Magical Memories

There's something so special about children. They live in a world filled with magic. They notice things that adults often look over. Sometimes, it's fun to get that world of magic back.

 I have found such a place. A place where I can soar through the stars like Peter Pan or have an adventure dodging darts from skeletons while chasing after Indiana Jones. In this same place, I can take an African river cruise and discover "the back side of water," or venture into outer space with C-3PO. Of course, the place I'm talking about is Disneyland. If I could have the perfect place to spend 24 hours, this would be it.

I had visited Disneyland a few times, and although I had enjoyed it, it really didn't become magical to me until one special visit. My now husband (then boyfriend) took me there for our six-month anniversary. We spent a fun morning going on rides and checking out some of the attractions.

One thing I did notice was that he seemed a bit off. I couldn't put my finger on anything, but it was almost as if he seemed a bit nervous. I put the thoughts out of my mind, chalking it up to my imagination.

Lunchtime came, and he surprised me with lunch at the Blue Bayou Restaurant, which is located in New Orleans Square. The restaurant is New Orleans-influenced. The interior is dark to mimic twilight, with string lights and lanterns to illuminate it. It definitely has an enchanted and romantic setting.

The food is Creole and Cajun-inspired with menu items like gumbo and crab cakes. This is the most upscale restaurant in Disneyland. Guests enjoy it because the restaurant is located at the entrance of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, so you can watch the boats begin their journey while hearing the sounds of crickets and the distant sound of banjo playing. 

Everything about the lunch was perfect: the food, the atmosphere, and the service. The only thing I found rather weird was that my boyfriend continued to seem nervous and kept perspiring on his face, and this is something he didn't normally do, not to mention that the restaurant was well air-conditioned. 

We finished our lunch and were talking when my boyfriend arose, then got down on one knee. At that moment I knew what was coming, and now it made sense why he had been so nervous all day. He looked lovingly into my eyes and began to propose to me. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect setting. Things were going smoothly until the waiter came over and, halfway through the proposal, the waiter handed my boyfriend the check. Was it really not obvious what was going on?

Fortunately, he was able to regain his composure and pop the question. At first I thought I would joke around and tell him I would think about it, but after what he just went through, I just smiled and said yes. He paid the check, and we did what any other newly engaged couple would do. We rode on Pirates of the Caribbean!

That proposal was many years ago. Since that time, we welcomed four babies into our lives. Each one had their first visit to Disneyland while still a baby, and each of their first rides was on Pirates. It became a family tradition to visit Disneyland at least once a year.

I've had many magical moments throughout the years with my kids there. My oldest son developed his first crush on Snow White. After being encouraged by Belle to keep up her reading, my oldest daughter went on to win a reading contest at school.

There was also the excitement each time one of them was tall enough to go on thrill rides like Space Mountain and Big Thunder Railroad. They delighted in the fireworks show as well as Fantasmic, not to mention all of the colorful parades. The list of memories goes on and on.

My kids are grown now, but they still delight in going to Disneyland. Two of them live near me (one actually at home), and they enjoy going to Disneyland together. The best part? They invite me along!

Going to Disneyland is a way to escape the pressures of everyday life and experience what it feels like to be a kid again. Not only do I still feel magic every time I go, but I also get to relive so many wonderful memories from my proposal to my kids growing up and all the magic they experienced through their eyes.

While Walt Disney says, " It was all started with a mouse," I say, "It was all started with a proposal." If I could rub Aladdin's magic lamp and make a wish, this is where I would love to spend 24 hours.