I've been wanting to do a little storytelling lately, since I've kind of run out of interesting pictures to post. That's not really true, of course, but this thing happens to me where the longer I have a picture the less it excites me. I know you guys haven't seen them, but I have, again and again and again.. and if it doesn't excite me I don't feel the need to post it. But anyway, it probably won't come as a surprise to anyone that I enjoy telling stories. And with all the time I've spent at Disney World I've built up quite a few stories that.. well, that I anyway feel are interesting. They vary in significance, but to me they're a big part of the Disney experience. Like the time where my sister and I did the Spock "live long and prosper" sign for the photo at Splash Mountain, and when we were walking past the monitors that preview the pictures the cast member there asked if we were the ones that did the Spock sign thing. You have to understand, we like to come up with interesting things to do on that thing. Once her boyfriend was along and wearing a Dracula style cape (yes, seriously, all throughout the park, he actually scared a few kids but then made friends with them) so we acted out a little Dracula scene during the drop, with him going for my sister's throat and me attempting to look horrified. But for some reason the Spock sign was the one that got us the attention of the cast member. And for us it was an accomplishment. We celebrated the moment, we were giddy. We had done something that stood out to the person who watches countless people get their picture taken. In a way we were trying to perform for them. Or one that almost fits into the cast member shout out. It had been a hot day at Epcot. I've never tolerated heat well, although strangely enough as I age I seem to deal with it better and at the same time I'm losing my traditional legendary cold tolerance. I was hot and exhausted and frankly bordering on being miserable. My mom suggested I go to The Land and have a "Jiminy Cricket", a frozen drink they served that I think was a sort of lemon-lime concoction. Okay, admittedly serving a green slushy drink with the name of a famous green cartoon character was perhaps a little creepy.. but I miss that drink. Anyway, I dutifully waited in line and got one. Except it had a suspicious red tint to it. You have to understand, I am definitely a picky eater. Over the years I've built up a dislike of many things, including most red fruits except apples. Strawberries make me ill if I even smell them, I can't explain it because as a little kid I know I liked them. But there it is. Also I really dislike cherries. So whatever that red coloration was, it was sure to be a bad thing. Besides I liked the drink as it was, it was a Disney tradition of mine to get them when I was at The Land. But I was a shy kid. I was hesitant to say anything.. but I did, awkwardly asking what the red was since it have never been red before. He said it was just some grenadine. I had no idea what grenadine was, I mean I knew it was non alcoholic and often used as a flavoring in alcoholic drinks.. but all I knew was it was red, and that usually meant cherry or strawberry. "That's not what the menu description says" I said, trying to explain that I feared new things and just wanted the same drink I'd been having all along. But he urged me to just try it, and if I didn't like it he'd make one the normal way. Strangely parental, actually.. anyway, I tried it.. and what do you know, it was good. I happily paid for my modified drink, sat down and drank it.. and by the time I was done I felt rejuvenated. I had cooled down and felt like I had gotten my energy back. I had practically stumbled into The Land, I really didn't think I'd recover. I was using it as a rest stop to get some energy before I walked the rest of the way back to the bus stop so I could take a bus back to my room. Instead I had been delighted to discover a new flavor combination, and at the same time I strode out of The Land with a strong, hearty step and set out to enjoy Epcot to its fullest for the rest of the day. My day was saved. It was.. dare I say, magical? Gad that came out corny, but it was really special to me. And I always attributed it to that guy at the drink counter who, for some reason, was changing the usual drink recipes. If you think about it that's rather unusual for a place like Disney World where they basically mass produce the same stuff and serve it to thousands of people. Of course the grenadine didn't magically fix me. But.. I dunno, that was the moment that turned the day around for me. He wasn't just the usual counter service server, he, for whatever reason, altered the recipe and made something special for me without my even asking. I guess I overall approve of the new food options at The Land, but.. I really miss the Jiminy Cricket. I always thought that slushy drinks were perfect for Disney World. I mean they cool you down and supply your system with a healthy dose of sugar. It sure revived me that day. So I'm trying to encourage other people to do this. I mean tell stories.. not try a drink that no longer exists.. To me that's what the whole Disney Magic thing is all about. The special little moments that you remember for years. Like the time that Minnie Mouse hugged me and I blushed like crazy.. so I'm told.. which surprised the heck out of me because I generally try to stay away from the costumed characters.. I know the kids love them and that's great, but I've always been uncomfortable with them. I can't get over the fact that there's a normal human inside and I just can't get lost in the fantasy. Or so I thought. Apparently I was mistaken. I was relieved after Pluto or Goofy came by and roughed up my hair though, that's much less embarrassing than blushing like a schoolgirl.
Or an inability to be concise.. but thank you. I'm an intensely creative person but I lack sufficient outlets for it. I can't draw, can't play music, can't sing, but I can write and take pictures. Interestingly enough.. here I can do both.
