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Opening Brief     The box arrived unmarked. Corners split, tape frayed, its cardboard skin bruised as though it had tumbled through more than a postal route. Inside: onion-skin pages, mimeographed reports, memos stamped with red ink, and a case number I’d never seen before – OZ-01. Someone had filed Dorothy Gale and her companions not as fictions, but as witnesses in a contested investigation. Not as bedtime characters, but as participants in a world we were never meant to see. I was nine when I first held The Wizard of Oz in my hands. The pages smelled of dust and magic, and for the first time I realized a book could feel like contraband—like instructions disguised as story. Now, decades later, here was a file suggesting that what I felt as a child might not have been imagination at all.   I’ve chosen to share excerpts from this dossier. Whether they are satire, forgery, fantasy, or proof, I cannot say. All I can do is place them in order and annotate them where my own memories overlap.   Exhibit A: Dorothy Gale – Missing Person     Kansas County Sheriff’s Notice, 1934“Subject: Gale, Dorothy. Age: 12. Missing since cyclone event, whereabouts unknown. Presumed deceased or displaced.” Amended Report, 48 hours later:“Subject returned unharmed. Claims extensive travel. No physical evidence provided. Recommend closure.” ✎ Age 9: I underlined “missing.” I knew what it felt like to be somewhere adults couldn’t follow. Interpretation: Dorothy is not the innocent farm girl we imagine. She is the perpetual wanderer, the child who vanishes into absence. Her “home” exists only because she has left it behind. The official reports treat her return as a bureaucratic footnote, ignoring the truth of her journey and the magic she encountered along the way. Her journey reminds us that identity is formed in motion, not in place. Every step along the yellow brick road challenges assumptions about safety, belonging, and choice. Dorothy’s resilience is both learned and innate, teaching that home is not a location, but a state of self-awareness and agency.. Exhibit B: The Scarecrow – Field Notes     Botanist’s Log, Report No. 22“Specimen found upright in cornfield. Cranial cavity appears empty of seed, yet subject speaks in riddles and philosophy. Local farmers suggest fire hazard, not miracle.” ✎ I thought he was dumb until I realized most adults just sounded smart. Interpretation: The Scarecrow is not brainless. He is unprogrammed. A blank slate who speaks truths others cannot hear because they are bound by education and ego. His “lack” is not deficit—it is liberation.   He exemplifies the idea that intelligence is relational, not solitary. By observing and adapting to the world around him, the Scarecrow reveals that true understanding often arises from collaboration and attentiveness, rather than abstract knowledge alone.   Exhibit C: The Tin Man – Maintenance Log     Factory Recall Notice, 1931“Model T-1N Series: Subject to corrosion at chest cavity. Recommend removal of sentimental functions. Substitute metronomic regulator to prevent emotional interference.” ✎ Age 10: I remember the first time I felt hollow, and how that emptiness thudded louder than my heartbeat Interpretation: His tragedy is not absence, but regulation. He shows that true emotion sometimes requires rebellion against what limits it, and that even the hollowest vessel can overflow with empathy. The Tin Man’s yearning illustrates how desire shapes purpose. Even in a mechanical body, longing animates choice and action. His quest for a heart is symbolic of the universal drive to connect, feel deeply, and transcend limitations imposed by circumstance or design.   Exhibit D: The Cowardly Lion – Theatre Program     Playbill for “Trial by Roar”“One-night only performance. A lion stands accused of cowardice. Will courage reveal itself under the lights?” ✎ Age 11: I trembled during my first school play, but the applause made me braver than I was. Interpretation: Courage is performative and internal at once. The Lion embodies the universal struggle to act despite fear, and reminds us that authenticity is its own kind of bravery. His fear also teaches that vulnerability can be instructive. By confronting his insecurities, the Lion becomes a model for embracing imperfection as a necessary step toward growth, showing that courage is inseparable from self-awareness and reflection.   Exhibit E: Glinda the Good – Internal Memo     Memo, marked CONFIDENTIAL“Subject Dorothy must complete journey unaided. Only at conclusion may power of return be revealed. Failure to comply risks compromise of Emerald Directive.” ✎ Age 12: Why didn’t she just tell Dorothy the truth? Interpretation: Glinda teaches that benevolence can be strategic, and that guidance sometimes requires restraint. Her kindness is calculated, but effective. Her subtle orchestration highlights the complexity of leadership. True influence often relies on timing, discretion, and insight into human nature. Glinda’s approach shows that power exercised thoughtfully can cultivate lasting outcomes without force or coercion.   