The Disney #magicalmoms FL Mom Bloggers:

• Shellie Ross of Blog 4 Mom
• Daisy Sutherland of Dr. Mommy LLC
• Leigh Caldwell of Theme Park Mom
• Melanie Edwards of Modern Mami
• Stefanie Fauquet of Mommy Musings
• Cindy Schultz of The Mom Maven

We were also joined by:

Tanya McNally
Maria Bailey
Leanne Jakubowski
Laura Spencer
Mary Haupt

The whirlwind time we spent together learning all about Disney and how they create that special magic was incredible. I have made some forever friends. The special touches, the little things that made it all perfect not only for us, but for our families who joined us were beyond compare.

I know a little about the Disney magic. And I was reminded in a forever cherished way this trip.

I grew up around Disney. It was at one time where both of my parents worked. It was, when I was in High School, where I worked. Grad Night for me was in the Magic Kingdom. I met my first pen pal at the Contemporary Resort Hotel pool.

When my mom became ill with cancer, Disney supported her through her illness in large and small ways. Holding her job for her ‘for when she gets better‘. During the worst days of her cancer fight by bringing her food on crisp linen with the instructions to ‘Just leave it by the door. Don’t clean it up. We’ll get it tomorrow.’ (Imagine if their own employees will do that for each other, consider just how far those employees will go for a guest. Pretty darn far, I’d say.) Consoling me and offering me assistance after she died.

Disney when I was younger, was my playground. It was where I grew up. It was the place of many milestones and celebrations for me. I brought my husband for his first trip to Walt Disney World. It holds a special place in my heart. I relish bringing my kids to Disney, even if it is to go to the LEGO Store.

When I was younger, the top of the Contemporary Resort Hotel was a Restaurant/Lounge called Top of the World. It had an observation deck where you have an incredible view of the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. In the lounge they had a drinks list, and on that list was drinks like Monorail Yellow and Monorail Blue. I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to finally get to try those drinks!

To my dismay, by the time I was old enough, the Top of the World was no more. It was closed to make way for what is now the California Grill.

I had the opportunity to have dinner there last Saturday night with my new friends. As the sun set behind the Magic Kingdom, and the appetizers were devoured, I was having a surreal moment. Not because I was in a fancy restaurant, but because I was eating dinner at the Top of the World!

Without my mother.

We had planned to eat here. It simply never happened. Time ran out.

As I sat there, talking and laughing and enjoying my dinner, my mother was never far from my mind.

I went out to the observation deck with some lovely ladies, and we took photos of the setting sun. We found someone to take a photo of us. We laughed and smiled and enjoyed the view. I remembered her.

After sun had set, and our fabulous waiter suggested we head out to the deck once again to watch the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom. We did.

As I stood out there, watching the fireworks explode in the sky above, and hearing Jiminy Cricket’s voice as if he was whispering in my ear, I felt my mother’s presence. I felt like I was 8 years old again; when I held my mother’s hand and watched the fireworks go off and remembering those special moments that fade over time. That had faded in my memory until that evening.

As I turned to her, because she knew about my connection to Disney and how much it means to me, and all I could say was

“Thank you for this. You have no idea what this means to me.”

But I know she does.

And I can’t thank her enough. For everything.

There’s another side to that coin, however….

You can be like my husband, who sees things like that and thinks “I want to do that!”. So you drive to the fireworks store; the one that makes you sign a waiver absolving them of any injuries you may incur lighting off their merchandise.

You fill your cart.

Then, you invite friends to your home to swim and eat.

When the sun goes down, you go to an undisclosed location, set up your cameras, and get the best of both worlds. In the distance, you can see the fireworks by the masters at Walt Disney World. Behind you, you see other “neighbors” lighting off their firework contribution. Above you, you see this:

Makes you proud to be an American.

Well, that and an in-ground backyard pool with water guns and floating chairs. Good friends and good food complete the celebration perfectly.

Happy Independence Day, America!

38 is shaping up to be pretty darned great.

______________________________________________________________

So my family went to Busch Gardens and I wrote about it here.

A teacher in Port St. Lucie, Florida got her job back, and I’m not happy about it. Read why.

This week, at 5 Minutes for Special Needs, I talk about my son’s broken volume control issues and request knowledge on the best earplugs.

I loved his videos, I loved his music. I proudly displayed his Thriller album on my wall, along with the poster of him in the yellow sweater. I religiously watched Billie Jean, and when they debuted the World! Premiere! Video! of Thriller, I was right there with millions of others, watching video (and television!) history being made. I was there.

I’d loved Michael Jackson long before that though.

At my summer camp (at Disney, of all places! Kinder Kare HOLLA!!) one of my teachers had a copy of Off the Wall, and we would listen to that album on the playground, during pool time, and every chance we could. We’d sing “She’s Out of My Life” quietly and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” at the top of our lungs. We’d dance to “Off the Wall” and “Rock With You” in mini dance offs. I still count that as one of my best Summers ever.

