Fun with Dick and Jane (or in this case, Jenni and Jeff)

Today my daughter and her family left for a week at Disney World. Now let me just say that when anyone is going to Disneyland or Disney World who isn't ME, I get a bit cranky. That aside, here's how the morning went.

Since I had the honor of driving them to the airport, they arrived at my house around 9am for the people and suitcase transfer. I asked the kids if they wanted to make one more visit to the bathroom but was informed that they could not go at my house. Huh? Jenni then told me that if they let them go inside they'll start messing around and delay them. To which Vika rolled her eyes in her best pre-teen manner and said, "We wouldn't take that long, really."

I asked Jenni for her keys so I could get her mail and babysit her three cats. (Oh, yes, not only do they go to Disney World without me, but I have to feed, de-litter, and clean up after the cats). Jenni noted that Jeff just needed to move their car out of the driveway first.

Finally managed to get the kids, adults, suitcases, cameras, sweatshirts, backpacks, purses, snacks, books, etc. in the car and off we went. Traffic wasn't too bad so we made it to the airport in about 40 minutes. I dropped them off, watched as they took all their stuff out of the car. Watched as they kept trying to corral the kids who were anxious to get into the airport. Hugs and kisses all around and then I drove away.

Got about 2/3 of the way home and traffic, again, wasn't too bad which was good because I really had to pee. Then the phone rang.

Jenni: Mom, we forgot to give you the keys!
Me: Crap! Do you still have that spare in the birdhouse in the back?
Jenni to Jeff: Hey, do we still have that spare key in the birdhouse in the back? What? We don't have that birdhouse anymore? No spare key?
Jenni to me: I guess there isn't a spare key anymore.
Me: So what's the plan?
Jenni to Jeff: What should we do, Jeff? What? Oh, he said we could Fed Ex the keys when we get out there.
Me: Well, since you're getting there late tonight you won't be able to do that until tomorrow which means I won't get them until Thursday. Now, I won't mind not going over to take care of the critters until Thursday, but they may not like it!
Jenni: Oh. Jeff, that won't work - she won't be able to feed the cats until Thursday!
Me: Guess I'll have to turn around and come back up there and one of you will have to go back out through Security and meet me at the drop off spot.
Jenni: Maybe we can leave the keys at a will-call desk.
Me: No way! I'm not going to pay $5 bucks to park the car for 20 minutes and schlep up to the airport. One of you can meet me at the curb.

So we agreed to that and I said I'd call them when I was almost there so they could be at the curb and ready. When I called back the phone rang and rang. Apparently my daughter had a chance to go to the bathroom!!! Lucky her! Finally Jeff grabbed her phone and said she'd call me right back. She did and told me the girl at Security would actually meet me at the curb with the keys so they wouldn't need to leave the sterile area. Cool! Jenni told her what my car looked like and what my name was.

I got to the airport, drove to the Delta drop off, scanned the crowd but didn't see a Security girl. Finally I saw a short man at the end of the line holding up some keys. Apparently he recognized Lola (that's my car). I pulled up only to discover that it actually was a girl, a very tough looking girl. Rolled down my window and she barked, "What's your name??" Scared me for a minute and I almost forgot thereby blowing the whole escapade. But at the last second I remembered and blurted out, "Sandi!!" She nodded in that cool cop way and handed me the keys.

And, again, I drove home.

The future is back!!

Last year when I first started this blog one of my postings was about Disneyland and my favorite exhibit as a kid - the Monsanto House of the Future.

Today I heard that it is coming back!! They are actually building a new one as we speak and it will be open in May. The article says it won't be so space-agey this time, but more like a place where people might actually live. But it's still the house of tomorrow!

I just called Ed to inform him that we WILL be heading to D-Land sometime this year. He signed heavily, but agreed.

Have Gnome, Will Travel

When my mother-in-law was sick in January, my daughter, Jenni, bought my husband, Ed, a little travel gnome to make him smile. For some reason, Ed likes gnomes! I bought him one for the yard a year or so ago, but it has never been outside - instead it has a special place in our living room next to the big screen tv! So the little travel gnome seemed like a fitting companion.

He's been to Disneyland with us. After a Danish and a Latte, he was ready to roll! Favorite spot was Fantasyland. But he also loved the Matterhorn - reminded him of his childhood.

Last week he joined us in Las Vegas, and then out to Chicago to visit my dad. Lots of excitement at the airport when he found the two airports on our breakfast table!!

Later he joined my dad and me for hot fudge sundaes at Oberweis Dairy. Now we just need to find a name for him - "travel gnome" sounds so impersonal!

When You Wish Upon A Star................

My daughter commented that perhaps I could watch her kids again next weekend! Isn't that adorable........

Actually, this weekend I'll be in Disneyland! The Happiest Place on Earth! I've always been a shameless Disneyland junkie, and my daughter definitely inherited the "condition". The Magic Kindom opened in July, 1955 - one day before my 9th birthday. My first trip there was in 1956 and I was totally in awe. Walking down Main Street was magical - flower stands, the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor, the General Store where you could listen to conversations from the early 1900's - so many wonderful things.

But my favorite land was Tomorrowland and my favorite attraction was the House of Tomorrow . It was round and up on stilts. They had incredible futuristic things like TV's that hung on walls, ranges that would cook food with special waves, a device that allowed you to turn on the tv without getting up, even a lamp you could turn on by clapping your hands! I loved it! My dad and I loved science fiction and anything to do with the future. I never bought the Mad Maxx version of the future so this house and all the things in it had to be true.

There was also the GE Carousel of Progress and the People Mover - not sure if they were there in the beginning, but they were part of the magic of Tomorrowland.

Back then there wasn't a New Orleans Square or Space Mountain or Thunder Mountain Railroad. But there was the Matterhorn, the Monorail, and Tinkerbell flying from Sleeping Beauty's castle to the top of the mountain before the fireworks started. I always hated to leave - in fact I would walk backwards out of the park so I could continue to look at the lights (being less than agile, my mom was always thrilled about this!!).

As I grew up we traveled from Tucson to Anaheim often - it was especially nice to have a cousin living in Anaheim so the trip was more affordable for my family. As an adult, I went there when I was 7 months pregnant, and took my kids there for the first time when they were 5 (they're twins). The year they turned 10 was very difficult for me - they were growing up so fast. So I decided that we would spend their 10th birthday at Disneyland. Any excuse to go!! And we went there every summer for the next 3 or 4 years.

Even now, when I go to Disneyland, I need to walk in the first time via Main Street. And I still get the same feelings I had that day in 1956 - the place has changed, but the excitement hasn't.

I asked Vika and Eamon what they would like me to buy them at Disneyland. Vika threw open her arms and said, "Anything!!!" Eamon wants cookies!

At the end of the day, I still leave the Park walking under the lights of Main Street - and for the last several steps I still walk backwards.