Exhibit F: Wicked Witch of the West – Grievance Filed     Land Court Petition, 1934“Complainant: Witch of the West. Grievance: Unlawful death of sibling via airborne domicile. Seeking restitution, land deed acknowledgment, and return of footwear.” **Stamp: DENIED. Reason: Complainant deemed ‘wicked.’” ✎  I once asked my teacher if villains were ever right. She told me not to ask again. Interpretation: She is the shadow of justice, a reminder that morality is not absolute, and that perspective determines whether an action is heroic or villainous. The Witch also reflects how neglect and dismissal can breed resistance. Her persistence reveals that those labeled “evil” often arise from systemic disregard, reminding us that accountability and fairness are as vital as courage or virtue.   Exhibit G: The Wizard – Affidavit/Flight Log     Affidavit sworn by ‘Oz the Great and Powerful’“I am all things. I am nothing. Pay no attention to the absence behind this declaration.” ✎ Age 9: The first time I caught an adult lying, I felt like Toto pulling back the curtain. Interpretation: Authority can be spectacle. The Wizard reminds us that appearances are often more

If you’ve ever felt like the world is too big, too confusing or just downright overwhelming to tackle on your own, then this blog post is for you. I know what it feels like when it seems like there are so many things in front of us that we can’t do anything about because they’re just too big. It’s not true though! Finding ways to be more savvy and less overwhelmed by our lives is actually really easy with these 61 tips that will make you a savvier traveler and give you some peace of mind at home. Read on if travel has been on your mind lately but maybe you don’t have the time or money to take a break from life right now – this post is perfect for all types of travelers! 1. Be prepared with a travel kit that includes necessities such as medications Make sure to carry a travel kit with you when going on vacation. This will make it easy for you to stay healthy while away from home by including things like medicine and other items that are essential for your health. Whether you’re going for a week or two on vacation, or on a business trip, make sure to travel prepared. My travel kit always includes tons of medicine. I don’t want to catch something while out on the road, so I’m prepared for anything! It’s also a good idea to include emergency contact information into your travel kit. 2. Keep your passport handy at all times – don’t put it in a safe or locker Don’t leave your passport in a safe. I don’t want to sound like your mother, but you should keep it with you at all times because if it’s stolen then that could cause problems when going through security or leaving the country. Always keep your passport in a place you can easily access it in case you need to make an emergency exit. 3. Update apps to your destination’s currency to track your spending You can track your spending more easily if you update the apps on your phone to the destination’s currency. That way, it will be easier for you to check how much money you have left so that there are no surprises when it comes time to pay. If you’re traveling, it’s a good idea to set your phone to the local currency so that all of your transactions are automatically labeled with their correct prices. Fiddling around with exchange rates all the time is not worth it! 4. Book flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to get the cheapest fares The best time to book a flight is on Tuesday or Wednesday. That’s because most people are looking for flights over the weekend, so you can find some great deals if you have patience! I first learned this trick from my flight attendant friends – and I can now confirm it works amazingly well! I’ve saved thousands of dollars by simply following this one travel hack. 5. Use Google Maps offline so you can still navigate even without a connection If you’re driving or walking between places and don’t have a data connection, use Google Maps’ offline mode. It’ll still give you directions and useful information like the distance to your destination, what streets to take, and how long it’ll take to get there. You can also download a map of your places of interest ahead of time, and then you get to use it anywhere – even on things like subways! 6. Carry a credit card from home country as well as one from destination country If you are traveling to another country, it’s always a good idea to bring your credit card from your home country with you. You don’t want to rely on just one or two cards when travelling because that could be risky if one of them gets lost or stolen. I always bring my credit card from home, as well as one from the place I’m going or alternatively an international card such as Revolut. In case anything happens, I always have a way to get money and communicate with people at home. What are your own best travel hacks? Traveling can be a stressful and terrifying experience, but it doesn’t have to be. By following these simple tips, you will always know what to expect, where your passport is at all times, how much money you’re spending on flights and accommodations (and when), and most importantly, that you are ready in case of emergency. What are some of your own best traveling hacks? Share them with us below!