Disney Cruise Line and other cruise lines cancel stops at Mazatlan!

I booked our Cruise on the Disney Wonder going to the Mexican Riviera last February. We will be on the Wonder from March 6^th to the 13^th. The family is excited to go on our second Disney cruise but we have had concerns about going to Mexico from the very beginning. Living in Southern California we hear a lot about the violence in Mexico and the problems with the drug cartels. The problems come across the border into parts of California. We figured that going with Disney they would not stop at a port if it was unsafe. As long as we either stayed with Disney planned Port Adventures and/or stayed on the ship we will be safe. Still we kept our eyes open for what is going on and we are watching for things happening in the ports we were scheduled to go to.

Several days ago I was looking at our reserved plans for the March 6^th-13^th Disney Wonder cruise to the Mexican Riviera. I noticed that one of the ports of call had been changed. I saw that Mazatlan was not there and Cabo San Lucas was listed twice. I thought it was a mistake and thought nothing of it. I figured that the website was wrong because I had book a Port Adventure for Mazatlan and it was still there.

Today I saw the news report saying Disney and other Cruise Lines are dropping Mazatlan and decided to look into things. I’ve received no notice about a change of itinerary or a safety concern for our cruise. First I checked the Disney Cruise Line website and I found nothing there about Mazatlan being dropped as a Port of Call. No safety warnings were posted on the site as I’ve seen in the past when there was a hurricane or other problem. In fact the page that tells about Mazatlan and showing the Port Adventures for there is still there. This is very disappointing to me. I thought Disney would do better at helping guests make informed decisions. After checking the site I decided to call DCL and ask about the stop at Mazatlan. I wanted to make sure I knew exactly what was going on. I was told that Mazatlan as been dropped as a Port of Call and that the ship will go to Cabo San Lucas for two days instead.

How do I feel about this? I have mixed feelings. I feel sad and concerned because tourists have been injured in areas where the Cartels have so far stayed out of. I feel safer because Disney showed they are willing to change plans to insure the safety of their guests. At this time I’m considering my options and watching what is going on. If things get much more violent we may change our plans and reschedule our trip and go out of Florida or go to Alaska. In truth I like that idea better but the cost is so much higher for us going from Florida or to Alaska than it is from Los Angeles to Mexico.

By either changing our plans and going out of Florida or some other location or just staying on the ship even if we go to Mexico we are sending a message to the government and tourist industry in Mexico. Get control of the drugs and violence or lose money! Hopefully someday soon they will get control so this beautiful area of the world can be enjoyed without fear. By getting control the quality of life of the area will improve because people will come and spend their money bring jobs and stability.

Pencils, Paper and Pixie Dust

I just have to share this personal story. I’ve shared before how my husband had an accident and was declared brain dead. The accident happened 13 years ago January 31^st. I’m going to focus on what helped him recover from the brain damage he suffered. It is another part of Disney Magic that we could have at home.

When Scott was released from the hospital the doctors told me I needed to find a creative outlet for Scott. He needed something that would be enjoyable for him to do so he would joyfully participate. He also needed something to work his hands and keep his brain active with learning. Now Scott had always done woodworking but that was not a good option. He still did not have enough hand control to safely use power tools, well less safe than he was before and he did not have the physical strength or energy to make things with wood. Poetry and short stories were always things he did and still does but with the injury words sometimes escaped him, were clumsy and totally frustrating to him. So word craft would not work and it did nothing for the physical side of the rehab he needed.

Scott had always dreamed of learning to draw. He had tried many times before and even his stick figures were uninteresting. In fact it is kind to say his drawings were as good as kindergarteners’ crayon in clenched fist first attempts at art. (His words not mine! Don’t be mad at me or think I’m unkind. LOL) I kind of half joked with the doctors and physical therapists about getting him drawing supplies. They did not think it funny. They thought it was inspired! So off I went and got him a set of good pencils and a quality sketch pad. I also picked up a book on the line of Drawing for Dummies. I also picked up some Disney coloring books with Scott’s favorite Disney characters to use as reference. This turned out to be a very wise move as he kept asking, “What should I draw?” Scott loves the human form and thinks the feminine form is the most beautiful of God’s creation. Tinker Bell and Ariel are his favorites and he also loves to draw fairies and mermaids of his own making. Within a few months his pictures were very respectable and he became even more excited about drawing. I also started to draw as something we could do together. Our daughter also joined in and drew pictures.

