Ah, a three-day weekend. Now what better way to spend a vacation day than at the happiest place on earth?
On Monday, I went to Disneyland with my mom, sister and brother.
Usually it is an unspoken rule that days like these must be spent getting along and making sure that every moment counts.
For whatever reason, it seemed so effortless to do exactly this.
I am not trying to say that outings with my family are forced; it’s just that this time it was easy.
Maybe it was the child-like state we assumed that made this outing so special, as we parked at the Donald Duck level of the parking structure and made our way to the entrance.
Disneyland is great for people who like watching others; a pastime shared by my mom and me.
If you haven’t tried it, please do. Becoming an observer and sitting back to catch glimpses of strangers’ lives is like sharing a secret with them and re-enforcing a little something within you.
The dancing smiles on a little girl’s face as she stood in line for the carousel yes, I was in line too was a reflection, I’m sure, of my own expression.
A group of adults screaming with happy terror as the room stretched in the Haunted Mansion reminded me to never lose that innocence we can slip into, if only fleetingly, away from harsher realities.
In line at Peter Pan, a boy of about two slumped comfortably on his dad’s shoulders. I saw him occasionally rubbing at his eyes. He was determined to remain awake for the excitement.
I promised myself I would do the same.
And the teacups! You know, the rides in Fantasyland that just return you to childhood as you weave through the cheerfully colored rides and neatly landscaped grounds.
My brother and I convinced my sister, who was trying to come up with anything to get out of riding, to take a ride on the spinning cups.
As we sat in the mustard colored teacup, maneuvering this way and that to position our long legs we are a tall family my brother and I promised that of course we wouldn’t spin too fast.
To my growing delight my brother and I communicated when we pulled “one over” on our little sister.
As the ride began, and I felt the thrill of the machine as it started to whip us around under the glow of artificial Chinese lanterns, we giggled with delight as my sister realized she was in for it.
Spinning faster and faster, I felt my body being pulled in all directions, yet at the same time, I felt oddly static.
My arms ached from spinning the wheel and finally I gave in and let my brother take over.
I let my arms fall free, and I got that same overwhelming feeling of being everywhere and grounded at the same time, like meeting someone for the first time that state of calm and jittery anticipation that we all search for.
It was one of those days, or moments even, when deadlines and commitments don’t exist outside of this comfortable zone where the people surrounding you truly know you, and the places you visit are enhanced by memory.
Bailey Porter, a sophomore journalism major, is photography editor of the Campus Times. She can be reached by e-mail at porterb@ulv.edu.