His music would show up in my life again and again. PYT. Bad. The Way You Make Me Feel. Smooth Criminal. Say, Say, Say. Black and White. Leave Me Alone.

Especially We Are The World.

I even owned the Jacksons Victory cassette. You should check it out. I would have sold my soul to attend the concert. Sadly, my mom didn’t buy it.

Growing up in Orlando, it was known that Michael Jackson spent time here. Locals talked about how they saw him here or there, and everybody knew about his Suite at the Royal Crown Plaza Hotel. You knew when he was in town, or at the park. You just knew.

Michael Jackson was a huge part of my childhood. And now with the deaths of Ed McMahon (Star Search) and Farrah Fawcett (Charlie’s Angels) my childhood is officially over.

I guess it’s time to be a grownup.

Drat.

This Father’s Day something in me just broke. My post was inspired by this post, and not because the post itself was awful, because it was AMAZING. I sat at my computer with tears rolling down my face because at one point in my life, I thought I had that. I thought I had that kind of relationship too. And maybe I did. At that point in my life. I no longer have that, and honestly up until that moment I didn’t think I missed it as much anymore. Many years of therapy and time have helped me cope, and I thought I was okay.

Until that post.

And this song.

I’m not okay. But I feel better, and that is all I can ask for because that is about the only closure I will probably get.

Just breathe. Yes.

_________________________________________________________

I’m in Charlotte, NC to visit family, then rush home to unpack then repack to spend a few days out at Disney with some incredible Mom Bloggers. This is one of the few times my family will get to join me on a Blogger trip, and I am really excited. The boys have no idea where they are going, and I think they will be very surprised!!

So with that, I’m off!

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

It’s summer, and whoever said I should wait until summer to do all those “home improvement” projects should be shot.

Oh yeah, that person was me. Oops.

So, I’m swamped. I’m cleaning, I’m packing to go to North Carolina to visit family for a few days, and I’m posting at other places. For instance:

– At Deep South Moms Blog I discuss the Alex Barton case and my opinion on whether Wendy Portillo should get her job back.

– At Uptake.com, I’m talking about our latest family day trip to Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay and why a large wooden roller coaster might not be the best first roller coaster experience for a 7 year-old.

- I gave away some delicious Haagen Dazs Five pints of ice cream to two lucky winners! (Congratulations to Drew and Virginia!)

- And next week? Check The Crazed Mommy Reviews for a chance to win a Poken for your very own!! Just in time for Blogher!

So, if you see a green van on the highways with two frazzled parents and two boys fighting over who’s playing what games on who’s DS, feel free to wave. I will wave back, I promise!

Are we THERE yet?!?

These are days you’ll remember
Never before and never since, I promise

Spiff graduates from middle school
June 4, 2009

Will the whole world be warm as this
And as you feel it,
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky

Our Family, 2009

It’s true that you
Are touched by something
That will grow and bloom in you

These are days that you’ll remember
When May is rushing over you
With desire to be part of the miracles
You see in every hour

Sand Castle Construction 101

You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky
It’s true that you are touched
By something that will grow and bloom in you

These are days
These are the days you might fill
With laughter until you break

Wha? It's Magically Delicious!

These days you might feel
A shaft of light
Make its way across your face
And when you do
Then you’ll know how it was meant to be

If you look close, you can see a rainbow!

See the signs and know their meaning
It’s true
Then you’ll know how it was meant to be

Cheers!

Hear the signs and know they’re speaking
To you, to you

These are the Days – 10.000 Maniacs

I want a mix tape.

Not just any mix tape, mind you. The kind that was given to you by someone who was crushing on you. The one with all those songs hand-selected by that guy, you know the one. The one you stole kisses from in front of your locker. THAT kind of mix tape.

Sure, now all you have to do is pick songs from iTunes, burn them on a CD, and viola! But that’s not the kind of mix tape I’m talking about. That’s too easy.

I’m talking about the one where you listened to the radio for HOURS; waiting for that ONE song to be played. When it finally did play, you had to be ready to record and through the entire song you prayed the DJ would wait to do their schtick until after the last note was played. You had to be quick too. One second too long and you had to try to reset the tape so the next song will record over your mistake.

It was mixing and DJing back in the day. It meant something. You had to work for it to make it perfect.

This was the mix tape every girl wanted. The one with songs of undying love and emotion. Those forever songs that, even now when you hear them play even in Muzak form, you are transported in your mind back to that dance floor at that dance where you prayed the chaperones didn’t see where your date’s hands were REALLY going. Those songs that stand the test of time. The ones you might put on one of those iTunes burned CDs today.

Remember that mix tape?

I want THAT mix tape.