Drawing Stars

star3I’m reading Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh, a webcomic with quirky graphics and poignant humor. Reading Brosh’s stories reminded me of one of my own childhood memories, and inspired me to share it.

When I was 4 years old, I learned how to draw a star. This was a big moment for me because I’d finally found a way to navigate my Barbies through the complicated maze that was our house. Like constellations or the North Star, my little stars would serve as a map.

The plan was simple: Prince Charming, aka Ken, would go ahead and leave a trail of stars for Barbie to follow. Why they didn’t just travel together is beyond me, but it must’ve made sense to my 4-year-old mind.

I worked hard on my map, crawling from corner to corner, drawing tiny stars at the bottom of white-textured walls. About a foot off the ground and two feet apart, my stars snaked through the entire downstairs, starting in the living room and ending in the office.

Sharp little girl that I was, I knew pencil would fade. So I used pen.

But my Barbies weren’t the only ones to follow my trail of breadcrumbs. My dad caught me mid-star. He was good-humored about it, especially considering how much extra work my star chart created.

That memory, and the thought that there still might be a star hidden in some forgotten corner of my childhood home, makes me smile.

What are your, or your kids’, favorite childhood stories that make you smile?

What I’m reading: Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (seriously, this book and the blog it’s based on are both utterly brilliant)

What I’m listening to: Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood