A new addition, how exciting!!! xo Patty
ReplyDeleteLove the story about the monkey. Now you will be able to tell your grandchild.. How exciting that you are going to be a grandmother. It's the most wonderful thing - wish I had a house full but unfortunately I only have one. But I am grateful for Kelly.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Mary
To my beautiful mother...you had a a tears full of memories rolling from my eyes this morning..and though year keep passing without regards to us being ready you were and are still a queen in a modern world. And believe me I will never forget this or allow myself to. And because of your teachings I was able to find a woman worth protecting and I'm sure she thanks you to. Love always Sir Gordon the Brave
ReplyDeleteAwww - Sir Gordon Brave - A - Lot - I love you !
Delete( typing on your cell phone in a hurry dear LOL ??? )
xoxoxoxo
What a lovely story and a beautiful way to announce your great news! Now you'll have new stories to tell and you can be Queen Lolly!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the fabulous news! Love your fairy tale story!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for you Suzan. You are going to love being a grandma!!! Just when you thought you could not love anything more than your own kids they give you a grandchild. It is so wonderful and I am so excited and happy for all of you. Your son and two daughters are beautiful peeps you girls look like you Suzan. Happy Happy for you.
ReplyDeleteKris
So sorry to be that late to congratulate you on that happy, happy news, Grandma!
ReplyDeleteI love this. Your memories are so sweet and fun! Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the baby news! That is reason to celebrate. :)
ReplyDeleteYour children are lovely (then and now), and you're right that time when they made-up-stories just flies by. Thank goodness when they grow up they give us grandchildren. ;)
So excited for you Suzan...congratulations. You will be the most amazing 'Glamma' in the land! oxoxo
ReplyDeleteAw thanks so much !!!
Deletexoxoxo