By Scott Hoagland

When we go to Disneyland we bring drawing pads and pencils and usually take some time to sit and draw while waiting for a show or ride. Sometimes we draw buildings and such around the park and sometimes we pull out one of our coloring books for reverence and draw a character. Sometimes we will stop in at one of two places at the Disneyland Resort where they have artists drawing Disney Characters. We stop and talk to the CM doing the drawing and share what we have done. They always encourage us to keep developing our skill.

Sometimes, while sitting and drawing other guests will come over to watch us draw. Within a couple of months of the accident we were taking a break sitting at the Corner Café and drawing. A guest came over and asked to purchase one of Scott’s drawings! People still occasional ask if we work for Disney or if we sell our drawings. We say no to both questions. Our drawings are for ourselves or done as gifts. To sell them would be a copyright infringement but giving them as gifts is totally acceptable. We find it helps us stop and relax when the park gets too overwhelming.

By Scott Hoagland

Scott and I don’t get the time to draw as much as we would like to but it is still something we enjoy and we hope to do more of soon. Once again Disney Magic and Pixie Dust had given encouragement that lead to healing and joy.

Self portrait by Carolyn Hoagland

What Martian Luther King Jr. means to me

Today is Martian Luther King day.

I’m white so of what importance is this day to me? Well let me tell you how important it is to me.

I was born in 1958 in Burbank, California. The town was all white. Black folks lived in Watts and other places not our city. They could be there and work there but not live there. I remember watching Dr. King on the TV. I remember hearing his I have a Dream speech. I listened to his words and they sunk deep into my soul. His dream became mine as well. I loved how he spoke of standing up for yourself with firmness but without violence. I loved how he talked of all people being united and standing for each other.

When I was a teen in the early 1970’s the first black family moved into town. Their teenage children were the first black students in the Burbank School system. There were a few people who made threats but most stood with them. When the white power youth showed up trying to burn a cross in their yard a group of several hundred high school students, including my husband showed up at to make sure it did not happen. None of them knew the family at that time. This would not have happened without the spark of understanding and acceptance MLK lit in our countries soul.

My husband and I wanted to have a large family with lots of love and laughter. Soon after getting married I found out I had a genetic disorder and cannot have children. For 12 years it was just my husband and I loving each other and our furbabies. Then we decided our dream of having a family had to happen. It took 2 years to fill out all the paperwork and be approved to adopt. The first question we were asked was would we accept a child of a different race. Before MLK changed our countries thinking about race we would never have been asked that question. It was not allowed to adopt outside of your “race” before MLK. Our answer to the question was HUMAN. We wanted a child of the human race. The color of the child’s skin made no difference to us. Then almost another year went by before we got THE call. Would we be willing to talk to a young lady who wished to place her baby with us. Would we consider a biracial child? The birthmother was white and the biological father black. We said YES!!

Now, 16 years later we have a beautiful 16 year old daughter. She is ours, a piece of Mahogany grafted upon our white pine family tree. She belongs in our family tree. She is rooted to it and cannot be removed. She is strengthened by our family bonds and we are enriched by her.

In closing I would like to leave you with this thought about America and why our cultural differences make us so great.

Racial makeup of America – Melting Pot or Stew Pot

by Carolyn Tinky Hoagland

 

For generations America has been called the "Melting Pot" of the world. I say that is a poor analogy. In a Melting Pot all items put in become homogeneous, indistinguishable from each other. We are not, never will be nor should we ever become “homogeneous”.

It is better to call America a "Stew Pot". In a Stew Pot each ingredient retains its unique properties. A piece of beef never becomes a carrot and a piece of potato never becomes pea. They never lose their identity. They do take on the flavors of the ingredients around them and are enriched for being in the pot together.

Just like the ingredients in the Stew Pot the different cultures that have come into America retain their unique flavor. Each people group has kept all or parts of their ancestral language and has passed it on to their children. They bring celebrations and traditions that they share with their children and neighbors sharing the flavor of their culture with those around them.

Each culture that comes into America adds to the strength of our great culture just as each ingredient adds to the flavor of the Stew. Take pride in you ethnic heritage! Pass it on to the next generation and share it with neighbors and friends who are of different heritage! Take pride in being an American once you become a citizen. Teach your children to be proud Americans.

