26.
Last Saturday, I celebrated my twenty-sixth year of life at the Happiest Place on Earth - Disneyland, of course.
I have an annual pass, so I've been able to go quite a bit recently with friends, but it's been awhile since my parents and I were able to go as a family. This year, that was all I wanted for my birthday.
I made my list of things I wanted to do for the day:
Ride the Lily Belle cart on the train (it was decorated by Mrs. Disney and was the cart they used when presidents, celebrities and other dignitaries visited the park in its earlier days. It also holds some other historical Disney items and such).
Get a death certificate at Haunted Mansion (but I was still on the fence with it because...How morbid?)
Buy the rose gold ears and jersey
Hold the balloons on Main Street
Get my birthday button
Get a birthday beignet in New Orleans Square
Steer the Mark Twain
I was ready.
We planned it all out and made it to the park long before 8 a.m. We ran straight to the train station and got "in line." I'd only read about the train through blogs and such, so I wasn't exactly sure what to anticipate or what the process was. My dad asked one of the cast members and he said they don't do it anymore, it's only for VIP tours.
NOOOOOOO. Bummer.
Up next...We went to the Emporium to check for rose gold ears. Sold out. Which is what I anticipated.
Two strikes and we'd only just begun. I then thought, 'this is why planners like me shouldn't make lists and goals at a place like Disneyland, where you aren't in control.' Ha! From there, I decided "que sera, sera" (whatever will be, will be). And it was.
We spent 16 hours in the park, walked 24,278 steps (10.5 miles), ate treats galore, visited all the lands, rode all of our favorite rides, shopped a little and enjoyed the wondrous enchantment that Disney creates.
I was able to get my birthday button.
Bought a silver pair of ears.
Hold the balloons near the Matterhorn.
Get a free birthday beignet in New Orleans at lunch.
Buy and wear the rose gold jersey.
Life is often like a trip to Disneyland. You never know what's going to happen. More often than not, though, it turns out better than any list or vision board you could have created. Roll with it, adapt with it...See what comes. Take a lot of pictures and laugh a lot.
Near the end of the day, as we sat on a bench in Frontierland, eating Dole Whips, I pulled out my phone to catch up on birthday text messages and Facebook posts and teared up. So some people forgot or others just didn't take the time, it happens. I can't control that anymore than I can control the weather (a line from "Sweet Home Alabama," but you get the picture)...The ones who did...Wow, how blessed am I to have them in my life? The memories and friendships that have lasted after all these years and I pray that they last many more.
Twenty-six, you're going to be alright.
That's all for now,
Shelby