Earlier this year, my mother told the children that she wants us to go to Disneyworld this summer.
Disneyworld....
It was one of those places that my ex and I once talked about taking the family there. Somewhere deep inside my tight-wadded heart, I secretly loved it. Visions of the rides where the kids and my ex would be able to get on, and the ensuing laughter and squeals danced through my head.
But that was back at a time when divorce wasn't even in my vocabulary. As they say in the Apollo 13 movie, "Hell, we've never even simulated that before." And now, here I am faced with the prospect of perhaps having to go to Disneyworld without my ex.... A woman whom I still love. A woman whom I still detest.
I know, I know. "BA, you're being too mopey. Snap out of it and go have fun with your mother and kids!"
But the human heart, or at least mine, can be quite the touchy child. After all these years, I have yet to see LOST. I loved the parts of the first season that I saw, but haven't been able to get myself to watch the rest yet, knowing full well that's what the ex and her boyfriend enjoyed as they camped out at his place while we were still quite married....
After all these years, I said that I would draw the strength to finally watch the show some time this year. But Disneyworld? That's too sudden!
I wonder if I will break down in tears? I wonder what the children or my mother would say if they caught me breaking down? What about the crowds? Would they think that perhaps I am somehow injured while waiting in line to ride It's a Small Small World? Would Goofy run up and try to give me CPR? Now that would be funny.
Yeah, I know I'm sulking still, I know the world doesn't center around me, and that I Don't Have Any Problems. And for heaven sakes, I AM a man, and somehow I'm sure I'll survive-- oooh horrors-- Disneyworld.
Just the same, if it does come to that, I think I may need to hold my daughter a little extra close. I hope she doesn't mind. She's getting old enough that she starting to not like being coddled. It's just that, she's the only thing I have left that's close to the woman I once loved. They grow so fast, but I am hoping that she can still be daddy's little girl for just a little while longer... at least until after Disneyworld.
Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go over to the forums and talk about stocks or something while I search for my misplaced man-card.
Disneyworld
April 3rd, 2009 at 03:12 am
April 3rd, 2009 at 03:29 am 1238725783
April 3rd, 2009 at 03:38 am 1238726325
April 3rd, 2009 at 09:34 am 1238747685
April 3rd, 2009 at 01:14 pm 1238760868
April 3rd, 2009 at 01:33 pm 1238762032
April 3rd, 2009 at 02:02 pm 1238763749
Other people get emotional simply because it is a trip they've always dreamed of taking. Or maybe they are there with a sick child or ailing parent who may not be around much longer. And I'm sure others are emotional for reasons similar to yours.
My point is, don't let any of those concerns stop you from having a fantastic vacation with your kids. And don't hesitate to let your guard down and act like a kid yourself sometimes. Disney World is the best place I know to do that.
Let me know if you decide to go. We'll be there for 2 weeks in August. If you're down the same time, maybe we could get together.
April 3rd, 2009 at 02:28 pm 1238765337
April 3rd, 2009 at 03:09 pm 1238767799
I put off Disney for many years - kids too little, too many little kids, the drive, etc. etc. etc. When we went my kids were 10,9,5,4,3 and it was THE BEST TIME ever as a family. You'll forget the emotional baggage stuff the minute you go on Space Mountain. And like Steve, I have wonderful memories of Disneyland with my great-grandmother loving It's a Small World.
Most importantly, you will be making memories for your kids. That is what we as parents strive for - good memories for our kids to revisit.
April 3rd, 2009 at 07:18 pm 1238782702
April 4th, 2009 at 03:52 am 1238813539
We will also be going to Orlando soon. I love it. It has a mystical power all of its own. Everyone there becomes a child. I especially love Blizzard Beach. If you have a chance to go there, your kids, you, and your parents will love it.
April 5th, 2009 at 06:21 pm 1238952068
And as for the financial part, you will probably only do this once (unlike our buddy Steve!) so focus on the memory making more than the money!
Oh, and don't forget all those other fun Orlando places, like SeaWorld and the Dixie Stampede! FUN!
April 6th, 2009 at 01:55 am 1238979320
The ex and I used to go A LOT (remember, we flew standby, so, if flights to wherever we had planned were too full, we would just rent a car in Miami and drive there!....it was the only way/place to get over the ¨missed¨vacation!!)....You´ll love it...in fact, it might even help you exorcize the sorrow!! When I think of Disney World now, I don´t think about all those times I went with W., but about the fun we had with Ale!
April 7th, 2009 at 04:10 am 1239073818
April 7th, 2009 at 03:16 pm 1239113769
April 8th, 2009 at 05:35 am 1239165340
April 9th, 2009 at 11:30 pm 1239316250
And like Disney Steve, it's an emotional place. My parents once participated in one of the impromptu skits at Epcot, playing Romeo and Juliet. They were in their 70s at the time, and just thinking about my dad (now gone to Celestial Disney) playing Romeo makes me choke up.
Go, go, go.
Take pictures of you, the kids and Disney Steve posing with Mickey or Cinderella and we'll all vicariously enjoy it with you.
April 10th, 2009 at 12:55 am 1239321318
And, even if you do tear up thinking about "what could have been" ... DisneySteve wasn't telling tall tales about people crying at Disney. I get a little misty eyed everytime I see the Castle, and I remember the first time my daughter "got it" about Cinderella living there.
April 21st, 2009 at 03:15 am 1240280149
April 25th, 2009 at 03:14 pm 1240668843
Do you need anymore 'go's?
It's the 'life passing you by' comment that rings true. This is the hurdle to leap over. Not athletic? How about the plain ole put yourself out there time.
Life is too short, not a dress rehearsal, and whatever those EST people used to say.