Instead of saying I’m German-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American or African-American how about saying I’m American of … That way we might get rid of some of the racial decimation that is going on and focus on the problems we all need to solve together.

How to add Magic and Pixie Dust to a Day a Disney Park

Most adults do not know how to act around whimsy and a Disney Park is totally full of whimsy!

Watch a small child as they see Mickey Mouse. Take a step back and watch for a moment. What is going on in that child’s mind? Who exactly is that child “seeing”? They are seeing Mickey Mouse in his full glory! That is really him standing there in his Movie Barn!

When a young child sees Buzz Lightyear walk through Tomorrowland they yell out, “To infinity and beyond!” If Buzz hears he will wave and salute back. Why can’t an adult do that? It is wrong for an adult to “play” with the characters like that? NO it is not wrong and there is no reason an adult can’t play with the characters. It is just one more way to have fun at a Disney Park. There rules and limits to the play that must be followed.

Know the character and the movie they are from. It helps to know the general story plot.

Know their name and the names of the villain or if they are a villain the hero they are tied to.

Know the names of their friends.

Know any catch phrases they use.

If they have a hand motion or salute and you know how to do it salute them. I once saluted Buzz and he ran across Tomorrowland to give me a salute and hug.

Some of the most wonderful times I’ve had were with the characters. I often watch the parades and when Cinderella’s evil step sisters go by I boo them. Often they will stick out their tongues at me. Once they walked over to me and called out for their mother! Lady Tramain came over and “scolded” me. Another time Captain Hook was going by the Peter Pan float in the Electrical Parade. I yelled out, “Hook is a cod fish, Hook is a cod fish!” When the float came even to me Hook leaned out and shook his Hook in my face!! These and many others are memories I will always cherish.

When you are at Disneyland or any other Disney Park remember to suspend reality and enjoy the whimsy. You might ask, “How do I do that?” It is the same as when you watch a movie or read a book. When you watch a great SiFi movie or even a war movie you are taken away into that moment and universe. When it is a good story you let your mind go and are there. Do the same thing when at the park when visiting with the characters. If you play with them they play with you.

Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge...” Stretch your imagination and play with the characters!

A Date at Disneyland!

When you think of a trip to Disneyland who do you think of going? Is Disneyland for kids, families, teens looking for fun, young couples looking for excitement or is it a romantic place for couples of all ages?

I bet you did not say a romantic place for couples of all ages! Well it is!

Disneyland is a very romantic spot for my husband and I. The River Rats Jazz Band at the French Market noticed and told us we were in love 32 years ago.  Our response 32 years ago was, “Best friends forever. Romantic NEVER!” We love just walking around Main Street, especially after dark when the lights are on and stealing a kiss or just holding hands.

What is the secret to a romantic day at Disneyland?

1.       Do not be in any hurry and pick one or two things that are must do. Do you love the fireworks?? Then plan on seeing them and make sure you get the view you like the best. Maybe splurge on VIP seating. If there is a ride or show that is special to the both of you make sure you do it!

2.       Do not rush to do rides unless that is really what you want to do. Pick one or two that are special to you as a couple and enjoy and do others that have short lines that catch your attention. Does the Matterhorn have special memories for you as a couple or do you like holding each other tight as you ride? Then ride it for sure!!

3.       Take time to sit and talk. There are lots of benches around Disneyland offering beautiful views, sit and enjoy the view and people watch as you hold your sweeties hand.

4.       Look for special spots to take pictures together. In front of the Castle is obvious as is Snow White’s grotto to the right of it. My husband calls me Tink so Pixie Hallow is a place we like to take pictures. There is a small alcove on Royal Street in New Orleans with stairs leading up to a Cast Member staging area for singers and musicians. Those steps have been a place we love having our picture taken on special occasions. Don’t forget Character photo ops as well! Get a picture with your favorite toon!

 

5.       Find a nice place for dinner and make a reservation. We are a little toony so we enjoy Goof’s Kitchen but don’t do it often because of cost. Plaza Inn at the end of Main Street has a Victorian era and romantic feel. The Blue Bayou and Café Orleans are wonderful full service restaurants with a romantic touch. The French Market is a great place and has a life Jazz Band on their little stage so check the times and arrange your schedule if you want to hear the music.  The band playing there almost 32 years ago told us we were in love. We denied this at the time but just 6 months later were married. You may want to go to DCA, Downtown Disney or one of the Hotels. Make sure it does not conflict with plans to see Fireworks, Fantasmic or World of Color if those are part of your plans.

