Dispatch From Disneyland
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The ride into the park on the Monorail was similar to the fever induced blur I had last time I was down with the flu. Only the brightest and most spectacular objects stand out. Chief among those was the glorious Christmas light covered façade of 'it's a small world holiday'.

Admittedly, it was hard to miss. I could see the lights through the trees as we crossed the birm. Their errie luminescence cast a shimmering pastel glow onto the faces of the thousands of guests queued up to experience the attraction.

We traveled around the Matterhorn (didn't have one of those in Paris, but the real one was only a days drive away) and disembarked at the Tomorrowland station. A quick check of our clocks and we noticed how close it was to fireworks launch time. Mama grabbed my hand and off we went to Main Street U.S.A.

At eight years old, it's very difficult to see anything when you're in even a small crowd. That being said, the day after Thanksgiving Disneyland is one big elbow to elbow throng. The incredible magical setting is swallowed up in a sea of swishing thighs, face level posteriors, and bulging bellies. Still, through the cracks and valleys one can catch a taste of the magic and a glimpse of the beautiful lightbulb encrusted setting.

In the hub of the park a crown of white lights with blue jewel like spheres drew my focus. If I squinted I could swear I saw little white dancing fairies moving around the base of the crown.

From there we turned left onto Main Street. All I remember were there being so many lights, so many Christmas decorations, and so many people looking at them all, that we literally ran into a wall of humanity.

We ended up behind two double-seater strollers (and the families that came with them) right next to the Kodak Camera Shop. As it turns out, a perfect place to see the fireworks. The strollers even provided enough distance between me and the adult in front of me that I could see the top of the castle.

Mama had told me to expect a holiday fireworks show, something they were doing for the first time this year. The title "Believe In Holiday Magic" certainly should have prepared me for wonder as well. However, I was as blown away as a kid can be by the show.

At the commencement of the display, dozens of rockets launched at once and exploded like a fiery white pinball game across the sky. Oddly enough (for a fireworks display) everything quieted down and a voice similar to my grandmother's came on and spoke to us about the magic of believing and the joy of the holiday spirit. It is still my feeling today that she was preaching to the converted.

For the rest of the show Mama and I stood in awe. My favorite section was the Carol of the Bells segment, while Mama preferred the simple majesty of Silent Night. However, neither of us expected a finale as amazing and magical as arrived that night.

I realize I have closed my eyes while retelling the story. Everything seems so vivid to me. I can even hear the distant hum of the sound track in the background. Okay, so maybe it was Mama humming the tune, still fresh in her mind after all these years.

"Ready Mama?"

"Since I rode in from Texas," was her swift response. She was always a smart aleck.

With the last burning shards of the finale still floating in the air the lights of Main Street slowly turned on. My first thought was that someone had made an error and lit up the street's lights too early, I looked up to see that none of the Christmas decorations were on, just some show lights. Hmmmmm....

I felt it hit my face first. A cool wet spot right above my left eyelid. That was quickly followed by another and then another fleck striking my face. Little milky specks were falling from the sky. They landed in the trees, in people's hair, on my jacket. It's snow, I realized with a whoopie!

I wanted to dance around in it. Make a snow angel, throw a ball, whatever. But there was no where to move. Every soul on the street was standing still and enjoying the miracle of a snowfall on Main Street.

A slow twangy version of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" played while the snow fell and peacefully covered everything and everyone. For three long minutes hardly anyone stirred. Eventually the song ended and the snow with it. To complete the magic effect when the song ended, I looked around for the snow and it was no where to be seen. It had vanished into the night just as the last whisp of firework smoke faded from the sky.

Mama and I stood together in a warm hug. She told me how much she loved me and how glad she was to share this special moment with me. I told her I would remember it forever and that it was a truly marvelous way to be introduced to Disneyland. With the rest of the night ahead of us, we set out to explore the only park Walt Disney ever set foot in and what was quickly to become a home away from home for us both.

Here in our real home, still in Huntington Beach, Mama closed her eyes one last time for the night and fell asleep. In my mind I humbly thanked the creators of "Believe In Holiday Magic" one more time for the joy and peace it has provided Mama and I over the years.

To you and yours, Happy Holidays and may Joy and Peace prosper around the world.

-- Indigo

-- Posted December 6, 2000