Can I post for my Mom?????
See, she's the only one in my family that hasn't been to WDW at all... nope, not
ever !!!
While as a family, the 5 of us (Mom, Dad, B, S & I) did go to DL for one day of a 5-week southwest US vacation back in 1969 (I was 8, you do the math!

) when DL was still using the ticket system, which drove my Dad absolutely nuts...

my B was the first to ever go to WDW (in 1974, for his highschool graduation trip or something like that... and yes, all I got from him was a t-shirt.... but it was a cool Mickey one, so that's ok). My Dad, then, in 1981 and sans my Mom, helped drive and chaperone the local highschool marching band on the one trip they made to WDW right before Christmas to march in the parade. (Of course, by that time, I was out of high school... bummer!)

My sister got to go to WDW finally with her family (H & S & D in tow) when they went in the mid-90s and camped at FW over one Christmas... Me, well, Brian and I had hoped to go to WDW on our honeymoon back in 1991, but that didn't happen. We finally made it down for our first visit in June of 2001 (I was 40, Brian was 38, Bonnie was 5 and a half, and Kellie was 3 and a half at the time) and we've been back 3 times since, so I don't feel deprived (yet! Although it's getting close, since it's been over 6 months now!)
But my Mom... she's never been. For the past 2 years, since we made our first trip, I've been dying to get her down to WDW. For several reasons - so she can experience all the magic, of course, but also so she can see her grandkids having such a great time (there's nothing like experiencing the magic of WDW through the eyes of a child, is there?) The major problem now, though, is that my Dad is no longer in very good health; he's had lots of various problems throughout the years, mostly associated with knee and back problems (both of his knees have been replaced, one for a second time, and his spine has compressed and twisted severely, etc.) Well, if that wasn't bad enough, this past year he's been having a series of TIAs (I guess they're evidently slight strokes... Donna - maybe you or any of the other nurses on this board can confirm or deny?

)
My Mom turns 70 this year on December 8th... on the same day that our Bonnie turns 8 (yes, I
do know how to suck up to my Mom

) and I'd practically give
anything to get my Mom & Dad down to WDW and have them experience her birthday right there, smack dab in the middle of Main Street USA, on that day. But, I don't think it's going to happen, unless there's a major miracle. I've told my Mom that I'd love for this to happen, but she just doesn't think my Dad's up to the trip (they live just outside of Elkhart, in northern Indiana).
While I do realize that the chances of getting my folks to WDW together this coming December are slim to none, I haven't given up hope (or faith, or trust, or belief in Pixie Dust!)

I just really wish there was a way I could pull this off, but it all depends on my Dad's physical condition (my Mom would
never go that far away without him, not while he's still living at home, for sure... and besides, I really want them to experience it together, y'know?)
Okay, sorry... I hope I didn't depress everybody... I just love WDW so
very, very much, and really want to share all of the magic we've found with both of my parents... wish there was a crying smiley...
Send lots of Pixie Dust their way... hey, it can't hurt!
Sandy (and Brian, Bonnie & Kellie)
