I confess. I have never been to WDW even though my daughter worked there via their college program. I haven't really had the desire. Although I love just about everything that Disney has created, for me, the biggest appeal to DL is the nostalgic feeling I receive . I walk through DTD, as I've done for years with my family, and I think of all the great times we've had there together. A flood of nostalgia washes over me as soon as I enter the gates of DL. I think of Walt and the generations of families that have walked down Main Street. Everywhere I go, I am reminded of one time or another spent there with my family or friends. Just name an attraction and I can relate some kind of personal experience to it. I've been going there since I was a baby. That's what has brought me back time and time again. It has nothing to do with new attractions. Not long ago, I mentioned the magic of Disneyland and was quickly slapped in the face--It's not magic, you see? It's all a show. Duh! But, I wasn't talking about the show. I was talking about imagination, emotions, and the product of the show....Anyway, I still carry these memories with me whether at DL or not. And, being at DL, at least the last few times, has yielded few memorable moments. We spend most of our time battling the sea of humanity--maneuvering from one location to the next. And so then I think, I could just take the family somewhere quieter, much cheaper, and gather a wealth of good times. Like, for example, riding the train from Williams, Az to the Grand Canyon. That's something my family enjoys doing every year. It's good old fashioned family fun....Kind of like DL used to be.
Boy, that sounds like I could have written it! But the mention of The Grand Canyon (or any National Park) makes me painfully aware of how crowded those places have become. Like Disneyland; we try to do our visits in the "off" season. I hate having to make reservations or risk having no place to sleep. ALSO:
The Grand Canyon is special to me. Not to be all--woowoo and start rubbing crystals together or anything, but there's a definite comforting vibration that makes me feel good. I feel it around the town of Williams as well. And, the train ride is a great and relaxing time.
We are actually doing Vday with my daughter's family tomorrow. But Rod did bring me flowers. We are the same way with the Grand Canyon. We did not want to leave last year and hope to be able to swing by sometime this fall. Very spiritual. (I was trying not to buy souvenirs on our trip last summer. After seeing the Condors I ended up buying a stuffed one and hanging it over my bed. Just looking at it reminds me of what a great time we had.)
Awww...did Peter die?? I didn't catch that anywhere. I loved watching The Monkees on Nickelodeon while my mom was making dinner.
TGIF everybody. I don't know about you guys, but this week has seemed abnormally long...time to party!!!
RNIFTNTS: Driving in the snow is scary!! Especially when everyone is hurrying down the mountain before the chain restrictions are implemented. We made it with no real problems. The worst thing was having to use 4WD to park at the hotel.
I'm glad you got to your hotel safely! Sounds like you might be hunkered down for a day or so... Keeping my fingers crossed that the weather stays away for my rescheduled beach weekend. They say it's supposed to snow again on Thursday (when I'm leaving), but they haven't been right about anything yet.
We managed, for the most part, to have the snow in front of us the first day and behind us the second. We just had to get down the mountain before it really started sticking to the road. The problem at the hotel was that they had not shoveled and there was snow with ice under it. Even in 4W we were sliding quite a bit. It has been sunny and beautiful in Renton the past 3 days. Really hope you get to pull off your weekend this time.
I've been working on cleaning "the hoard" out of the garage. I can now, not only walk around inside, but have gotten to the point of organizing the stuff in my cabinets. Vietnam Veterans were in the area collecting donations and I opened my door and started piling things in the drive way. I gave them a substantial donation of goods. It's a great feeling to be free of so much clutter AND do something good for someone else--all at the same time.
Something we really have to work on. People keep saying, "Have a garage sale or sell it on ebay!!" Nope! Too much work; I would much rather donate. And now that it looks like Rod's mom is going to be going to a home; and we are going to have to empty her house...…….........Salvation Army, bring your truck!!
I do have a number of collectable items that I plan on selling on ebay. I've sold quite a bit before on there before, but it is a hassle sometimes. And, there is no way in hell I'd have another garage sale or estate sale. When one of my grandma's died, several years ago, we had an estate sale. It was a nightmare. We should have hired one of those services that do it for you. You don't make as much money, obviously, but you can get rid of the stuff and make a few dollars. Plus, you don't have to watch people rummage through your loved one's things.
Our plan for the MIL's house is to have a week for family to come and claim anything they want. Then sort through anything that may be valuable (not much, I know, as consignment/antique stores are full of most of the type of crap she has saved.) I refuse to spend more than one weekend on this. Then, rent a dumpster and a snow shovel. And hire someone to do the shoveling. I am a little more sentimental about my own stuff and keep trying to get kids and grandkids to take it. But we may end up renting a dumpster as well. In this opulent society; everybody has more stuff than the want already.