6.       If there is a place or ride in Disneyland that created a romantic memory for you in the past revisit it. Enjoy the memories while making new ones.

7.       Ignore crowds. If the person next to you is not touching you they are not there! Don’t let people bother you.

Now all that said here is what we did for our romantic 31^st anniversary at Disneyland. As we drove to the park we called and made reservations for dinner at Café Orleans. We got to the park shortly after opening. Our first stop was City Hall to get our Anniversary Pins. We told them the story of how we realized we were in love because of the band at the French Market and they gave us Happily Ever After Pins as well. We got a locker so we did not have to carry things we did not need with us but wanted available. We wondered Main Street enjoying the shops and looking around.

I had eaten lunch at Carnation Café on Main Street in December and loved the Baked Potato Soup. I had told Scott about it so we decided to have lunch there. We sat at the front of the Café were we could watch people walking up and down the street.

After a quiet lunch we decided to get our picture taken in front of the Castle. The photographer had fun taking our picture. In fact he moved us around to several locations to take pictures. The Christmas Snow had not yet “melted” off the Castle so it was even more beautiful than usual. While taking pictures at the side of the Castle we heard the music from Pixie Hallow so we decided to go there to take pictures. We spent a long time at both locations just having fun with our identical cameras.

Scott did not get to see the park in its full Christmas glory so we went to see what was left of the Christmas special things. We were disappointed but not surprised that Haunted Manson Holiday was closed but very happy that Small World was still in its Holiday overlay. So off to Small World we went to see the World. We then went to Toontown to see Mickey and enjoy time in Mickey’s home town.

We then wondered through Fantasyland on our way to Frontierland in hopes of seeing the Laughing Stock stage show at the Golden Horseshoe. No tables at the Horseshoe but no worries we refused to be bothered. A great second choice was a romantic evening ride on the Mark Twain around the Rivers of America. Stole a few kisses while watching the shore go by.

By now it was almost time for our reservation at Café Orleans. There was time for a walk around New Orleans to enjoy what was left of the Christmas Decorations then dinner. We sat outside at the Café Orleans even though the evening was cool. It offered us a beautiful view of the Rivers of America and the Mark Twain with all its lights on sailing past several times. The meal was wonderful and we sat and talked about how we realized we were in love so long ago.

After dinner we had an hour or so to wonder Main Street. We stopped at the Castle again and spent time getting our pictures taken again. We also took our own shots of the Castle with all its lights on. As the park closed and the Photographer was taking her camera down, she offered to walk with us down Main Street to take our picture on Main Street, a hard thing to do with the dark night and bright lights.

All in all a romantic and enjoyable day and the perfect way to celebrate 31 years of Pixie Dusted marriage!

What am I thankful for?

What am I thankful for?

By Carolyn (PansTinkerBell)
(This was written for the Walt's Basement contest What am I thankful for)

This year has been very hard both physically and emotionally. So what exactly do I have to be thankful for? This is not what I’d call a year to be thankful, in truth it has been a bad emotionally dry year.

I’m thankful for God and how He supplies all I need even if it is not all I want. I’ve never gone without what I truly need. I’ve seen money and food show up at my door just when it is needed the most. Even the smallest of things when important to my soul/emotions gets supplied.

My husband is still by my side even when we have disagreements. He shows me love even when we are angry with each other. My daughter is still alive and overall well. My body is still able to get up and moving each morning. I can still smile and find bits of joy.

What else am I thankful for?? I’m thankful for my friends, few as they are. I’d rather have a few true good friends that share mutual support and love than a thousand acquaintances.  My friends give me a sounding board and unending support. My friends give me a reason to reach out beyond myself and help others.

I’m thankful for Walt’s Basement and the friends I’ve made here. I have been blessed to be able to rekindle the creative/playful heart I once had by playing in the Basement.

I’m thankful for America, the great country I live in. I’m proud to call myself an American. I’m thankful for all the great men and women who have come before to stand up for the creation and protection of this great nation from the Pilgrims, Squanto, our Founding Father’s & Mother’s to all of those who have stood up for right throughout our history. I’m thankful our country is strong enough to stand up for the right. I’m thankful for and proud of our service personal and their sacrifice in service of us all. I’m thankful for each and every service man/woman who will be able to spend Thanksgiving with their family this year.

