The other day I visited the Magic Faraway Tree. It was deserted, which seemed strange for a portal to another world. But then perhaps that’s because it’s only a portal for my daughter and I.
She decided the tree was magic several years ago, when she was still young enough to need walking to school, to hold my hand on the way and count cats and pretend to be dragons, puffing out smoke in the frosty air.
The tree stands at the top of a hill, looking out across the valley and beyond, across rooftops that wouldn’t have been there when it was a sapling. Now it’s tall and stately, branches spreading to shade us during summer and create sky patterns during winter. It’s one of several trees we used to pass on our morning walk, yet the only one that became a Faraway Tree, home to fairies and dryads and dancing sprites, my daughter so enchanted by Enid Blyton’s stories that to this day she hasn’t finished the final book in the series.
We would often bring things to leave for the fairies, tucking them into the bark or among the roots. A patterned leaf or delicate flower, an interesting stone or shiny coin picked up on our journey. Once, an elderly gentleman offered us a piece of sea glass from his pocket, green and rubbed smooth by the waves. He’d carried it for a long time, he said with a smile, but thought that the fairies might like it. My daughter, thrilled and grateful, agreed, placing it in a special spot at the base of the trunk, cushioned by moss.
The moss is still there, velvet soft and deep green, but our gifts are gone. I hope the fairies liked them. There is magic still there, too. The magic of memory. The magic of joy.
Just magic.
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Helen Glynn Jones 
How sweet. Such great memories.
Thanks, Darlene 🙂
Just beautiful, Helen. I loved the Faraway Tree as a child too. Okay, I still do 🙂 x
Thanks, Sue – me too 🙂 Hope you and yours are keeping well x
All well here, Helen, thank you. x
Glad to hear it, Sue 🙂 x
Stay well, Helen x
Thanks, Sue – you too x
It’s good to have your own magical tree. It in courages the imagination. You never know who or what you might meet.
Too bad it couldn’t take you to a magical land so you could visit real fairies.
I agree, absolutely 🙂 And yes, it’s a shame isn’t it? A bit of escapism is just what we need at the moment…
Yes. I read and watch happier entertainment that brings a smile instead of tears. ;0)
That’s a lovely way to be 🙂 I try to do the same
If you are interested, there are a fair amount of animated movies that will bring a smile to your face.
I’m sure there are! Going to be catching up on a few of them, I think 🙂
This is so wonderful, Helen. I can feel the magic!! Cher xo
Aww, thanks Cher! Hope you’re well xx
🤗💜
This sounds wonderful, Helen. I also loved these books and The Wishing Chair books too. My sons both listened to these stories over and over again.
They are wonderful books, aren’t they? I read them as a child so it was lovely to share them with my daughter 🙂
Wonderful memories, and the tree lives on.
Thanks, Craig – and it does 🙂 Hope you’re keeping well
Doing fine over here. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.
Thanks, Craig, glad to hear it. You too 🙂
Love. Thank you.
Thanks, Angelika 🙂 Hope you had a good trip and are all well. It was a shame we couldn’t catch up this time, but hope to see you in the NaNo cabin at least xx
Yes! Hope we can make that work! Writing cheerful stories is just what we need now.
Isn’t it just! I’ve just accepted my invite so will see you there (I’ll bring virtual marshmallows) 🙂 x
Yay, marshmallows! 😁
🙂 xx
You’re lucky it was only deserted, and not cut down to make into rolls of toilet paper!
Haha! Yes indeed! Let’s hope we don’t get to that point, Mick 😀
Oh, the magic is still there for sure … it may be hard to see sometimes though, that’s all. 😀
Yes – sometimes you have to look a little harder 🙂 But, as you say, it’s still there…