D.A.

While driving with a friend the other week, she mentioned that she finally thinks it's time for her family to take a vacation to Disneyland.  Her kids are 11 and 7.  In my most humble opinion, she is LONG OVERDUE.  But that is not for me to say. ;(

If you know anything about me, you know that you DO NOT open up a topic like Disneyland (or Disney World or a Disney Cruise or Euro Disney) without planning on having me give a very lengthy, enthusiastic, hyper, emotionally charged discourse on all things Disney.  I am a Disneyland fanatic.  That is no exaggeration.  Ask my husband.  Ask my kids.  They will concur.

It's probably because I was born in Southern California.  Disneyland is part of my heritage.  I have so many fond memories of that bless-ed theme park.  It was a frequent event that usually involved cousins.  Julie Beck and I would run from ride to ride.  I even remember, way back in the day, when we had to use the ticket books.  "E" tickets were the coveted prize.  They were the roller coasters.  You used those tickets wisely, lest you waste a chance at an opportunity for an adrenaline thrill.

So, I proceeded to speak at a very fast pace to my friend.  I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was trying to keep up with all the Mickey rhetoric that was flying out of my mouth.  I felt a great need to convey the urgency that yes, she must go now (go home and pack your things) and that her kids can't miss out any longer.  My mind was whirling faster than I could speak.  I was literally out of breath.  I wondered if my watery eyes were freaking her out a little.  Now I worry that she won't want to take her kids to my belove-ed Disneyland at all because, heaven forbid, they become a coo-coo like me.  I have a problem.

After going on a Disney themed vacation for 5 years straight with our kids, and now in my 2nd year dry spell, I'm having some painful withdrawls.  Seriously.

Which got me to thinking.  How can I channel all of my positive, creative, over abundance of knowledge about that simply magical place into some sort of action or cause? I'd love to be an Imagineer but I should probably only focus on one dream at a time. Jeff had a solution: become a Disney Advocate.  Advocate?  If advocate is defined as one who promotes, defends, supports, upholds, or pleads the cause of, then yes that would be a good title for me to scribble on my forehead.

Planning a trip with the fam to Anaheim?  Call me.  Need to know the best place to stay and how to get to and from the park?  Call me.  Want to order the best item on the menu at the Blue Bayou in Pirates of the Caribbean (yes, you have to eat there).  Call me.  Shows to see, hidden treasures, places to explore, trivial fluff.  I've got it all.  CALL ME!  I also am willing to have a sit down talk with hedging husbands who need help over the fence.  

And it's all yours for free.

I just ask that you eat a Sparkling Volcano in my honor.