So what exactly do I have to be thankful for? MUCH!!!

Recapturing memories & Building new memories/ Rebuilding Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust during the midst of disaster

My husband and I had always loved Disneyland. We had both gone there all our lives at least once a year. We both loved to watch Disney Movies and enjoyed the whimsy of Cartoons. But at the time Disney was not as big a part of our life as it is now. Memories of Disneyland and the joy we found there helped rebuild a lifetime of memories that were stolen in one tragic moment.

Saturday, January 31, 1997 my husband went to visit his brother at his job site. His brother is a contractor and was remodeling an office. Ross, Scott’s brother told him that he needed to get certain things done before they could go out to get something to eat. Scott offered to help by taking out a lit exit sign that was no longer needed at its location. They followed the wires back to the circuit breaker and disconnected them and the light went out. They felt sure the power to the sign was cut and it was safe to cut the wires and remove it. Scott climbed the latter and followed all the safety procedures. He was on a fiberglass ladder, had rubber soled shoes and a new insolated pair of wire cutters.

Scott cut the wire and sparks flew! The dykes were shattered by the force of the electricity and pieces imbedded themselves in the cement ceiling above his head by ½ an inch. Scott climbed down the ladder and sat down at the bottom. He told everyone around that he had just been electrocuted and that his wife, little ol me would kill him for touching electricity! He has had 3 open heart surgeries and a shock is not a good thing for him. He also asked 911 be called right away. Within 30 seconds of him coming down the ladder he collapsed and went into full arrest. 911 had already been called.

There two of the construction workers knew CPR and they jumped in and started CPR within seconds of his heart stopping. The paramedic station was right around the corner and they showed up within 5 minutes of him going into arrest. They tried for a couple of minutes to get his heart going as they loaded him into the ambulance. The hospital was just 4 blocks away from the worksite. He was in the emergency room under a doctor’s care less than 15 minutes after going into full arrest. The doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists worked for another 30 minutes to get Scott’s heart going. Combined time from the start of CPR until his heart was beating steadily on its own was 45 minutes. Nobody survives CPR being done for that long without major brain damage.

My brother-in-law contacted me at home about 20 minutes after the accident. He told me Scott had been electrocuted and the doctors were doing CPR but he would most likely not survive. He told me to get there as fast as I could. Scott had our one and only vehicle and it was parked over an hour away from home just 4 blocks from the hospital! I called my parents by my dad had just blown a disk in his back and my mother was in the emergency room with him! For over an hour I called friends and family but few were answering their phones. Those who did were unable to help for various reasons. Finally I got hold of my mother in law. Mum came and picked me up and we drove to the hospital in the pouring rain. It was the worst winter storms the Los Angeles area had seen in decades! Freeways and side streets were flooded. Rock slides had filled some freeway interchanges. I tried to find somebody to watch our daughter who was 3 at the time. She is/was so hyperactive nobody could or would watch her so she came with me. Mum and I took turns chasing her around the ICU waiting room.

Before I left to see him I called Scott’s work and told them what had happened. Word spread quickly throughout the hospital he works at. He has worked at that same hospital for 27 years now. So he knows many of the 4,000 employees. By the time I got to the hospital where he was an emergency room doctor from the hospital Scott works at had gotten there. He was with me when I first saw Scott 4 hours after the accident. Scott was on full life-support and in a coma. He looked like he was having seizures but it was strange to me. First he would “posture” turning his hands out away from his body and stretching his head back. Then he would quickly go the other way with his hands turned toward his body and his chin coming down to his chest. Our doctor friend told me that one direction showed minor and possibly reversible brain damage. The other direction showed permanent irreversible damage to the brain stem and brain death. The fact Scott was bouncing between the two directions showed rather “conclusive” proof that he had at the minimum major brain damage or was brain dead. I was asked what mortuary I wanted called. I was also warned that in the slim chance he survived he would be a vegetable for the rest of his life and have no quality of life at all. I was told no decision should be made until at least 24 hours after the accident. This was to give the swelling of his brain time to go down.

At the end of 24 hours I was told that the tests they had run showed Scott had irreversible brain damage and was brain dead. They said his body “might” survive but there was no chance of any quality of life. I was asked if they could take him off life support the next morning because he was fighting the ventilator and hurting himself and the nurses. They could not give him any more sedation because that would stop his heart again. They were sure that taking him off the ventilator would allow him to die in peace. I told the doctors that he was in God’s hands not theirs and God would do the right thing. I gave permission to remove the life-support the next morning. I took my daughter home for the night and cried the night away praying that God’s will be done. I told God I needed my husband but if it was His will to take him then do it quickly and peacefully.

