Pina Colada Tour - The Highlights - Part 1

[Beccaberry]

At first, I toyed with the idea of writing a day to day report.
Then I remembered...we were there for 11 days.
It's just not going to happen.

So, what I'm hoping to do is share a few highlights...a few magical moments...and maybe even a secret or two...

They may not be in order (in fact you may get downright dizzy), and you won't hear *everything* (because let's face it, sometimes what happens in Disney, has to *stay* in Disney) but I hope you'll enjoy the stories...

Cast:
Jon, Becca (that's me!), Andrew and Baleigh
Johnie (EVERYONE know's JOHNIE!!) and Alysia
Chris, Krista (luvthemouse), Holly, Jack and Bryce and of course MOMMOM!! (otherwise known as Ann, Krista's DM)
Karen (kazzaqld) and Gareth

(Alysia, Holly and Gareth all have memberships here at Secrets as well, but it's late and I can't remember their usernames, so let's just use that fun little line about "the names have been changed (or forgotten) to protect the innocent" )

On Friday the 26th, we met at Fort Wilderness for the Hoop Dee Doo Revue...all 14 of us. First of all...have *you* ever tried to organize 14 people in the same place at the same time in an area roughly twice the size of Manhatten? It's like herding cats. Johnie's and my crew arrived first, though not by much...apparently we took the slow boat around China to get to Pioneer Hall...I swear we stopped no fewer than 8,452 times. Krista's and Karen's crew however, only made three stops...show offs.

We had a brilliant table downstairs at the back of the "Hall" with a perfect view. Before long we were tapping our feet and stuffing our mouths! The food was delicious and the drinks were plentiful...

As the show began, the performers asked if anyone was celebrating a birthday...Andrew raised his hand. As he was asked how old he was, I realized this would be the first of *many* times over the course of the next few days that I would become misty eyed as I heard my son say, "I'll be sixteen on Saturday." Sixteen. I've been blessed to have this amazing person in my life for sixteen years. Ok, Rebecca...stiff upper lip...

Then Johnie replies, "I know it's hard hon, Alysia won't even be IN school next time we come!" O.M.G. How is that even POSSIBLE? Misty eyes again.

Finally, there was a call for anniversaries...including a sweet couple that had been married over 40 years. I looked over and saw Ann...misty eyed herself. Krista shared that the day before would have been her parents anniversary...

It was a happy evening, but a bit bittersweet in it's timing...the poignancy of it stuck with me for a very long time...

Near the end of the show, as a small boy stood on stage portraying the role of "strong, brave sheriff"...I recalled a time when Andrew, barely seven, had played the very same roll....my how the years have flown...and they are all here...tears again...and then laughter as Jon leaned over and said, "For G-d's sake woman!!! This is a HAPPY show!!!!"

And it truly was. Just ask Jackson.

I snapped a photo of Andrew in the same spot he'd sat on our very first trip...here's a peek at some fun I've had with it...



It seems like only yesterday I looked at you
You were full of promise
You were smiling
You were young

Today I looked at you
And realized
That promise is fulfilled
In your smile and youth