Zaxpazzaz (aka Xaxpazzaz?)

I was reminiscing tonight about a time in my childhood that was pure, unadulterated wonder. In a time when my innocence was still intact and life was simple. The summer evenings strung out long and we played in the streets, climbed the neighbor's tree and gave each other wheelbarrow rides around the pond in the backyard. A time when a fireworks show at Disneyland signaled the 9 pm hour every night as we watched in wonder from the mouth of our cul-de-sac. I had a friend back in those days, we will call her Lisa, who accepted me right away and just for who I was. I knew she was special (she became my best friend, after all) but, as an adult now, I finally realize and fully appreciate HOW special. She was the only one of my friends that never turned on me or made fun of me. When the other kids were trying to assert their "coolness" in front of their friends, she never felt the need to put me down just to make herself look or feel better. She was always there for me and even let me hide out in her garage when I "ran away from home".  One summer night as we sat outside, looking up into the darkening sky, a particular star caught our interest. We decided that star was going to be called Zaxpazzaz. I don't know where the word came from; it was just a nonsensical word, really, but from that moment on that star belonged to us. I miss my childhood friend but, as corny as it may sound, I find comfort knowing that she sometimes looks up into the same sky I am looking up into trying to remember, just like I am, which one of those billions of tiny lights bears the name of no other - the name Zaxpazzaz.