Monday morning came even wetter than the day before. More freeways were flooded causing closures. I was not there when Scott was taken off of life-support. 36 hours after the accident I walked into ICU. There was an excited hush in the unit. The tension was thick but not with fear or sadness! A nurse quickly came to me when I entered and escorted me to Scott’s room not telling me what I would find when I entered. What I found was not what I expected. I expected to find my husband lying lifeless or dying on the bed. What I found was him sitting up in a chair talking calmly and reasonably with the nurses!! He was telling him about the three open heart surgeries he had as a child, the first one was experimental when he was only 3 years old. He was telling him his medical history using complex medical terms! His voice was not his normal voice. He sounded like a four year old child but the words were adult. It was totally surreal!

Scott kept asking questions. “Was I electrocuted?” I answered, “Yes.” Did they have to do CPR?” Again I told him, “Yes.” “Did they have to shock me?” Once more it was, “Yes.”  He kept asking these and other questions over and over and over . . . . I quickly realized his memory was affected by the accident. I knew it was up to me to help him rebuild his memories. The first thing I did was write down all the questions he kept asking about his accident. I numbered each question and had the answer written under it. Once he had the note when he would ask, “Was I electrocuted?” I’d answer, “Number 1 dear.” This gave him the tools to answer the questions he had himself even if I had to leave to take care of our daughter or myself.

After dealing with the initial questions of what happened and what is happing now I started reaching back and talking to him about friends, family and events of our lives. I brought in pictures and showed them too him and talked about vacations we had taken. We spent a long time talking about our early friendship and our honeymoon. I kept finding a lot of the conversations kept going back to Disneyland. I found we had lots of precious memories there. The Wednesday after the accident Scott was moved from ICU to a regular room. None of the medical staff had ever thought he would leave ICU let alone so soon! On Friday, just 6 days after the accident Scott was sent home! Before we left the hospital Scott demanded to be allowed to over to ICU to say thank you to the nurses there. All of them cried when they saw him. One nurse fell off her chair in shock of seeing him walking and leaving the hospital after them seeing him in such bad shape. 30 days after the accident Scott went back to work! He needed to go back to work. Physically he should have taken longer but he needed to return to rebuild and reconnect to his memories of the little parts of life and work.

Scott said it was like his memories were there but the paths/roads to his memories had been destroyed. He needed to find a way to his memories. He needed to rebuild the paths to him precious memories. Doing things for himself, visiting places he had been, talking about family and friends helped. We also spent hours looking at pictures and talking about vacations and places we had been too. Once again Disneyland was a major part of the conversation as we are homebodies and done really travel much. We decided that when Scott was ready we would go.

When Scott was strong enough we went back to Disneyland. We waited almost a year so he could endure the stress of the crowds and being so physically active. We knew we had to consider crowds and stress because the electrocution left him nervous and quick to anger. Most people never saw the anger but it chews at him still. This is how he describes it. Have you ever walked across a carpeted floor and then touched a door knob and gotten a shock? The first words out of your mouth are not ones you would wish your children or mother to hear. You feel so angry right? That is a normal physiological reaction. The stronger the shock the more angry you feel and the longer that lasts. When you take the level of shock Scott you never lose that angry feeling. We needed to consider his emotions when we went into any situation.

When we went to Disneyland the first time after the accident Scott started to cry as walked into the park. It was tears of joy and release he cried. He was like a little child coming to the park for the first time except it was also bringing back memories.  All throughout the day we stopped and looked at the little things. Things we might have just walked past before. We made sure we got on all the rides we loved the most and enjoyed sharing the fun with our daughter. It was a healing time for all of us. It was the first time since the accident we just laughed and played for an extended time with no problems. When time came to leave Scott did not want to go. Neither did I. As we drove home that night with our daughter asleep in her car seat in the back we decided we had to get Annual Passes and keep this joy. It took another year for us to get our first Annual Pass but the wait was truly with it and we have had a pass ever since.

Disneyland helped us recapture old memories and make new ones. It allowed us to rebuild Faith in God, Trust in each other and to find the Pixie Dust of God’s gifts of joy and whimsy.