Best pin-related memory?

[Lynn-Marie]

I was sitting here getting a little bummed out reading the stories about people who had bad experiences at the DS buying their pins last week. It made me think that there are also great stories about pins out there. I'll start...

It was March of 2000 and my better half and I took our grandmothers to WDW for the Millennium celebration. I was three months pregnant at the time. We went to Epcot to watch the parade, showing up early as everyone suggested so we could find a good seat. As I bounced my bloated self around the world showcase, I noted that people were already standing in all of the prime spots. When we got to Africa, we saw two women sitting at an umbrella table with a few seats open. I assumed they were holding the seats for their better halves. Just as we were passing them I said "gee, looks like all the spots are taken." At that moment, one of the women jumped up and said "these seats aren't taken. You can sit with us!" Well, I was so pleased that they spoke up! (How often do people reach out like that?) We enjoyed talking with one another -- they were a mother and daughter traveling with each other for a rare trip without their better halves. It was to be a special vacation for the two of them.

When they saw that I was taping the parade, they insisted that I take one of their seats, which was closer to the parade route. When it was time for the fireworks show, they again insisted that I take a lagoon-side (closer to the fireworks) seat so I could tape the fireworks better. I felt so taken care of that I couldn't think of a better way to remember my two extra Walt & Mickey (#101) pins than to give them to them -- I knew then that no trade would bring me any bigger joy. I somewhat nervously pulled out the pins, still in their bags, and gave one to each of them. I told them thanks for their fellowship and hastened to advise them not to trade the pins with anyone else because they were very special pins. They both had noticed people trading pins and noticed, in particular, that people wanted "that pin." They said they would view the pins as a momento of their visit. We all hugged each other goodnight and bid each other a wonderful rest of the trip -- and a wonderful life.

Whenever I see/wear my Walt & Mickey pin I think of these ladies and hope that they're doing well. Maybe it was the hormones or maybe it was just some of that good ol' Disney magic -- but giving those pins away to those nice ladies gave more back to me than I'd ever imagined. These pins were to be a nice memory of their special time together. Meanwhile, I can remember my wonderful trip and how kind and outgoing people can be.

 

[goofymom/pop]

Great Post.....I really enjoyed your story.

Mine didnt happen at WDW and I didnt even make a trade. It was like this.

This past March I was busy selling Precious Moments, bell jars and my sanity to get pins for my son, niece, and nephew to trade on our trip to the world in May. I had been busy shipping out items and waiting for the mailman to bring the kids their pins. One day I recieved a very fat little brown envelope. Now I hadnt been expecting one on that particular day so I was very excited as I rushed into the house. I opened it to find a package containing 6 pins, and a note. The note explained that a fellow board member who I had been trading precious moments with was concerned about my not having any pins of my own. And that in all good conscience he couldnt allow me to leave for WDW without a few pins to trade. He said he understood about the kids as he had his own, but wanted me to pick a few pins that I wanted and I was not to share them with the kiddies. Well I tell you....the tears came and very quickly. I was so touched that someone who hardly knew me was so generous. My special friend is AZJazzy J, Jeff, he really made my day. And I took a long time to trade away those pins and made sure that I picked only something that I really wanted. I tell everyone that pin trading is more about the people than the pins and that everytime I think this is getting too costly I remember I will miss all of you too much.....

Cindy