The invitation itself shows she’s got imagination — and a sense of humor.

It’s pink and white and has an illustration of Barbie, the doll, on the cover, wearing a pouffy pink dress with a bow at the waist, open-toed high heel shoes and black pearls.

Inside, the official breakfast announcement is also in pink, with black script.

I don’t really know my hostess that well, but her sister is a very old friend whom I haven’t seen in many years and she’s going to be there, so I’m psyched.

Call me sappy, but I love the royals and I love reading about them and can’t wait to watch the wedding on TV — even if it is at 5 a.m., our time.

For me, it’ll be deja vu.

Thirty years ago I got up in the middle of the night, bleary-eyed and yawning, to watch another royal couple exchange vows — Prince Charles and the lovely Diana.

It was thrilling, seeing the horse-drawn carriage carry the princess through the streets with all the regalia, the whole world wide-eyed and starstruck.

For weeks before the wedding, we anticipated the dress, the guests, where the prince and princess would go on their honeymoon, whether they would have children, and what their lives would be like.

It took us out of our daily ho-hum lives and gave us something to dream about. We got to live the fairy tale, albeit through a television screen.

And then as everyone knows, the fairy tale ended — in divorce and ultimately, Diana’s death. But time marched on.

On the upside, we got to watch her two sons grow up and now, one of them is about to marry.

A fairy tale wedding is just what we need right now.

The world is too dark, with wars erupting abroad, rebels overthrowing governments, death and destruction in Japan, and people killing each other over religion, property and money.

As little children we believed in magic — in Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy. We believed fairy tales come true.

Well, I’ve still got that little girl in me, and I’m glad of it.

Life’s too short to shut out the magic.

On April 29, I’ll get up in the middle of the night, tiptoe down the hall in anticipation and feel the tinge of excitement that comes with those pre-wedding jitters even spectators get.

Then, I’ll emerge into the star-lit darkness.

And, armed with a good dose of little girl, I’ll march right down to Cathy’s house to see Prince William and his sweetheart tie the knot.

Shall I bring my magic wand?

Amy Calder has been a Morning Sentinel reporter 23 years. Her column appears here Saturdays. She may be reached at acalder@centralmaine.com

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