Another moment would definitely have to be a trip we made in April, 2002. As a resident of NYC, the city was in chaos after 9/11 and the pain and grief just didn't seem to shake itself. Plus, the weeks following, on a beautiful fall day, the smell of the fires and smoke would waft over our neighborhood. It was so hard to let go when we were reminded daily that the towers were no longer there.
The sadness was pretty intense. Like so many others, lost a lot of friends. It was strange to get together for a drink and have a good time. We felt guilty, we felt we should be doing something more important or noble. We didn't think it was right to move on and enjoy ourselves.
But a few friends of mine and I and my partner decided that we really, truly needed to get away. Disney World was our first choice.
I'll never forget checking in to the resort and taking the shuttle bus to MK. We were all incredibly quiet, barely whispering to each other. Again, we felt guilty and frivolous.
Then we walked through the turnstyles and made our way to Main Street. Looking around at the masses of people, the smiling faces, the laughing children, the quiet music, everything around us. But most of all, looking down the street to see Cinderella's Castle looming over everything.
I felt my partner's hand reach for mine. I reached for my friend Diana's, she in turn for her fiancee. We stood there. Four adults, hand in hand. Not a word. Nothing was said. Lots of tears were shed that moment. And a huge weight was lifted.
My buddy Rocco quietly said, "Let's go have us some big fun." And you know something? We did!