just like to sneak in a few observations & past experiences.
i think not forcing the desired encounter is the way to go. i
don't think anyone don't understand that every parent has
their child best interest @ heart.
but others can lose the meanings for special greets when it
become more important to them them their child.
we have been doing
dcl cruises since the wonder 's first. on that
cruise we didn't have any expectations because we didn't know
anything about cruising. still it holds some of our best /precious
memories. when we did our first in 99, we really thought it
would be our last too instead of the beginning.
i hope dcl never has to close down such special moments because
of poor guests response. it reminded me of previous threads
where so many hold the feelings so tight-fist that their hearing
are loss. i think it a situation that has many correct answers
pending one's own personal background.
i agree with the "thought" of keeping encounters secret if one is
trying to argued that their family is more disney deserving vs.
other families. the only time i have shared "ours" ~ was a community
board thread where i felt comfortable & friendship.
i think most of us have connections to family members that life
has placed many challenges in their paths. if a simple act of
kindness helps them to forget the heart aches & misery- is also where
i think the true value "lies"~ in all the special moments any cruise
member create. we had close families that knows to well about
the pain of serious , life threatening conditions. however, all 3
of our children are healthy - & as many as my co-workers remind
me...they don't abuse etoh, drugs-rx/street. they don't even
smoke. i considering these facts as our blessings.
now my children are growing into adulthood and finding new
thrills in different interests, i never get tired watching others
having their special /family time & remembering ours. what got my
interest here, was the "point" made by posters citing many
different but no less magical -disney moments. hope they remain
precious memories for years to come.
we finished the trans~a cruise earlier. ours came so unexpected
when we getting to venture out on a port call. dressed in our
block "o" tees , in different colors --they had the fab five in the
hobby. i think it is what the characters stand for & the dedication
that brings each to life that makes them special...& the
encouragements to children. ( add a lil' mental health insight-
being ok in being different and accepting others. ).
we have always been involved with supporting our local community.
some projects included sharing our own blessings -career successes,
good health, & many others---it just something i am driven for.
especially since i am directly connected to the cripple children
program---as one of their success story. therefore, children
programs are the ones we have participated in ---including
running a soap box derby , big brother /sister, scouting &
so forth. the thing i learn was this hidden reward ` the more
we gave, the more we received.
now that i am physical unable to do the derby ( those lil'cars
ruin my back)...a local church group asked us if we could help
3 needy families during the holidays.one of those families were
living in a barn with dirt floors. 5 kids. this was in 09, and we
have expanded to add our co-workers "collecting " all year
long. also we became dvc members in 09, so we have a
great new home for all the stuff they have given us. what i feel
was so neat is when we begun, their oldest son asked if i
could take their picture as they have none. without realizing
it, we started a new disney tradition between our families---
though they can only dream of disney currently, does not
mean they don't share the same feelings -the same magic
being referred here. all i do is let the disney employees
know about them & how important their "gifts" are to
children everywhere ...and delivered any messages they
give on christmas eve /day. i continue my pictures taking
( well i have dreams too ) that we return back so they
can "see" their magic @ it best!
for the record, i have awards, trophies , all kind of recognitions
that you can think of. but the "secret" i want to share is
this: i thought we were doing something nice on the
first visit...not knowing what to expect---heck we got loss
several times, driving all over tar-nation---but in reality, these
children gave me the best christmas i ever experienced!
they were so happy, so excited with happiness /glee...
that they crawled all over us...they gave me insights. every
year, they have given us so many precious moments...
that have enriched our life, not the reverse.
we are blt owners. one of our goal in the future is to send
this family on our points. the challenge is transportation,
meals, clothing & making it work.
i hope the real purpose for those posting their moments
was to seek sharing instead of claiming importance. if so,
i fell sorry for they are missing so much meanings. maybe
something that happened on our last christmas visit
will help? as i was unloading the boxes, the oldest son
came out to help & shared with me his very special
christmas gift--a new pair of boots. being from a
large extended family myself really helped me to pick
up on how "unselfish" he was being~``see?...he was sharing
his special gift with me, but outside /away- from his other
siblings- that his parents could not afford. nor was it
missed the previous christmas ...where they were wearing
"tongs" in freezing temperatures/snow. thanks for my
fellow coworkers, elves.
i could be wrong but i believe in morals are about feeling
good about doing right & the feedback they add to life.
my personal views of the characters...is it is hard work, very
hard. it is a very special by "nature" & in all the ways they add
the human 'being" to beloved role models ...that i wish
more adult would follow. besides all the hard work, is the
dedication & caring ..that offer a message to anyone
willing to believe. one can't "see, hear, smell, or touch"
such feelings instead it something inside that has the
power to make you happy. to me, very happy. i can't see
any reason to waste it by turning it into something
it was never meant to be-envy.
) He didn't believe us until he saw the pictures. It was such a special time for all of us. Not hurried, very genuine interaction. Magic is around every corner on these ships. Sometimes you just have to be at the right place at the right time.
