Happy Fathers Day!

To all of you that are dads, I extend a heartfelt wish for a wonderful day. 

Last night I was thinking about my dad, trying to remember little things about him that I could share. He was very old fashioned and according to my sisters, very strict while they were growing up. I came along a few years later (surprise!) and by the time I was 6 or 7, he had mellowed out quite a bit.

I owe my love of Disneyland to my dad. I remember asking him if he could remember when we first went to Disneyland. Without hesitation, he told me that we had gone in September of 1955. I was 4 months old, LOL. I asked him if he was the one that wanted to go or my mother - no, it was him. He said that after watching the Disney show on TV he was excited to see all the wonderful new things that Walt Disney had created. He really must have loved Disneyland or I was an super spoiled kid because I can remember that EVERY time I asked him to take me, we went. EVERY time. My friends would always tell me how lucky I was but I thought it was normal to go to Disneyland so often!  On the flip side, every time we went, it was an all day affair. We would stay until closing time.  I never got to join the Mickey Mouse Club because my dad always made a beeline for Aunt Jemima's Pancake House to start the day. Every time I asked if we could stop so I could  join up, they said we would do it on the way out. I would complain and moan and groan to my parents that the Mickey Mouse Club closed early and sure enough, by the time we would leave the Park, they would be closed. To compensate, my dad would always buy me a balloon. Oh well....

My dad loved the fireworks and he would pick a spot in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle about an hour before the show. Of course, being a little kid, I had to stay with my parents and it got pretty boring standing there waiting and waiting. I would eventually start to complain and my dad would say that the fireworks would be starting in a minute...just a minute. I wish he had just said "We've got 20 more minutes"! Even when I got older and was allowed to roam the Park on my own, I had to meet up with my folks in front of the castle an hour before the fireworks, LOL. Nowadays I never wait for the fireworks but I do think of my dad every time I see them.

When I bought my first annual pass back in the early 80s my mom looked at my dad and said, "It's your fault!" LOL!!! Ya, I got "the disease"!

Comments

Momma Nic said…
What a great tribute Connie. Thanks for sharing. I love the "It's your fault!" Some of my happiest moments watching TV with my Dad was when Walt's show, would be showing something about the building of Disneyland. My Dad always watched those, and had a true respect for Walt.
June 19, 2011 at 10:24 AM
Major Pepperidge said…
Very nice tribute to your father... it's nice that you have such a great Disneyland connection! My dad is awesome, but he has never been much of a Disneyland fan. However, it was the "Navy Nights" from the 70's that I think really made me the fan that I am. So in a way I DO owe it all to my dad!
June 19, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Thufer said…
How neat is that. Thanks for sharing.
Those are special memories and a true blessing. 4 months old for your first time in the park; how awesome?
June 19, 2011 at 4:20 PM
Unknown said…
What a great story. I hope my kids have fond memories like yours of Disney when they grow up!
June 20, 2011 at 2:18 PM
TokyoMagic! said…
I enjoyed reading your personal memories of DL with your father. Thanks for sharing these!
June 20, 2011 at 10:17 PM
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