When I was growing up I loved the mythological Greek Pegasus.  Regular horses and the fabled unicorn were fantastic, but to be able to take flight on a great winged stallion was the stuff of which dreams were made.  My little one recently went to an indoor play place.  In order to keep kiddos from melting down when they close they offer (bribe them with) a mini cupcake.  When my little one asked if they were gluten free the girl looked surprised and said they were not.  Dropping her head in disappointment, my Baby Doll began to leave.  I was about to say something consoling when the girl exclaimed, “WAIT!” and turned around with a little bin full of plastic toys.  She told me I had a very well behaved little girl who offered to help her clean up and for that she deserved a special prize.  As the girl was holding out the bin, I think my little one and I must have seen it at the same time — this beautiful, sparkly mare who stood out like a beacon in the middle of those other toys.  I felt like I had chosen it myself when she picked her out.  All my childhood joy came rushing back and, to my surprise, I discovered she was a Pegasus!  Showing my little one her prize had wings, she squealed with delight and promptly announced she would call her Amaya.  I actually looked that up wondering if it had any significance and apparently in Arabic it means “Night Rain”.  I have no idea where she got that but I think it is a great name.  So instead of a fleeting treat she got to have this lasting childhood treasure and I pointed out how being gluten intolerant can be a blessing.  One of my favorite American actresses, Melissa Gilbert, said, “Don’t like small talk, love rainy days.”  That is what I want for my little one; not to seek the exchange of banal pleasantries (horsefeathers), but rather to let her imagination be free to take flight and soar like her Pegasus.  Everyone knows something good always comes from night rain.