Someday My Prince Will Come . . . | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Someday My Prince Will Come . . . | Previous Challenge Entry
By Judith Gayle Smith-Owens Vitouswykegardinerclark
11/06/13
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"Not going to Disneyland builds character" was a favored dictum of my folks. I built a lot of character growing up. Finances ruled and the economy wasn't accommodating to a copy artist cartooning Disney star-struck child with Mickey Mouse dreams.

I lived in then glorious Anaheim California during my teen-age years. We lived very close to Disneyland but not close enough to see the fireworks. Driving past the "park" thrilled my eager heart, and to this day I get the same tingles passing a brightly lit ferris wheeling carnival.

I promised myself that someday I would go to Disneyland whenever I wanted to.

Yeah, and pigs might fly.*

"When pigs fly" was not used commonly in our optomistic crowd in the late 1950's. That was the rockin' era of Studebakers, Bean Huts, McDonalds and the irrepressible "Elvis the Pelvis." We were easily "all shook up", but hope reigned supreme.

Dreams were simple in the peaceful 'tween years, following WWII and before the horror of the Viet Nam War. We had The Mickey Mouse Club with Annette Funicello, Pep Club and The Everly Brothers to fall in love with and to.

I graduated from Anaheim Union High School (now AHS) June 15, 1961, on my eighteenth birthday. You can well imagine my elation when the school announced that our Grad Night Party would be held at the incredibly magical Disneyland. I had strong lovely legs just made for walking back then.

In 1965 I answered a help wanted ad for data processing operators. I was an IBM 024 keypunch operator, skills well-honed for three years. The ad did not specify what company was requesting my abilities - but when I responded by telephone, I was instructed to go to Disneyland. I thought the Human Resource gal was "funning" me. She wasn't. I went. I had a delightful interview and was hired on the spot.

I moved to an apartment two blocks away from Disneyland, and watched Tinkerbell fly down with the sparkling fireworks almost every night. Truly, a dream come true.

I happily went to Disneyland almost every day from 1965 through 1969, and was paid for the privilege. I giggled with the Mickey. I had two hour lunches, during which I indulged in being an unofficial tour guide. Who needed to eat?

Mornings I romped through Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Frontierland, a daily walk through one land each week, absorbing it all. I especially relished rowing on the canoeing team in the fabulous Adventureland.

I semi-solemnly decided to have myself buried under the sweet Dumbo Ride when I die - it seemed appropriate for a Goofy character like me. I still dream about returning there. Dumbos en masse flying happily over me . . .

Enter a note of emotional sobriety. I am seventy now, and most of the rides, especially the "E" tickets will not accommodate my scooter. I have no grandchildren or great-grandchildren to use for an excuse to go back.

Ask me if I miss it. I do. Terribly. Who wouldn't? I wish I had never left. I wish I had retired from there. Life had more adventures waiting for me, and I, like Peter Pan had to grow up. But pleasant and sweet memories linger, and I find myself still sitting in Tomorrowland, listening to the haunting songs Peggy Lee sang there so beautifully.

Now my Tomorrowland centers on Heaven, as described in the Book of the Revelations. Revelation 21 (King James Version) describes an exquisiteness far more promising than even The Magic Kingdom. It thrillingly promises that some day my Prince will come.

Oh for the day when I shall fly Home to Jesus, and this goofy, Mickey Mouse loving Dumbo takes her final flight Home . . .

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*25 Oct

Pig Gave Birth to ‘Elephant Pig’

"A weird-looking pig appeared in Anhui, China. It has hairless smooth skin, big elephant ears and elephant trunk. The elephant piglet did not resemble anything like pig at all. Li, the pig farmer of the pig that gave birth to the elephant piglet, said that the pig she raised gave birth to seven piglet. The ‘elephant pig’ was the sixth piglet. The ‘elephant pig’ weighed 1,000 grams and it was active when it was born. However due to continuously sneezing that caused it could not get enough milk, the piglet only survived for nine hours."

Source: NOWnews
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The little Chinese "elephant pig" didn't live long enough to fly, but, to me, he will always be immortalized by Fantasyland's Dumbo Ride.

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