Carson's Baptism

The below excerpt taken from Rachel Carson’s book The Sense of Wonder:

If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to be preside over the christening of all children I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life, as an unfailing antidote against the boredom and disenchantments of later years, the sterile preoccupation with things artificial, the alienation from the sources of our strength.

As the daughter of a Buddhist, Tatum has not had the blessing of a christening. Yet on this day, after reading Carson’s words the night before, Tatum and I came upon the displayed baptism artifact of the native peoples located today at the LA Arboretum. With the blessing of the recent rains, the baptism bowl was full, and Tatum chose to baptize herself by putting water from the bowl on her head. And in my life, Rachel Carson has great influence, and I am sure that at this moment the good fairy gave Tatum the gift of indestructible wonder.