Cast: DH, who's put up with me for 10 years to the day.
Me, who's put up with DH for 10 years to the day.
DS Ben, who's been the joy of our lives for 8 years plus.
________________________________________
Day 6:
My body is wracked with pain. I am unable to bend at the knee and each step brings on spasms in my lower back. I cannot go on.
In desperation I tell my family to go ahead without me. Loving as they are, they simply yell "Get in the shower, woman!"
I did feel a lot better after that, and decided the conditioner would make a good muscle relaxer so I massaged some of it into my aching muscles, finding it strangely soothing.
We had a short day planned and a PS at Boma's to celebrate our 10th Anniversary. MGM was the park of choice. We were sung at, misted upon, dropped and launched a few times, yada yada yada.... Let's get right to the food and the DIS Meet, shall we?
If Mytho's had been a borderline Private Moment, Boma's was something Other-Worldly. I'd been right in planning it for the end of the vacation, giving us a chance to really stretch our stomachs out for days ahead of time. We barely listened as our hostess explained the pod system and what was offered on the buffet, so eager were we to get at it. She did mention the Chicken Corn Porridge a number of times, so that stuck with us as we rushed the line and grabbed some plates.
Even though I took small portions of the most interesting and unusual offerings, my plate was embarrassingly full when I finally lugged it back to the table. DS had an enormous helping of spaghetti with one giant meatball, DH had all of the seafood offerings as well as some cold salads and a cup of the Porridge. We gluttonized, swatting each other's hands away from our plates, relentless as lions in our frenzy of feasting. Oh, how smooth and mellow was the Porridge, how firm and savory the Pap with chili sauce. Pecaned Sea Bass, crumbly-textured couscous, sweet saffron rice... but all paled into the background as I ate of the Curried Coconut Beef and Pork. I felt one with all of Africa, my eyes closed with the bliss of it and I knew that I would return to Boma's if for no other reason than to taste that dish one more time.
Bellies already sagging, we staggered up to the dessert pod. If people reacted with disgust to our plates piled high with one of everything and two of some things, we didn't notice. Ben ate 5 cookies while DH and I slowly let each creamy dessert bathe every taste bud until we simply could not eat another bite.
We left Bomas then, sad at the knowledge that it would be a year before we would return. On the way to our car we were stopped by a handsome young man who had noticed my lime green ribbon. I believe he said his Dis name was Elwood, but it may have been Elmo. (Blush... hate it when I forget a name!) We chatted briefly, happy to have met a new cyber friend.
My heart was racing as we drove over to the Boardwalk for the DIS Meet. It had originally been just Snoopy, Jipsy and I meeting, but a few others had added their names to the list and Jipsy had (sadly) been unable to come. I wasn't sure what to expect for a number of reasons, not the least of which was how quickly plans can change down in Disney. I feared I'd be standing there alone.
DH and DS headed off to Epcot for the evening while I popped into the Ladies to be sure there was no spinach in my teeth. When I came around the corner by Seashore Sweets I heard someone shout "Cleo!"
Yikes!
It was RhondaS. With her were Nativetxn, Dan Murphy, Snuggles, Jaypd, CarolAnnK, the MZDavises, and an assortment of spouses and children. Before the hugs and introductions were finsished Mac-Key Mouse and her husband arrived, with SideShowBob not far behind. There was talking, there was laughing, there was hugging and there was, for me, the healing balm of being in the company of these wonderful people. As if that were not enough, Snoopy showed up with her darling boys. And let me tell you, her blue eyes could stop traffic with their beauty!
Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, three Webmasters stopped by on their way to dinner. I got the lovliest hug from CathyCanada, and behind her came Webmaster Alex and Webmaster Michelle. They had time for a quick hello before they headed off to Spoodles for dinner.
Suddenly Dan's cell phone was in my hand and I was talking to Robinrs. She has such a beautiful laugh! I was so glad to have had the opportunity to talk with her and hope we can meet in person some day.
There were plans for everyone to head over to E-Night and they graciously invited me to go along. I had to wait for DH and DS to get back from Epcot, but promised I'd try to make it.
It was about an hour before DH and DS came back so I was able to calm my nerves a little bit in the beauty of the Boardwalk at night, when suddenly I heard my name again. Webmaster Alex had come out of Spoodles and must have seen me standing by the water. We talked for a moment, then Webmaster Michelle joined us for a quick chat before they left to go watch the basketball game. My heart was pounding...talk about nervous! But they were so sweet-- it was my profound pleasure to have met them.
