It was only me and her, in an old van with a broken down air conditioner, on a long trip to our family home far up North.
But not a whimper. She is busy thinking of the fun she's going to have with her cousins. Her expectations is far more important than the uncomfortable trip.
Yes, we adults may have an idea of what probably lies on the next bend and children may have a limited view on most things.
But while we may have the experience, children have their innocence. Which is perhaps why they continuously see only what is good in all things.
Yes, us adults put too much emphasis on what can go wrong while children just can't wait for things to happen.
Adults are so obsessed on making sure events turn out the way they expect, insistent on control. Children, on the other hand, just enjoy whatever comes along.
Adults see the hotel and it's amenities. Children see the beach.
Adults see differences. Children see similarities.
Adults take many things for granted. My 4-year-old nephew Jack-jack finds an old squeaky gate at Grandma's house along Brookside Road something worth his whole afternoon.
Adults aim for perfection. Children are prepared to be wrong.
Which is why, in Sir Ken Robinson's view, they always come up with something original.
How?
Adults try desperately to sing that song as close to the original as they can. Children, on the other hand, will sing about Superman, Ironman, Batman or any of the Justice League in the tune of an old Spiderman TV theme and be so proud about their sense of originality.
The secret to their joy? I would like to think it is in their way of sensing the extraordinary in things we adults ignore, their enthusiasm to have fun, their ability to focus on what truly matters in their youth.
Young they may be but are the true experts on enjoying the moment. And why not when the world is constantly a fun place in their eyes?
