TinkerbellOne of my earliest memories was a trip to Disneyland. I must have been about three or four. I don’t remember much about that day except as soon as it grew dark a spotlight hit the top of the Matterhorn and Tinkerbell with a blonde bun hairstyle and shiny green outfit flew from the sky down into the crowd. Right then the fireworks started. It was all so magical! I new immediately that was who I wanted to be when I grew up.

For Halloween that year my mother made me a costume of emerald green satin with a jagged-edged hem. She put my hair on the top of my head and a wand in my hand. She created a fabulous Captain Hook outfit for my brother too; eye patch, tricorn hat and snarly britches to match the sneer on his mouth.

A couple of years later I watched the televised Broadway musical and kept waiting to see my favorite character. But in that version she was invisible with a vain and cranky attitude. She wanted the audience to even clap in order to see her, then only appearing as flashes of light. I was so disappointed. Everyone knew the real Tinkerbell flew down from the top of the Matterhorn right after sunset without applause to prompt her. And when I grew up that was who I would be me, the REAL Tinkerbell.