OBSERVATIONS

     Still in Disney and still having a great time. Today we are off to the Magic Kingdom and looking forward to the new rides in Fantasyland and the fireworks tonight. Of course, one of my major assignments today is to find Olaf merchandise and whatever there is for Maleficent. Such are the goals of a grandmother.
     Disney is indeed magic. If one were to base all one's evaluation of the world, at large and local, on the newspaper, TV and other media, as well as the hate mail I receive from one really sick animal, it would be a grim evaluation. But after these days spent in one of my most favorite places on Earth things change. This place reminds me of what America truly is. It is family groups, from baby to great grandparents, reunions, newlyweds on a honeymoon, graduates celebrating their achievements, birthday celebrants (Ahem),and couples, older couples, just wandering around, going to shows, people watching and talking.
     People do talk here. They sit down next to a stranger waiting for a show to start or to move forward on a line and they get to talking. For some reason people tell me everything about their lives. Sometimes it is hard to hear sad stories, but always good to see the triumphing over that and coming to celebrate in Disney. I met a wonderful woman who has worked hard with her son who is on the autistic spectrum and  at 23 he will be graduating college and hopefully going to try for a job as a storybook artist with Disney in California. He showed me his artwork and we spoke and I gave him my grandson's email who is at Disneyland California. A connection made.
     We joked with kids and laughed with parents. We took pictures for some and spoke to the workers. One lovely young man from Brazil directed us incorrectly and then came running over to personally walk us to where we needed to go and we spoke about the World Cup to take place in his country and then he came running back again with a coupon for 2 free drinks. I guess I am a cute old lady! We gave him a commendation at Guest Relations.
     This is America, where people are friendly and care, where good prevails and the same person who has no patience for a ten minute supermarket checkout line, will wait calmly for two hours to get on a really fun Toy Mania ride that lasts for two minutes. I guess when people are in a good mood the world around reflects it. If only we could transfer that mood to CV. If only we could dip David Israel and cohorts in a bit of the Disney magic. If only.......If only wishes really did come true...........