Where did all the dinosaurs, the ancient mummies,
The shuttles off to space, where did they go?
They traipsed around our dusty classrooms,
Flying from the school room roof in flurries of
The brightest flames, impossible to ignore.
And then, when we graduate, leaving far behind
Those childish fancies that we couldn’t get enough,
They faded with the blackboard dust, existence wiped
Like a meteor that flattened worlds
Occupied by little boys and girls.
This is a bit of a continuation of yesterday’s writing in that I want to talk about our childhood fancies. I mentioned that I’m a little bit fascinated by space, even though I’ve never studied it outside of primary school.
I think that most people had one of those things that they loved learning about when they were ten, but now they feel a bit nerdy knowing that they still have an interest in it. Other subjects I can think of are the dinosaurs, the Romans, the Egyptians; the list could go on and on.
My sadness comes from the fact that we almost have to cover up our love for these things unless we have a job in the field. Why can’t we just have a fun love for something and enjoy the childish passion for something, just for the sake of it?
I want to meet people who are proper grown ups and still have dinosaur posters on the wall. I want to meet someone who holds their head high and revels in their childhood passions. That kind of confidence is something we need more of in this world where we all need to pretend to be cool.
Much Love
Rachel xx
Margot Kinberg
You’re right, Rachel, about those childhood loves. Whether it’s stars, dinosaurs, snakes, or something else, most kids have a passion like that. And it is hard to see that go away. In fact, it’s that passion that ignites our desire to learn. And yet, we stop talking about it, etc., when we get older. It would, indeed, be great if we had the confidence to keep talking about the things we love, whether or not they’re ‘cool.’ The coolest people are authentic about what they love, anyway…
juliadeniro
I’m still into dinosaurs and space. I love learning about them.
clcouch123
Hmm, you got me thinking. When a child, I spent a great deal of time in the natural history museum where I got to like dinosaurs and ancient Egypt. There was no space exhibit, but I used to get to the planetarium, too. I still have these interests, though I’m not sure how widely I share them. As an adult, I’ve gone fossil-hunting, which is cool, and I’ve taken others. I guess anyone who likes or respects me should accept these interests of mine, too. Thanks for grist for the mill.
K.L. Hale
What a beautiful post. I love this. I still fancy my childhood things. I loved history and still collect artifacts that speak to me. I have my two favorite stuffed animals. I’m as passionate now about the things I loved. Along the way of life many feel they have to check off the adult list of things to be “adult”. I’m only 51, but the freedom that comes from enjoying new and old fancies should keep us dreaming and being childlike in areas~Definitely my faith is as a child. My dream to go to Egypt came to fruition when I was 31. I had dreamt of pyramids and Egyptian history. I love museums and I love sharing all these interests with like minded adults! Being in a school helps in keeping these interests alive and well. Keep enjoying all you can!
dolphinwrite
I would strongly suggest, while learning about dinosaurs, enjoy, but along the way, start asking questions, which will help delve into curiosity, research, and your own theories. As a kid, I asked questions like: 1) How could they know the color or behavior of these creatures, 2) There’s no way carbon dating can be accurate as no one is with the rocks to observe over millions of years, so how do they understand something needing a lot more research, and 3) How did the dinosaurs stop being on the planet when alligators and turtles from that time are here… and so forth. I recently read about “soft tissue,” which was found on some dinosaur bones, which shouldn’t be there, which opens up more questions. Always ask the questions. The questions, with honesty, leads to better questions.