Carol's Corner

Photo of a sketch by my granddaughter Arianna Tooke of herself in the little stool

A small footstool, built by my grandfather from pieces of lumber, store bought legs to screw on and covered by my mother, sat near the doorway of our home during my growing up years. My brother and sometimes his friend used to sit together, arms linked around each other and cheer on their hockey team playing on the small black and white television or just sit and visit. At other times, Billy pulled his stool up to the coffee table where a checkerboard waited. When we grew up the stool became simply a footstool until the grandchildren joined the family and claimed it as their own.

Years later, the stool lived in my home where my grandchildren’s imagination soared and the little stool, now recovered in yet another fabric, got turned upside down. The little ones sat in the space, hung on to the legs in front of them and raced away with vroom, vroom sounds. At other times they flew high in the air, at least in their imaginations, as the little stool became their airplane. Each one climbed in until one day they had grown too big to squish into the small space.

Imagination is defined as “the faculty or action of forming new ideas or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses.” Synonyms for imagination include creative power, fancy, vision , interest and curiosity.

Creating or thinking of something where it does not actually exist. Stories take us into the world of imagination. My grandchildren used an ordinary little footstool to jump start their imaginations and explore who knows what via their pretend mode of transportation. They had fun and as adults we enjoyed this adventure vicariously, maybe even with a twinge of regret that we could not play pretend anymore.

At other times it might be a character – a stuffed animal, a toy, a doll, a book that allows children’s imaginations to soar beyond the limits of time and space of everyday life.

The stuffed critters at our house lounge on the bed or chair in our youngest daughter’s room. She is a young adult but loves to use her imagination to give these bears, owls and other characters voices, mischief and lots of hugs. It allows her to express what she might not otherwise be able to communicate with her learning disability and yet it made me wonder. . . .

When we get to be teens, young adults or older, more sensible members of society do we pack away our childhood treasures, toys and stuffed animals and in doing so also pack away our imaginations? After all we need to grow up, be responsible and learn many skills of survival in our fast paced world. Those are admirable and good but I think we need a little imagination so we can remember how to have fun. Maybe the toys and stuffies exist to refresh our minds of an earlier, more carefree time. Possibly they can come out to play as story starters, writing prompts or to spark other creative endeavors.

I encourage us to check if our imaginations have come out to play lately? What sparks your interest? What helps conjure memories of happy moments in your life or from watching your children or grandchildren as they play with ordinary objects like a little footstool but soar away to parts unknown to the adults in the room?

Unpack your imagination. Be creative. Enjoy the memories and have fun.