Or, rather, strange encounters of the DIS kind.
At this point in writing, given that this trip was however many months ago, the memory gets a little hazy. I remember the night completely, but quite frankly, I don't really remember what order we did things.
I can't tell you exactly when my son fell asleep, but I can tell you that it was after the Boo to You Parade, and that the Boo to You parade is one of my favorite things about
MNSSHP. Quite frankly, MNSSHP is just filled with my favorite things. The parade, Hallowishes, the trick or treating, the special meet and greets. And my son was so into the trick or treating this year, and it was a blast!
We got a great spot for the parade in Liberty Square, on the opposite side of the street from the year before. We were right in the front, and our vantage point was awesome.
I can't convey to you in words the kind of thrill that runs through my whole body when I hear them announcing the Headless Horseman. I can't tell you how I feel when those first strains of the music start, and you know that the parade is coming. I can't tell you how I feel because I can only tell you this. At that party, in that moment, it's some of the happiest feelings I've ever felt in my entire life. I kid you not. I'm surrounded by family, I'm enjoying Halloween Disney style...I feel the same way when we see the fireworks.
It's the reason that we won't go to Disney again until I can go to another MNSSHP. It's in my blood.
I want to take the opportunity to do a little segue here and talk about why MNSSHP was so important to other members of my family. I think it may help you all to view it in a new light and see why it was so important to us.
When I was seventeen years old, and a senior in high school, my grandfather (Mom's Dad, Nana's husband) passed away rather suddenly. In circumstances somewhat similar to what we experienced with my mom, he had a sudden cardiac arrest. The difference with Granddad is that no matter what the EMTs did, it was his time, and that was it.
My Granddad was so special to me. He was like a second father. He took me to my art and piano lessons, heck, he brought me everywhere. He taught me how to drive. He would sit and listen to me play the piano for hours, he was the type of man who would get down on the floor and play with the dogs. He was a great lover of family and a great lover of life.
In a lot of ways, my mom was exactly like him. I didn't really notice the abundance of similarities until after she passed. Sure, we knew they were there, but you sort of take it for granted until such a profound change occurs. One of the biggest things my sister ever took in learning from my Granddad was to live life without regret. She'll always tell you that's something that he taught her, and I respected that and tried to model that behavior.
It's only until recently, however, that I really understand what that means.
And so what does this all have to do with MNSSHP, you might ask? Well, my grandfather passed on October 23rd. And the following year, Mom and Nana were still devastated. Nana in her own private way, and Mom in her more open one. They'll openly admit they wanted to escape. They didn't want to be home on that day, didn't want to remember the roles we all played in the last day of his life, didn't want that sadness to overcome them.
So, one year after my grandfather passed, Mom and Nana went to Disney World in October. And they attended the very first Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Since then, it's been tradition. They haven't missed a year, haven't not gone. Truthfully, Mom booked the room for herself and Nana for this October while she and I were on our January trip. Nana can't bring herself to cancel it yet. We're not sure exactly what we're thinking about it, and whether or not it will happen, but let me tell you, they've never missed one. And the thought that this particular MNSSHP was the last one with my Mom just puts a whole new light on it.
Something that was, for Mom and Nana, an escape from Granddad's passing, has now become for me, a way of remembering them both. And I'm sure the first time that I attend without Mom it will be hard, and it'll put a whole new meaning on it as well. But I thought you might all like to know the why.
I don't often get into the why. I don't often talk about the back story or the family politics or why we do what we do, but I think that's part of the story and part of being true to yourself. Being an October baby, there's not much more of a time that I feel more me than dressed up in costume, trick or treating in the Magic Kingdom.
During the parade, my husband and I were, of course, recognized by the good Captain as he perched and swaggered atop his float, sadly out of reach.
Fortunately, I had my own captain to cling to by my side. We also shook hands with Barbossa, who, upon recognizing fellow pirates, decided it would behoove him to introduce himself. I think he was more interested in me than my DH, though.
After the parade, I believe we had time for a few more things before the fireworks began, but I'm actually going to skip over those for now and go back to them later.
Because let me tell you, I was so excited about the fireworks. I own the Special Events CD, and I listen to it in the car all the time, but there's nothing that compares to actually being there!
My family and I made our way to the hub, and we ended up just off the bridge to Tomorrowland, in a really nice spot in front of the rose gardens.
We got ourselves situated and prepared to wait the short amount of time it would take for the fireworks to start. We had fun taking some goofy photos, and then we just sort of rested against the fence and took a breather.
And as I was chatting with my DH, super grateful that our son was asleep so I could actually see the fireworks, this woman came and stood right in front of me, in all her festive Halloween attire, wearing her Halloween Mouse Ears, munching her patented Disney popcorn, and said, "You don't mind if I stand right here, do you?"
Pardon?
And it took me about five seconds, and her turning around, so that I can read the name on her Ears for me to place her.
It was Heidi!!!! I was so excited! I'd seen a few pictures of her, but it's different when someone is standing right in front of you, in the flesh, so to speak.
I should probably have prefaced this whole story by telling you that Heidi had no idea what we looked like. That the reason she was able to pick us out of the crowd is twofold, one, she knew what my family group consisted of, and two, she just know that "that" Jack Sparrow was my husband. Good thing she was right, eh?
We laughed, and then had the wonderful experience of watching the fireworks together. Now I'd met on the DIS, MRYPPNS, but we'd never met in "real life." Is there a much cooler way to meet someone than to watch Hallowishes with them? Seriously? It's something that I'll always cherish and never forget.
So we chatted until it started, and then we all stood in awe and enjoyed the show. Now every time I listen to my Magic Kingdom Special Events CD, and I hear the Hallowishes music, I think of that night, and all the nights I've seen those fireworks. I think of all the times I've watched that parade, and all the people I've had the pleasure of sharing it with. I can't explain why it's so important to me, why it does for me what it does, although I did try a little bit earlier in this post. I love Hallowishes and the Boo to You parade more than Wishes, more than Fantasmic, I would say even more than Illuminations.
Like I said, I am an October baby, and I am Halloween through and through. And when I hear that CD, I transport myself to the Magic Kingdom, and I see the fireworks in my mind's eye, and I can hear them. That, dear friends, is my happy place.
)
All of your costumes were terrific. That must have been quite a sight doing your DH's hair in the lobby after finishing up your formal tea! 
Oh Kat
It's just not the same when I don't have one of them running up to hold my hand. I don't know if we'll ever get to take another family trip, but I'll always treasure the two that we took. They were so wonderful in so many ways.
