Alice in Wonderland

I thought I would start my very first blog with something I wrote a few years back when the movie "Alice in Wonderland" with Johnnie Depp came out.  It was 2010 and Marley was almost 8.

Marley had been asking for weeks to see Alice in Wonderland at the movie theater.  She had never been to a movie and Chris was very hesitant to allow her go because of the movie's reputation for being dark and the loudness that a movie theater brings.  Marley is sensitive to loud noises.  But in my heart, I knew she would enjoy it and I was willing to give it a try.  So I packed up some GFCF, egg free snacks and off Marley & I went to see Alice in Wonderland on a Saturday afternoon.

She was so excited and well behaved and it amazed me that this was the movie that she chose above all others to see. But then again, she is a smart girl with a good heart just like the characters of this movie.  And just like the characters, many people cannot see her for who she is because of her social awkwardness and her out-of-the ordinary likes & dislikes.  She is not like us.  She is more pure and makes no qualms about being different and doesn't do things just because she is told.  She does them for reasons more pure.  Because they give her joy or because of the love she feels.

Then there was how this movie made me cry.  Dream the impossible was the message of the movie.  Alice says that she imagines ten impossible things before breakfast every day.  I do too.  And because both Chris & I dared to dream the impossible.....to make her a happy, healthy, communicative little girl....it has happened.  Don't get me wrong.  We had to slay the jabberwocky to get here too.  We had to stand up to some powerful voices that said it wasn't possible.  We had to turn down the advice of the mainstream medical establishment to put her on strong anti-depressant drugs. We had to feel the pain that Marley was enduring to make her feel better.  We had to work endless days and nights researching what was best for her.  We had to sacrifice material things to pay for her never-ending medical bills.  But when I see the end result....there are no words to express my gratitude to the powers that be.  Yes, she still has work to do.  But when I see her watch a movie, enjoying the dark humor and smiling and hiding her eyes at some points....I am reminded of how far we have come...and how much further we will go for this very special little girl.