It never ceases to amaze me how some cyber-acquaintances can become loving friends in a very short time. Maybe it is because we already have so much in common when we finally do get together... it has happened to me before on other e-mail lists and discussion groups for special needs and international adoption. The same kind of people who look for those kinds of sites and gravitate together tend to have so much in common already that the initial guardedness melts away very quickly. Well, it had happened for me before, and it would happen this time again, and it was even more magical than I could have anticipated.
To some people, the idea of a group of folks who had met over the Internet and decided to take leave of their families for a short-notice vacation at Walt Disney World is, well, a bit bizarre. What kind of wierdos hang out on these discussion boards and in chat rooms? Fairly normal people, actually. Real people with real lives, real issues. It turns out that just about everyone that weekend had some kind of issue to deal with, something from which they needed a break -- serious health problems, severe shyness, family issues, sick or special needs children, disabled or recovering spouses or family members, or other transitions. Nobody was perfect, or looking for perfection. It was nice to take that break with others who share similar interests, and would be understanding and tolerant of each other in what was really a bit of a vulnerable situation... getting together, on your own, with a group of wierdos you had met on the Internet. Amazing, it worked like a charm.
I woke up with fog on my brain and outside the window as well. This time I didn't bother closing the blinds and curtains at night, I wanted to be bathed in light as I awoke. It was early, I had been up late at Pleasure Island, I had a DIS meet to attend, and I had to pick up the radios and Janette. I had neglected to get Janette's last name, but somewhere on some random sheet of paper I had her cell phone number, we arranged a pickup at the OKW Hospitality House. Good place to start, because I was supposed to pick up our 2-way radios... which never arrived. (We could have used those radios! Several Times!) Janette and I met, and instantly I knew that we were compatible people. We have a few things in common... I just know that our kids will become good friends during the convention.
We drove over to the Polynesian for breakfast at O'hana's. Most of the gang was already there, and Dan has posted pictures of that meet, unfortunately they don't seem to be working right now, but the link is at
http://wdwinfo.infopop.net/OpenTopic/page?q=Y&a=tpc&s=40009993&f=55009194&m=137099109
and maybe it works now... I hope.
It was a lovely breakfast, and I enjoyed meeting more people from the boards and their families. I was very tired, and my neck was killing me, but it just felt so good to be there! O'hana's is a great place for children, with characters and parades and music... lots of fun. I'll have to take my kids there.
The breakfast fare was served family style, the characters made their rounds... Goofy, in particular, was nice enough to let Angie know that Goofy recognized her from one of her auditions backstage. Very supportive, very enthusiastic, very nice. Yet another CM who makes the Disney magic real. Just when I start feeling cynical and think I have had enough of characters, one like this comes along. 
After breakfast, we lingered for a while, talking about our families, ourselves, people from the boards. Ah, yes, speculation and gossip... we were talking about YOU, dear reader! Next time you have to come and defend yourself.
We parted ways, some of us headed for Epcot, others to who knows where. At Epcot, Dan, Teejay, Barbara and I posed for a few postcards... let's see if I can get this link to work...
http://32.97.1.25/Epcot1.nsf/postcards/3003FE
and then headed out to see the sights. We stopped in MouseGear and found Lisa (Epcotmom), posed for a picture. Quite frankly, I was in pain, I don't remember much beyond whining about my neck. I do remember seeing the Kristos acrobatic troupe, they were wonderful. After that, Barbara went over to MK, Dan and Teejay went toward World Showcase, and I cruised the carts and shops. Got on a boat to France, it felt good to sit down. I had promised to bring home the Eiffel Tower, found just the one on a cart. Next stop, Japan for Origami paper for my dear husband. That was it, I was done. Back to the boat. On the way back through Future World, I stopped and sent some more postcards to family and friends... here's one..
http://32.97.1.25/Epcot1.nsf/postcards/30066E
then headed back to OKW.
I was really hurting at this point. As soon as I got back to the resort, I got into my "bloomers" ( a one piece suit with attached shorts, I was too chicken for the bikini but stuck it in the bag anyway) and headed straight for the quiet pool. The pool was quiet in name only, the cheerleaders were back with their boombox. There were less than yesterday, though, and I needed the weightlessness. The pool was warm, sunney, and perfect. I ignored the pop music and chatter as much as I could, and hung in the water for about 30 minutes. Once out of the pool, I just wanted to rest... but the sun was too hot to just lay there in my bloomers.. so I summoned my courage and went into the bathroom, changed into my bikini.
And there among the giggling flat-belly tanned teens I rested, warming my tired, sore body in the lovely Florida sunshine. Not perfect, but it would do for a while. When I had enough of the chatter, I headed back to the studio. At that point the sun was at the perfect angle for the porch, and I continued sunburning my tummy as I read my book in peace. Much better.
Took a shower, dried off, pulled myself together, lay down for a moment, fell asleep. Within a short time - I have no idea how long - the phone rang. TeeJay! Tricia, Beverly Lynn, Cindy and Mary Ellen were at Downtown Disney! I couldn't wait to see them, no matter how tired I was... even though some of us had already arrived and met each other, the CCSS Ladies meet was truly about to begin.
to be continued..
