I am officially more excited at this moment than I have ever been in my life. I don't know about you, but when I was a kid, getting to go to Disneyland was just about the most exciting thing ever. Now, I have been actively trying to remember any point in my life when I have been as excited, and I just can't think of a single one. I was excited to move to California, but I wasn't counting the days, and there was so much uncertainty tied up with it. I was excited enough to actually jump up and down and squeal when I got a job at the American Cancer Society last summer, but that was still different.
No, I am not going to Disneyland again. It's just that going to Disneyland as a kid comes as close as I can get to describing this feeling of just running headlong toward what I want, with arms outstretched, in full knowledge that it's going to bring me joy, but this is so much more. If you're like me, you grew up knowing about Disneyland and how awesome it's supposed to be, and if you're under the age of ten, it pretty much lives right up to the expectations.
I'm not saying that I have never been excited since. Of course I have. I get excited about a damn fine cup of coffee. I get excited about a shiny new book. I get excited when Livin' On A Prayer is playing on the overhead speakers when I walk into Target. You know, ordinary excited. I even get really excited. I get really excited when my tax return is way bigger than I expected it to be. I get really excited when a friend gets a story published or books a gig to appear on national television. I get really excited when a little kid asks me to read her a story.
Put all of that together, PLUS Disneyland and you might come close to how excited I am right now, as it is officially SIX DAYS! LESS THAN A WEEK! before I get to pick up The Boy from the airport. I know, I know. You could vomit. Too bad I couldn't care less about your gag reflex right now. This is me - physically incapable of maintaining the façade of aloof calm for another minute. It'll probably only get worse. Consider that your fair warning. I grew up knowing how awesome Disneyland is and then getting to experience it while I was still young enough to see only the awesome. Nothing in my adult life (defined here as "period of time since I started dating") led me to expect anything like this.
As an adult, looking at Disneyland, I can see things like how expensive it is, how long the lines are, how many screaming children there are, and how obnoxious the It's A Small World song really is. Looking at what's ahead of me now, I may be aware that nothing and nobody is perfect, and I even know the specific flaws, but then again, that's kinda part of what makes it great. When you're a kid, things need to be simple - either they are good or they are not. Perfection exists for little kids in a way it can't for an adult, so any pretense of it is a turn-off. It's so much more satisfying and magical to see the imperfections and embrace them, knowing it's worth it.
So, basically, if you don't see me posting to Pop Bunker, or responding as quickly to your calls, tweets, texts, and instant messages, don't worry - I've just gone to Dizz Knee Land.
