Four Moments at Disneyland
(June, 2011) Scene 1: Lunch on Main Street U.S.A., Disneyland
The waiter carried a bowl overflowing with whip cream, a candle burning on top. "Happy Birthday, Rachel!" My aunt cheerfully says. This year will be the 6th birthday I've spent in Brazil, away from home. Good bye "Happy Birthday" and hello "Feliz Aniversario." It might not be the right day, but now is when I get to celebrate with my family. And with Disneyland. Along with my dessert, I received a birthday button with my name on it. I think everyone should wear name tags. It just makes life more friendly. And when you wear a birthday button in Disneyland, everyone says "Happy Birthday." I wore my button two days in a row. And got many more well-wishers than I deserved.
Scene 2: Middle of the night at the hotel
John and I shared a bed, letting my mom have her own. I am fine with this arrangement because John is gumby-like as soon as he is sleeping, and I can shove him back to his corner of the bed if he crosses the line. He was already asleep when I crawled in bed, and I was drifting out when he bolted up, looked at something very intently and stated, clear as day, "I think I won," before returning to his curled up gumbyness. I think he did.
Scene 3: California Screamer in California Adventure
If you didn't know, Disneyland is two parks: the Magic Kingdom (with the castle and all) and California Adventure. The second day there we crossed over and visited the newer addition, California Adventure. The perfect roller coaster is like hot sauce. Hot and spicy, but not so spicy as to override the flavor. If all you are thinking is "burn!" it is overkill. If you don't have your sinuses opened, you haven't got enough. Roller coasters kill it by being shaky, rattling your brains until you don't want any other rides either. Going upside down seven times is also overdoing it. Disney, as always, has found perfection in California Screamer. Smooth, 0-60, one loop, and two airborne drops. Ahh, the flavor. The best hot sauce, by the way, is found in the plastic bottle with the rooster on it.
Scene 4: Talking to strangers in the Emporium
My mother talks to strangers. I've tried to tell people that this is genetic, but they still don't understand this habit I have. My mom couldn't find the door at the Emporium. She kept trying different things that looked like doors, but were decorations. This happens sometimes at Disneyland. Hopefully less at other places. Lori, who is an inventory specialist, helped her find the door. Thus began the conversation. Between "Let me help you" and "Thank you," my mother was talking about Brazil and her daughter and her 160 street children who would love something with Mickey Mouse on it. Lori said she would love to help out. Come back tomorrow and see.
We never saw Lori again. She was off work by the time we returned to the Emporium, but she left a big bag of goodies: Enough buttons, temporary tattoos, book marks, and door hangers for every one of my kids and more. Straight from Disneyland. I rather love that place.