"My brain takes a vacation just to give my heart more room..."
teri@iluvdisney.com
To some people, the idea of a group of folks who had met over the Internet and decided to take leave of their families for a short-notice vacation at Walt Disney World is, well, a bit bizarre. What kind of wierdos hang out on these discussion boards and in chat rooms? Fairly normal people, actually. Real people with real lives, real issues. It turns out that just about everyone that weekend had some kind of issue to deal with, something from which they needed a break -- serious health problems, severe shyness, family issues, sick or special needs children, disabled or recovering spouses or family members, or other transitions. Nobody was perfect, or looking for perfection. It was nice to take that break with others who share similar interests, and would be understanding and tolerant of each other in what was really a bit of a vulnerable situation... getting together, on your own, with a group of wierdos you had met on the Internet. Amazing, it worked like a charm.
I woke up with fog on my brain and outside the window as well. This time I didn't bother closing the blinds and curtains at night, I wanted to be bathed in light as I awoke. It was early, I had been up late at Pleasure Island, I had a DIS meet to attend, and I had to pick up the radios and Janette. I had neglected to get Janette's last name, but somewhere on some random sheet of paper I had her cell phone number, we arranged a pickup at the OKW Hospitality House. Good place to start, because I was supposed to pick up our 2-way radios... which never arrived. (We could have used those radios! Several Times!) Janette and I met, and instantly I knew that we were compatible people. We have a few things in common... I just know that our kids will become good friends during the convention.
We drove over to the Polynesian for breakfast at O'hana's. Most of the gang was already there, and Dan has posted pictures of that meet, unfortunately they don't seem to be working right now, but the link is at
http://wdwinfo.infopop.net/OpenTopic/page?q=Y&a=tpc&s=40009993&f=55009194&m=137099109
and maybe it works now... I hope.
It was a lovely breakfast, and I enjoyed meeting more people from the boards and their families. I was very tired, and my neck was killing me, but it just felt so good to be there! O'hana's is a great place for children, with characters and parades and music... lots of fun. I'll have to take my kids there.
The breakfast fare was served family style, the characters made their rounds... Goofy, in particular, was nice enough to let Angie know that Goofy recognized her from one of her auditions backstage. Very supportive, very enthusiastic, very nice. Yet another CM who makes the Disney magic real. Just when I start feeling cynical and think I have had enough of characters, one like this comes along. After breakfast, we lingered for a while, talking about our families, ourselves, people from the boards. Ah, yes, speculation and gossip... we were talking about YOU, dear reader! Next time you have to come and defend yourself.
We parted ways, some of us headed for Epcot, others to who knows where. At Epcot, Dan, Teejay, Barbara and I posed for a few postcards... let's see if I can get this link to work...
http://32.97.1.25/Epcot1.nsf/postcards/3003FE
and then headed out to see the sights. We stopped in MouseGear and found Lisa (Epcotmom), posed for a picture. Quite frankly, I was in pain, I don't remember much beyond whining about my neck. I do remember seeing the Kristos acrobatic troupe, they were wonderful. After that, Barbara went over to MK, Dan and Teejay went toward World Showcase, and I cruised the carts and shops. Got on a boat to France, it felt good to sit down. I had promised to bring home the Eiffel Tower, found just the one on a cart. Next stop, Japan for Origami paper for my dear husband. That was it, I was done. Back to the boat. On the way back through Future World, I stopped and sent some more postcards to family and friends... here's one..
http://32.97.1.25/Epcot1.nsf/postcards/30066E
then headed back to OKW.
I was really hurting at this point. As soon as I got back to the resort, I got into my "bloomers" ( a one piece suit with attached shorts, I was too chicken for the bikini but stuck it in the bag anyway) and headed straight for the quiet pool. The pool was quiet in name only, the cheerleaders were back with their boombox. There were less than yesterday, though, and I needed the weightlessness. The pool was warm, sunney, and perfect. I ignored the pop music and chatter as much as I could, and hung in the water for about 30 minutes. Once out of the pool, I just wanted to rest... but the sun was too hot to just lay there in my bloomers.. so I summoned my courage and went into the bathroom, changed into my bikini.
And there among the giggling flat-belly tanned teens I rested, warming my tired, sore body in the lovely Florida sunshine. Not perfect, but it would do for a while. When I had enough of the chatter, I headed back to the studio. At that point the sun was at the perfect angle for the porch, and I continued sunburning my tummy as I read my book in peace. Much better. Took a shower, dried off, pulled myself together, lay down for a moment, fell asleep. Within a short time - I have no idea how long - the phone rang. TeeJay! Tricia, Beverly Lynn, Cindy and Mary Ellen were at Downtown Disney! I couldn't wait to see them, no matter how tired I was... even though some of us had already arrived and met each other, the CCSS Ladies meet was truly about to begin.
to be continued..
"My brain takes a vacation just to give my heart more room..."
teri@iluvdisney.com
r
