Wonderful People

Today was an overwhelming day for me. I was scheduled to work from 7:45 AM to 7:30 PM. That's a long day! I had to get up at about 6:30 this morning. I wasn't too excited about that part. I was excited about other things though.

Side note: The first little boy I met today was dressed exactly like Mickey Mouse. He had the mouse ears, the black tuxedo, the white shirt, the yellow bow tie, the red pants with big white buttons, the black shoes, and the white gloves with three black lines on the top. I was impressed.

I have not mentioned it on my blog at all, but Kidd's Kids are here at Disney this weekend. If anyone hasn't heard of Kidd's Kids, it's an organization started by Kidd Kraddick that sends chronically or terminally ill children and their families to Disney World. The trip is made once a year and includes over 50 families. Kidd Kraddick accepts donations all year long for this wonderful event and families can apply for the trip. Since I listen to Kidd Kraddick's radio show back at home, I have heard lots about this. I was very excited when I found out that they would be here while I was here. This is a wonderful organization and I'm glad I heard about it ahead of time. I have been keeping up with everything Kidd's Kids has been doing since they got here last night. I was really hoping I would get a chance to meet some of the families. These kids are so brave and so incredibly deserving of this opportunity. I would be honored just to be in the same room with them.

I was working in Magic Kingdom today. I got to be friends with Mickey at Town Square Theater. I love working at TST because you only see small groups of guests at a time, so if you really want to, you can take your time without having to worry about a long line of people getting angry because they are watching it happen. After my first set, I was talking to my attendant. I told her about Kidd's Kids and how much I wanted to see them. During my second set, about 3/4 through the set, in walked two families wearing white shirts that had mouse ears and said Kidd's Kids in big blue letters. I immediately felt my heart start to race. I tried so hard to concentrate on the family I was with at the time because it's unfair for Mickey to skip over any guest. He is, after all, the host of Walt Disney World. After that, a little boy walked up to me. He was wearing a Kidd's Kids shirt. He gave me a big hug. I held on for what felt like forever. He didn't let go, so neither did I. My attendant knew how excited I was to see them, so she asked the parents about Kidd's Kids and where they were from. This family was from Austin, Texas. The thing that stuck out the most to me was the last thing the dad said. "It's all thanks to Kidd Kraddick." It wasn't so much the sentence that stuck with me. It's all thanks to Kidd Kraddick. That is a very simple sentence. It was the way he said it. The feelings that came with it. Here was a little boy who was going to have a very difficult life. The parents have probably spent a ton of money on medical bills. Yet here they are at Disney World. It's all thanks to Kidd Kraddick. This little boy and his family are at Disney World because Kidd thought they should go and there were enough donations to make it possible. I think that is so wonderful. I'm not going to lie, I was crying the whole time all of this was happening. I was just so overwhelmed. The little boy was so happy to be there. And I was so happy to have him there. I've never had a hug last that long or mean that much while I was working. I don't even know anything about this kid. I wish I did. I would love to meet him face to face. I know it would be amazing. But for him, it's probably better that we met the way we did. Mickey Mouse is a hero to so many people. I'm sure this little boy was no different. The next family had three boys with them. I couldn't tell which boy was being sponsored by Kidd's Kids. I'm kind of glad about that. I don't need to know. I gave all three of them a big hug and signed their books. After a few pictures, they were on their way. I just wanted them to stay with me. I thought about going into the park during my lunch to see if I could talk to anyone with Kidd's Kids, but I decided against it. They are here to have a good time and I wanted to let them. I just still can't believe what that dad said. "It's all thanks to Kidd Kraddick." I could hear in his voice how much he appreciated everything. I was truly honored to meet each of them. While it was very overwhelming, it was very worth it.