I truly can't tell you how nice all these people are. I wished I'd had hours more to just sit and talk with each of them.
DH and DS agreed to go to E-night, but I had to go back to the resort to change. I'd worn a miniskirt to dinner, sort of an attempt to look like the girl DH had married 10 years ago, and I swear it hadn't been that short in the store. Couldn't do Splash Mt. in that thing!
We met up with the group in Tomorrowland. People were off doing various attractions, and when they all came together again Jaypd raised The Hat and we headed over to Splash Mt and BTMRR. This is where things got a little, shall we say, uncomfortable. At least for a couple of us!
Nativetxn and I had been chattering together and were separated from our spouses as we walked to the loading area of Splash. Ben and Rhonda's sweet little girl hit it off and were riding together, so Nativetxn and I decided we'd sit together too. We were directed to the front of the log and she absently asked me if the front seat got wet. I said "Nah... it's the back seat that gets wet." Now to be honest, I never sit in the front but I didn't want her to know I was a wimp so I bravely got in.
Still chattering away, we headed for the first little drop and she said "Do we get wet on this drop?" I said "Nah... it's just a little one." The night was warm, but man, was that water cold! I don't remember if it was that drop or the next one that soaked us through, but I do remember saying over and over "This one won't get us wet..." By the time we went over the falls we were completely demoralized, wringing wet, our hair hanging in our faces and mascara running down our cheeks. So, of course, Dan had to take pictures.
She never actually hit me, but I think she may have considered it. I trotted behind her saying "I didn't know! I didn't know!" but there was no point in it. Finally I said "Would I voluntarily do this to my own hair?" We laughed about it, standing there in the Magic Kingdom looking like drown rats. But I did notice she didn't offer to sit next to me on the Haunted Mansion!
We said our goodbyes shortly after that, watching the Castle changing colors. I stopped at the far end of Main Street to say a silent goodbye to the Magic as I always do on our last day in the park. There was an extra feeling of gratefulness this time as my heart made room for the new friends I'd met.
On the way back to the Resort I had myself a good, long cry. The evening held many things for me. Some sadness, mostly joy, and a profound feeling of having come full circle.
Next: Our Last Day
Me, who's put up with DH for 10 years to the day.
DS Ben, who's been the joy of our lives for 8 years plus.
________________________________________
Day 6:
My body is wracked with pain. I am unable to bend at the knee and each step brings on spasms in my lower back. I cannot go on.
In desperation I tell my family to go ahead without me. Loving as they are, they simply yell "Get in the shower, woman!"
I did feel a lot better after that, and decided the conditioner would make a good muscle relaxer so I massaged some of it into my aching muscles, finding it strangely soothing.
We had a short day planned and a PS at Boma's to celebrate our 10th Anniversary. MGM was the park of choice. We were sung at, misted upon, dropped and launched a few times, yada yada yada.... Let's get right to the food and the DIS Meet, shall we?
If Mytho's had been a borderline Private Moment, Boma's was something Other-Worldly. I'd been right in planning it for the end of the vacation, giving us a chance to really stretch our stomachs out for days ahead of time. We barely listened as our hostess explained the pod system and what was offered on the buffet, so eager were we to get at it. She did mention the Chicken Corn Porridge a number of times, so that stuck with us as we rushed the line and grabbed some plates.
Even though I took small portions of the most interesting and unusual offerings, my plate was embarrassingly full when I finally lugged it back to the table. DS had an enormous helping of spaghetti with one giant meatball, DH had all of the seafood offerings as well as some cold salads and a cup of the Porridge. We gluttonized, swatting each other's hands away from our plates, relentless as lions in our frenzy of feasting. Oh, how smooth and mellow was the Porridge, how firm and savory the Pap with chili sauce. Pecaned Sea Bass, crumbly-textured couscous, sweet saffron rice... but all paled into the background as I ate of the Curried Coconut Beef and Pork. I felt one with all of Africa, my eyes closed with the bliss of it and I knew that I would return to Boma's if for no other reason than to taste that dish one more time.
Bellies already sagging, we staggered up to the dessert pod. If people reacted with disgust to our plates piled high with one of everything and two of some things, we didn't notice. Ben ate 5 cookies while DH and I slowly let each creamy dessert bathe every taste bud until we simply could not eat another bite.
