When I was little, my dad said fairyland was through the knothole in our backyard fence.  But I had to be tall enough to see it.  I couldn't rush fate.  He said when I was tall enough, fairyland would be there.

I believed him.  Playing town in the garden, and I could have snuck a chair to the fence and peered through.  I almost did, every time.

Every year my eyes would get closer to fairyland.  The year I turned fifteen I could see through it if I stood on my tiptoes.  But I was a patient child.  I remembered, in innocence, and waited.

Tomorrow I turn sixteen.  Will fairyland be there for me?

photo by my sweet sister Emily who just took a year of pictures!