I spent the rest of the day hoping to meet more Kidd's Kids families, but it didn't happen. I probably won't see them again, but that's okay. It was just by chance that I met them today and that is enough for me. Something else incredible happened later today. My last family of the night was very special to me. They weren't when they entered the room, but by the time they exited, they had changed my life. The first to come see me was a little girl. She was probably around 3 or 4 years old. She had blond curly hair and bright blue eyes. She wore a black dress that had big silver polka dots on it and a black bow in her hair. I know Minnie Mouse would have loved it. She was truly a beautiful little girl. She and I played for a little while and took pictures. Then I stood up so her parents could join in the picture. After the family picture, I realized there was a fourth person in the room. She was so quiet that I hadn't noticed her before. The mother walked over to her and asked, "Would you like to go meet Mickey Mouse?" The girl nodded. The father said that she was visiting from Scotland and had never been to Disney World before, so they decided to bring her while she was staying with them. I studied the girl a bit. She had her head down, her eyes closed, and her elbows bent, but close to her sides so that both hands were in front of her. The mother guided her over to me. I still had not heard her speak. I thought maybe she was autistic, or something similar. Regardless, I knew this was a situation I needed to approach delicately. When the girl was close enough, I put my left hand directly under her open right hand and raised it until her hand was resting in mine. Then I put my right hand on top of hers and held her hand in mine. When I did this, the mother said, "These are Mickey's hands." That's when I realized what was going on. This girl did not suffer from any developmental disorder. She was blind. I held her hand in mine for a few seconds and then began raising her hand to my ears. When I did so, the mother said, "Do you want to feel Mickey's ears?" Again, the girl nodded. Once I knew her hand was on Mickey's ear, I lowered my hand so that I was holding her wrist lightly. That way she could control what she touched. She smiled. "Amazing," she said. That's when I started to cry again. When I could tell she was done feeling the ears, I lowered her hand and took both of her hands in mine. I just held her there for a moment. Then I took her hands to Mickey's nose. Again, she said, "Wow. This is amazing." "Isn't it cool?" Said the mother. I lowered my hands this time. I knew she wasn't going to pull or hurt me, so I figured I should let her do what she wanted. When she was finished feeling Mickey's face, I gave her a hug. Then my attendant asked if she would like a picture with Mickey Mouse. The girl said yes. Her eyes remained closed. She will never see the picture of her and Mickey Mouse. That breaks my heart. The things we take for granted each and every day, some people will never experience. My challenge to everyone is this: Close your eyes for an hour, thirty minutes, ten minutes, even just five minutes! Try to do the things you always do, but with your eyes closed. I guarantee it will be a challenge. Then imagine living every single day that way. What would that be like? What would you do? I can tell you what you wouldn't do. You wouldn't read. You wouldn't be on Facebook. You wouldn't text. You probably wouldn't go anywhere alone.You wouldn't drive a car. I can promise you that I wouldn't go to another country by myself. That's why this girl was so amazing to me. Yes, she was blind. Lots of people are blind. Lots of people have things that make their life more challenging than the average human being. But they carry on. She has carried on. I'm so glad I was able to meet her today. As the family was leaving, I looked over and saw one of my attendants wipe some tears away. The mother came back and gave me a hug and thanked me. She said that I was wonderful and reached inside of her bag. She pulled out a little gold thing, placed it in my hand, and said, "This is for you. God bless you. God bless you. You can put it on a necklace. Thank you so much." Then she squeezed both of my hands and they left. I looked up and my attendant was wiping away more tears. I found myself wishing I could reach my eyes to wipe away the tears. Then I looked down at my hand to see what she had given me. It was a small pendant for a necklace with a figure engraved on it. At first I thought it was Jesus, but looking at it now, I think it is probably Mary. Regardless, it was very kind of that women to give it to me. Now I will always have a way to remember that family.

I posted on the Kidd's Kids Facebook saying that Mickey met some of the families today and he was very glad to have met them. Whoever runs the Facebook page responded and asked if I'm Mickey Mouse. They also put a winky face. That made me giggle. I encourage everyone who has a Facebook to look up Kidd's Kids and look at all of the pictures they are posting of their trip. It is so wonderful to see the kids' smiling faces. It brings tears to my eyes, but it still brightens my day.

I feel like everyone, myself included, could use a good laugh right now. So I will tell you some random things that have been going on. Yesterday, a little boy came to meet Sorcerer Mickey after meeting Minnie. First he said, "I wonder if his autograph will look like Minnie's?" After he saw the autograph, "Yup. Looks like Minnie's" Even though they don't look alike at all. Then, my favorite part, "He smells like Minnie, too!" Later, a little girl told Mickey that he smelled good. It must be the detergent he and Minnie use to wash their clothes or something. Also, when Mickey wears his sorcerer's hat, he kind of looks like a bobble head. Especially on days where his shoulder are narrower, like the days he and I are hanging out. Today, a little boy got Mickey's autograph and took several pictures. He then added, "Yeah, this is great, but where is Donald?" That made me laugh!

Two fun facts for you and then I'm done! One: The Carousel of Progress is the only ride/attraction at Walt Disney World that Walt Disney himself actually experienced. It was part of the 1964 New York World's Fair and at the time was called "Progressland." Two: Disney Imagineers were very excited about their ability to use trees in New Fantasyland. Because of the utilidor system in Magic Kingdom, any time trees were planted, they had to be removed once they grew to a certain size because the roots would crack the foundation. In New Fantasyland, however, there are no tunnels, so trees can grow wild and free! Yay! This adds to the feeling of New Fantasyland being the forest beyond the castle courtyard and village.

Well, there you have it ladies and gentlemen. I'm curious to know if I effectively communicated what it was like to meet the families today. I was definitely crying a lot today. Not because I was sad, but because I was honored. Truly honored. Goodnight everyone and have a magical weekend!