We left Bomas then, sad at the knowledge that it would be a year before we would return. On the way to our car we were stopped by a handsome young man who had noticed my lime green ribbon. I believe he said his Dis name was Elwood, but it may have been Elmo. (Blush... hate it when I forget a name!) We chatted briefly, happy to have met a new cyber friend.
My heart was racing as we drove over to the Boardwalk for the DIS Meet. It had originally been just Snoopy, Jipsy and I meeting, but a few others had added their names to the list and Jipsy had (sadly) been unable to come. I wasn't sure what to expect for a number of reasons, not the least of which was how quickly plans can change down in Disney. I feared I'd be standing there alone.
DH and DS headed off to Epcot for the evening while I popped into the Ladies to be sure there was no spinach in my teeth. When I came around the corner by Seashore Sweets I heard someone shout "Cleo!"
Yikes!
It was RhondaS. With her were Nativetxn, Dan Murphy, Snuggles, Jaypd, CarolAnnK, the MZDavises, and an assortment of spouses and children. Before the hugs and introductions were finsished Mac-Key Mouse and her husband arrived, with SideShowBob not far behind. There was talking, there was laughing, there was hugging and there was, for me, the healing balm of being in the company of these wonderful people. As if that were not enough, Snoopy showed up with her darling boys. And let me tell you, her blue eyes could stop traffic with their beauty!
Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, three Webmasters stopped by on their way to dinner. I got the lovliest hug from CathyCanada, and behind her came Webmaster Alex and Webmaster Michelle. They had time for a quick hello before they headed off to Spoodles for dinner.
Suddenly Dan's cell phone was in my hand and I was talking to Robinrs. She has such a beautiful laugh! I was so glad to have had the opportunity to talk with her and hope we can meet in person some day.
There were plans for everyone to head over to E-Night and they graciously invited me to go along. I had to wait for DH and DS to get back from Epcot, but promised I'd try to make it.
It was about an hour before DH and DS came back so I was able to calm my nerves a little bit in the beauty of the Boardwalk at night, when suddenly I heard my name again. Webmaster Alex had come out of Spoodles and must have seen me standing by the water. We talked for a moment, then Webmaster Michelle joined us for a quick chat before they left to go watch the basketball game. My heart was pounding...talk about nervous! But they were so sweet-- it was my profound pleasure to have met them.
I truly can't tell you how nice all these people are. I wished I'd had hours more to just sit and talk with each of them.
DH and DS agreed to go to E-night, but I had to go back to the resort to change. I'd worn a miniskirt to dinner, sort of an attempt to look like the girl DH had married 10 years ago, and I swear it hadn't been that short in the store. Couldn't do Splash Mt. in that thing!
We met up with the group in Tomorrowland. People were off doing various attractions, and when they all came together again Jaypd raised The Hat and we headed over to Splash Mt and BTMRR. This is where things got a little, shall we say, uncomfortable. At least for a couple of us!
Nativetxn and I had been chattering together and were separated from our spouses as we walked to the loading area of Splash. Ben and Rhonda's sweet little girl hit it off and were riding together, so Nativetxn and I decided we'd sit together too. We were directed to the front of the log and she absently asked me if the front seat got wet. I said "Nah... it's the back seat that gets wet." Now to be honest, I never sit in the front but I didn't want her to know I was a wimp so I bravely got in.
Still chattering away, we headed for the first little drop and she said "Do we get wet on this drop?" I said "Nah... it's just a little one." The night was warm, but man, was that water cold! I don't remember if it was that drop or the next one that soaked us through, but I do remember saying over and over "This one won't get us wet..." By the time we went over the falls we were completely demoralized, wringing wet, our hair hanging in our faces and mascara running down our cheeks. So, of course, Dan had to take pictures.
She never actually hit me, but I think she may have considered it. I trotted behind her saying "I didn't know! I didn't know!" but there was no point in it. Finally I said "Would I voluntarily do this to my own hair?" We laughed about it, standing there in the Magic Kingdom looking like drown rats. But I did notice she didn't offer to sit next to me on the Haunted Mansion!
We said our goodbyes shortly after that, watching the Castle changing colors. I stopped at the far end of Main Street to say a silent goodbye to the Magic as I always do on our last day in the park. There was an extra feeling of gratefulness this time as my heart made room for the new friends I'd met.
On the way back to the Resort I had myself a good, long cry. The evening held many things for me. Some sadness, mostly joy, and a profound feeling of having come full circle.
Next: Our Last Day
inkbounc
). Truly was a joyful day in my life, getting to meet her!
Sniff 
