Flick user OhWhataChristyLast week I spent a lot of time with my two nieces, Lorelei and Aubree, who are 3 and 1 respectively. Lorelei has a new-found obsession with the original Mary Poppins movie. She watches it with such intensity, and then sings the songs and mimics all of the movements. Her laser beam focus, which she’s had since she was a baby, is something to behold. I always wonder exactly what she’s thinking as she observes so keenly.
We were out in front of her house last week, drawing chalk pictures on the drive way and playing with her fancy umbrella and tricycle.
She turned to me and said, “Nan (that’s her nickname for me), can you help me get up there?”
“Where, Lorelei?” I asked her
She pointed at the sky. “Up there. Way up there. Like Mary Poppins.”
“Honey, I don’t know how to fly like Mary Poppins.”
“How does she do that? I want to do that. It looks fun.”
“I’m sure it is fun,” I said and I thought about how great that would be to just grab an umbrella and get where I want to go. My commute to work would be so much better.
While we may view that movie as filled with lots of things that can’t happen – floating up to the ceiling by laughing, taking adventures through chalk drawings, and using carousel horses to race – Lorelei doesn’t see any of that as impossible. She’s at the age when she can dream anything into fruition. I hope she never loses that sense of wonder and belief in herself. I do hope she becomes a Mary Poppins in her own right.
It was such an awesome moment with her in front of her house. I’m sure I’ll remember it all my life and recount it to her when she’s older. My guess is that there will always be a part of Lorelei who believes that anything is possible. And she helps me to keep that perspective, too. She reminds me that our imaginations are amazing and magical playgrounds. No wonder it’s my favorite place to go.
“Someday,” Lorelei said, “I’m going to fly like Mary Poppins.” And I’m sure she will.
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
4 thoughts on “Beginning: My Niece’s Quest to be Mary Poppins”
Lorelei indeed has a very keen imagination, and also a very keen insight. We were watching the movie “Up” and when the older lady passes on, she asked me “are you old, Grammy?” Trying quickly to understand her concern and allay any fears, I responded – “not too old yet, honey”. Her mom says she is thinking and thankfully talking about her thoughts a lot lately. I may be prejudiced, but she seems to be very mature for her mere 3 years.She was satisfied with the simple answer, and that is according to experts the best way to handle deep questions from the very young – they don’t need or want long explanations. She then skipped on to something else. Little Aubree seems to be developing just as quickly and though she can’t express herself in words we understand yet, she makes her meaning clear and her character and personality are emerging – often in a mirror image of Lorelei’s example and affection for her. She now makes a funny face in exact replication of Lorelei’s when she says “huh?” – and the reaction is appropriate to the occasion as well. It really cracks me up. I am happy that they both have keen senses of humor. That goes a long way in managing life itself.
I feel delighted. You made my day. How poetic. How nice of you.
I think toddlers/babies are great. Then again, I am partial to kids.
Kids remind you of what you have lost. We adults tend toward pragmatism. By contrast, children are natural dreamers.
They live in la-la land: it is a delightful world of make-believe. Children believe that anything is possible–they have beautiful minds.
We fail to appreciate this because our lives have been invaded by realism and not imagination. As adults, we tend toward materialism too.
I am amazed whenever I see children watching Casper the friendly ghost and scooby-doo and Sesame Street on TV. Your niece is a miracle and she is a priceless treasure. How adorable to be that age. Cheers.
I agree, Archan. And there are so many ways to have kids in our lives. I’m so blessed to have my little nieces. They’re always teaching me something new and reminding me just how wonderful life is.
Christa Avampato 
Lorelei indeed has a very keen imagination, and also a very keen insight. We were watching the movie “Up” and when the older lady passes on, she asked me “are you old, Grammy?” Trying quickly to understand her concern and allay any fears, I responded – “not too old yet, honey”. Her mom says she is thinking and thankfully talking about her thoughts a lot lately. I may be prejudiced, but she seems to be very mature for her mere 3 years.She was satisfied with the simple answer, and that is according to experts the best way to handle deep questions from the very young – they don’t need or want long explanations. She then skipped on to something else. Little Aubree seems to be developing just as quickly and though she can’t express herself in words we understand yet, she makes her meaning clear and her character and personality are emerging – often in a mirror image of Lorelei’s example and affection for her. She now makes a funny face in exact replication of Lorelei’s when she says “huh?” – and the reaction is appropriate to the occasion as well. It really cracks me up. I am happy that they both have keen senses of humor. That goes a long way in managing life itself.
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She is wise beyond her years. I am so excited to see how her life unfolds. I’m sure it will be extraordinary.
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Christa:
I feel delighted. You made my day. How poetic. How nice of you.
I think toddlers/babies are great. Then again, I am partial to kids.
Kids remind you of what you have lost. We adults tend toward pragmatism. By contrast, children are natural dreamers.
They live in la-la land: it is a delightful world of make-believe. Children believe that anything is possible–they have beautiful minds.
We fail to appreciate this because our lives have been invaded by realism and not imagination. As adults, we tend toward materialism too.
I am amazed whenever I see children watching Casper the friendly ghost and scooby-doo and Sesame Street on TV. Your niece is a miracle and she is a priceless treasure. How adorable to be that age. Cheers.
LikeLike
I agree, Archan. And there are so many ways to have kids in our lives. I’m so blessed to have my little nieces. They’re always teaching me something new and reminding me just how wonderful life is.
LikeLike