Picture Perfect Thursday – Remembering
Three Years. It is supposed to be easier after three years, right? I don’t know what I can say any more than I did last year. And I know I am still not quite ready to fill his shoes.
The only thing I know for sure, is that in an odd way, I was glad he was dead when the Walter Reed Scandal broke. Because since he would collect money for Disabled American Veterans from the day he came home from Korea right up through the year he passed, I am sure that reading about it would surely have killed him.
Other than that, rarely a day goes by that I don’t miss him.
Though she will not really remember him when she gets older, I am glad that LatteGirl did get to spend time with him. She loved him a lot as well. When she was a toddler, the only people that she would go to without a fuss would be Mommy, Daddy or “Poppie.”
I have never been big on going to cemeteries. I think this stems from the time when I was a tween (though they hadn’t come up with “tween” yet), when it felt like I was at a wake or funeral on an all too regular basis. Now however, since LatteGirl is not quite ready to let him go, we go almost once a month to “visit” him.
The best we can do now however, I guess, is just to keep him alive in our hearts, and always remember him.
Picture Perfect Thursday – Classic Cartoons
One thing TheWife and I came to the sad realization of during a recent trip to Six Flags Great Adventure, was that LatteGirl knew very few of the characters who were in the park actually were. We would be saying to her, “Look Honey, there is Porkey Pig” or “This is Granny’s House.” And she would just look at us kind of odd and say, “Who?” or “I don’t know who that is.”
There are several reasons for this. The biggest one of course being that there is just so much more available now than when we were kids. It is rare that our television is tuned to something other than the Disney Channel, with the rare exception made usually for Scooby-Doo on Boomerang or Cartoon Network.
The second reason being that of course many of the Classic Looney Tunes were of course pulled off the air because they are “too violent” (a rant I will go into separately tomorrow).
But in either case, we found it quite sad that she has been denied exposure to this so far. It didn’t really take away from her enjoyment of the park, but I think that the Tivo is going to have to get a few new “Season Passes” so that she can find out why exactly Daddy was so excited to see Marvin the Martian, that he actually was willing to be on the other side of the camera for a change.
What did you watch as a child? And do you want your children watching it now? Why? Why not?
Picture Perfect Thursday – Showing Love
As I sifted through the pictures from Disney World, and even as I went back through those from Hershey Park, and our recent trip to Great Adventure (pictures coming soon), one thing hit me. And it was the love that she expressed for each and every one of these characters.
Something that we as adults often lose or forget. In this case, it is how important these characters are in her life. She appreciates them “being there” for her, to entertain her, to inform her whenever she wants them to be. They are there for her. And she makes sure she shows just how much she loves and appreciates them for it.
And she does it with us as well. She will just cuddle up at times with me or TheWife, and make a point to tell us what great parent’s she thinks we are, and how much she appreciates us. And most of the time, I am very thankful that she feels that way, and we “have a moment.”
But there are times that I am sad to admit, that I am less than receptive. I am busy doing something, cooking dinner, or sending out an e-mail, or reading the news, when it is inconvenient for me. Not only that, I know I also tend to expect other’s in my life to “just know” how much I love them, or how much I appreciate them being in my life, for what they do, or for just being who they are.
And as I looked through this pictures, I realized that maybe I should take the time, or a bit more time to make sure my daughter knows how much I love her. I could stop what I am doing for just a minute to get that hug or smooch she so wants to give me at that moment. I should remember to not only tell my spouse that I love her, but that I appreciate her, what she does, and who she is, and how important she is to the life I have and the person I am.
Now, I am not saying that we need to have a “love in” and you need to run out and hug every family member, and neighbor, and friend you have. You don’t need to make a scene of it, or even really go out of your way. Just when the opportunity arises, take it, and let the people in your life know just how much they mean to you. And I will bet, you will find out how much you mean to others as well. Another nice feeling that you will wind up getting as a bonus in return.
Picture Perfect Thursday – Beaming
For the most part, I have heard from people that are looking forward to going (or returning) to Disney World, as well as those that remember with great fondness trips they have taken. But I have also encountered several that have made statements like, “it is overblown” or “if I never go back it will be too soon.” And to be honest, it baffles me. I can’t help but wonder how it could draw that sort of response.
Yes, Disney World is expensive, but there are ways to cut corners and keep your expenses to a minimum if you try. Yes, it can be hot (it was in the mid 90’s with high humidity the week we were there), but you can also plan your trip when it isn’t as hot (Heck Wendy was complaining how COLD is was when she went back in February). Lines can be long for some rides, but thanks to FastPass (this wikipedia entry is a bit dated, but gives a good overview of FastPass), you can get a ticket and return at your specified time for the ride later allowing you to explore more of the park. So what is it really? What did I get to experience that these people didn’t?
The only thing I can come up with is, that beaming smile.
We had just stood for a half hour (to get a good seat) in the sun, we had been walking through the park for about 4 hours by this point, she was hungry (because we were going to lunch after this show), and yet look at that smile. Look at the anticipation as she was awaiting the appearance of some characters (in this case from the Playhouse Disney Shows). Yet hot, sticky, sweaty… it didn’t matter.
Now, I will admit, I had a great time in my own right, so that only makes it better for me, but even if I found Disney less that what I had anticipated, I can say for sure that no matter how much I spent on a vacation, it was all worth it, to see that smile. To experience every morning the sheer joy of her unbridled enthusiasm of the upcoming days events. To listen to her regale others with her journey’s. Even people that we knew were at the same park. In amazing detail she could recount every step, every character she met, and of course how much fun she had in doing so.
So, were other people not paying attention? Did they miss this with their own kids? How could something that brings that much joy to a child be something that you don’t crave again and again? Sure for some reasons, financias, time constraints, whatever, I may not be able to do this “all the time,” but anything that can bring that kind of smile to her face… Yeah, I want as much of it as I can. Because I am addicted… to her beaming smile.
Picture Perfect Thursday – The Sands
Perhaps it is just a sign I am getting old. I mean in general I am not one of those people that is adverse to change. But certain things, when they change make me sad. No particular rhyme or reason, some just affect me more than others. And the closing as well as as the pending demolition of the Sands Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City definitely qualifies.
The Sands was the first Casino to open in Atlantic City in 1978, but it was 10 years old by the time I first set foot in a Casino. In 1988, I was working on Wall Street, and decided it was time for me to make a trip down to the Atlantic City Casinos and try and play like a hotshot. I did, and I lost… big. But that is not the point.
When I selected where I wanted to go, I picked the one that sounded the most “Vegas” and the Sands which had a much more famous counterpart in Vegas fit that bill. It had that charm and feel of the Casino best depicted on television (an era that is unfortunately long gone). Even the nightclub was more of a Rat Pack style Lounge than the large theaters that now are used in most locations.
Over the years, I have lost more than I have won, but rarely did I leave the Sands over the years, without a smile on my face, having had a good time, in a place where the staff was friendly, as were the other gamblers/guests that frequented it. It was my kind of place.
And now this relic, the piece of nostalgia is no more. Scheduled to meet the wrecking ball for a newer, fancier and bigger casino. It is the end of an era. One that I will miss.
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