Snow White

I admit it. If I were a Disney character, I'd be Eeyore. I like to putter, complain, and generally wallow in self pity. But my sister Julie is another story. Though we grew up with the same mother in the same house, somewhere along the way Julie found her inner princess. (Photograph by Gary Barnes.)

Earlier this year, Julie sent me this picture of her all decked out like Snow White for her pre-school's carnival. Yep, you heard right. My sister is a talented preschool teacher with a genuine love for every child in her classes. And, while I too did some time working in a preschool as a classroom aide, I never got to the point of actually enjoying it. In fact, by the end of the year I had gone completely bonkers. But Julie has been teaching little kids for years, loving every minute of it. All right, maybe she doesn't love every minute, but every time I talk to her about a bad day, she always says, "Tomorrow will be better." And she means it. And inevitably, tomorrow is better for her, mostly because she believes that it will be so. 

Oh sure, I know what you're thinking about this princess costume thing. Or, at least I know what I was thinking. I need to get me one of those dresses so everyone will treat me like royalty, I said to myself. Because I'm a princess. I'd also like some dwarves to run this household so I can get some more reading done.

But when I talked to Julie about it on the phone, royal subjects and housekeeping dwarves never even entered the conversation. "I love making everybody happy," she said. I was speechless. Inside I was thinking, "Are you for real?" At that moment, it seemed quite likely that I was really adopted, just as I had always suspected. Could it be possible that she enjoys being a princess so that she can make other girls feel like princesses? Julie went on. "Seeing everyone smiling was the most fun, I think." At this point I was groaning inside. There's one thing I know about me and my sister, and it's this: the only way I'm getting into heaven is if Julie (or any of my other sisters for that matter) smuggles me in via her suitcase. Otherwise, seeing as how Hades might be my eternal vacation spot, I better get used to my least favorite things: extremely hot weather,flip-flops (eternal blisters between my toes), wearing a bathing suit, and mustard (second pregnancy nausea trigger). 

Julie's voice roused me from my visions of the afterlife. "My coworkers told me, 'Your face must be tired after three hours of smiling,'" Julie said, and giggled. I could picture her at the carnival, smiling in a genuine way to everyone who passed by. I could see her leaning down to talk to the children,hugging them, looking at them like they were the most amazing person she had ever met with the most fascinating things to say. I can picture these things because that's they way she talks to everybody, dressed as a princess or not. "My face did hurt," Julie admitted. "And my feet, too. But I like to make kids happy." 

This was too much. Suddenly, thoughts of lounging on the couch reading novels while my dwarves scurried about taking care of things seemed downright selfish. And lazy. So I determined right then and there to be more like my sister. I decided to think of others before myself. I decided to sing and laugh more. And I decided that even if I never become a real princess I can still treat everyone else like royalty. Just like my sister, Snow White. 

Comments

[Chizuko]

Julie? I thought Laura.Wow. I want to wear the dress..../
I think many adults want to wear princess dress.
I also want to see Laula version of snow white also. Why don't you go to Disneyland with the costume.

Susan's all sisters are ageless, aren't they? All of them I miss you. I wish I had such a lovely teacher when I was a child.Thank you for the beautiful photo.

[Kaylynne]

My Mom and my aunts are all total saints!

-Mom's survived raising me and my siblings for almost 18 years
-You've got those three wild boys!
-Laura's got Mandy(ana) Jones, Alex, and Emma to worry about running all over the place in Utah
-And Julie not only has raised Allie and Gary but she's taught SO many other kids it's crazy!

I really admire all of you! (Especially since just babysitting makes me crazy! :P) You're all such strong, wonderful mothers and teachers!
--
I still can't believe how much Julie looks like Snow White! - If she just walked into Disneyland and showed them that picture, I'm sure they'd give her the job in an instant!

lol Now I kinda wanna get all you guys dressed up like Disney princesses and do a photoshoot - that would be SO fun! :)

[SHELBY]

SO CUTE! Those lucky preschoolers! She makes a beautiful Snow White.

[Laura]

By the way you two do look a lot alike.

[Laura]

It's not fair the word is my twins got a visit from snow white herself and missed her. How sweet is that? It was sad to miss though. At least they ate some delicious cupcakes! Thank you!

[MaryB]

Awww...so cute! But,hey! Didn't I tell you before that you ARE a princess? I know I did! You just need to believe it! It's a state of mind....be the princess!! :)

Oh, and I was kind of hoping on riding into heaven on your coat tails!