The Sugarplum Fairy

Fairies are real.

I know that I’m a total crackpot, but I also know this to be true. Let me explain. It starts with Christmas. Actually, it goes way-back, before the Christmas season but that’s quibbling over dates on the calendar.

I was an eager college student and working my way toward my undergraduate degree in Speech Communication (yeah, shocker) at the University of Washington. Part of my coursework included an internship, which I created, like magic, with the help of a mentor and friend, Phil Smart. Phil owned a local car dealership and I worked part-time for his daughter at her furniture store. I needed an internship, and one day when things were quiet in the store, she asked how classes were going and I explained my plight to his daughter.

I thought it might be a good idea to intern at Children’s Hospital since it was so close to campus. More importantly, I felt called to health care marketing and communication. My grandmother was a nurse and while I didn’t have the nursing gene, it felt like my way to serve the greater good. I just didn’t know how to where to start – I didn’t know anyone at the hospital.

One thing leads to another.

Little did I know that her father, Phil, was an active volunteer at that hospital. He was one of those wonderful people who gave both time and money to causes that he supported. So, Phil made a well-placed phone call, and I had an interview with the head of the foundation. Not too long afterward, I became a communications intern serving the Children’s Hospital Fundraising Guild. It really was a pivotal experience in my education.

After my internship concluded, I hung around, lending a hand at special events and other activities. I was the ultimate Guild Groupie!  That year, the Guild needed a stand-in for the Sugarplum fairy and before I understood what it was all about, I eagerly offered to help.

Oh, yeah, I was IN! I got to wear a velvet fairy dress with WINGS, a crown, a W-A-N-D and the whole nine yards. Wow! I got photos with Santa and an adorable little boy who had been a patient at the hospital, and it was plastered on a poster and in ads around town. We were promoting this big Thanksgiving weekend event – it was an early version of a maker’s market held at Union Station. Artisan crafts people sold their creations. The event raised awareness and funds for the hospital.

That same weekend would also be the annual Hospital Guild Gala. I’d known about it because Phil and I saw each other often – whether when he stopped by to visit his daughter or when we were both volunteering at the hospital – and we compared notes about upcoming campaigns or special activities. For example, Phil stood in for St. Nicolas because December was such a busy time of year. He also told me he would be attending the hospital’s guild fundraising dinner and he and my intern leader, Soozi, suggested that I also attend, as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Wha????

One of the auctioneers was inspired by my attire and invited me up on stage to be auctioned off as a Christmas Eve Surprise Guest to one lucky bidder’s home. I would visit as the Sugarplum Fairy and sprinkle Christmas joy and not a small amount of glittery fairy dust that was kept on-demand in the velvet pockets of my fairy dress.

I went for a respectable sum. But the real magic was meant for another day. It presented itself on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve is for magic.

I arrived not too long after sunset. As a bonus, my sister joined me, dressed as an elf. Our parents couldn’t stand missing out and came along too. The family worked it out that I would magically arrive at the front door just after dinner – I was greeted by the grandmother, mom, dad, and of course the most adorablest two children, a young girl of about six and her even younger brother who looked almost four. Oh, and Buck the dog. He was a big chocolate labrador retriever and just the most generous soul.

So, in I came, wings, crown, W-A-N-D and all … the tour of their bedrooms was given and I dutifully sprinkled fairy dust everywhere… even on Buck! The kids were so excited, they could not wrap their heads around how their family was so lucky that the actual Sugarplum Fairy would visit on Christmas Eve.

I assured the children it was all because of them – they had been so very, very good that year and their family sent me a special request.

“Everyone asked you, but grandpa. He’s not here anymore, so he couldn’t ask.”

I just went with it, not knowing where grandpa was.

“Oh no, that’s not true,” the words just tumbled out of my mouth. Later, I thought maybe I should have gotten a primer on the family dynamics but to a six- and four-year old, I just figured a grandpa would want to be included. “He made his own special request directly to me, in person.” I assured them.

“Is he OK, does he miss us?” The little girl was so earnest. I hugged her and looked to the the mom and grandma, who were openly crying at this point in the proceedings.

Was it ok? Yes, they nodded. Go on.

“He is doing great, even though he misses you. He asked for me, special, and wanted to be sure I shared all sorts of magical fairy dust with you.”

“And Buck, too?”

“Oh, definitely," I assured them. "Buck especially deserves fairy dust. He’s such a good dog, don’t you think?” And, I sprinkled more glittery magical dust on Buck the dog. Yeah, dare you not to cry, because even a naïve, young me was working really hard not to. I wasn't sure what happened to their grandfather, but it was my J-O-B to send his love that night.

I then read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas for the children from a special book that I brought with me. While I was reading, I noticed the grandmother hug my mother and father. They spoke quietly and enchantment filled the room, sparkling and glowing. I was in awe of all the magic in that home on that special night.

Soon enough, I had to make my apologies because the Sugarplum Fairy is very busy on Christmas Eve. It is a night full of responsibility -- you see, the Sugarplum Fairy has to choreograph visions of sugarplum dreams to dance around everyone’s heads. The children nodded in solemn understanding and made their mom produce a special jar for extra glittery fairy dust that they could sprinkle about for future special occasions.

I sincerely hope that mom forgave me! No matter how magical, glitter is a pain to vacuum out of a carpet!

That night, after we returned home, I got the rest of the story.

The entire family visited Hawaii the year before, for Christmas. Their grandfather suffered a tragic water accident. I can’t remember whether he was snorkeling or scuba diving – but he had a health event and died on Christmas. This would be their first holiday without him and, of course, it was set to be a tragic milestone anniversary.

Change the energy – for the better!

I think about that wonderful family, often. I don’t know who had the courage and the cockamamie, crazy idea to bring in some crackpot standing in for The Sugarplum Fairy – but it shifted the family’s entire perspective and filled their home with joy, fun, and the glittery fairy dust that changes everything for the better. I was honored to stand in for the magical Sugarplum Fairy. Now, all these years later, I’m so touched by that memory – It inspires and encourages me to think about that, especially during a time when I’ve been feeling the happiest grief of all, now that my son is grown and has flown to the next stage of his life.

We all experience love and light as well as loss and grief.  Those adorable children and Buck the dog remind me that every holiday, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to find (or just make up) the glittery, sparkly fairy dust that shifts our energy and brings joy in the darkest of moments.

May you have the happiest of holiday seasons. Merry Christmas to all. And to all a good night.