3:21 p.m. Today's project was to overcome a night of sketchy sleep and go with Steve to Disneyland, activating our deluxe annual passes. I emphasize "deluxe" because we can go on a Sunday afternoon when our kids are off from their jobs. Of course the nicest part is that senior citizen pensioners like myself can go on weekdays , too, when there are not that many people.
Naturally, while we were in the parking structure crawling along in huge lines to get to our space, it didn't seem like a small crowd. Flashing the pass with prepaid parking certainly eased my discomfort, though. Now the challenge is to use the passes enough times to make up the parking fees, and eat enough meals there to take advantage of the 10% discount. It's on!
The tram ride went along for about a hundred yards when another tram operator radioed ours that a child was hanging off the side of our tram. So the whole thing had to halt while the operator walked slowly and deliberately the full length of the tram to rebuke the child and presumably, the parent. "Train up a child in the way he should go," Proverbs 22:6 promises, "and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Nor will he or she fall off a tram, embarass their parents, or irritate the operator and other passengers!)
It took us a while to find out where to get our photos snapped for the passes, so we took in the sights of California Adventure, which we'd never visited before. My daughter-in-law said there are some cool rides in that park, but we wouldn't have time. So we had our pictures taken, just about as flattering as a driver's license! We listened to "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" live onstage at Sunshine Plaza for 18 seconds, then strolled around, enjoying the Hollywood backdrops, and ate a really good lunch at Studio Catering Co. The chili burger I ate caused no repurcussions whatsoever--way to go!
When we got to the entrance of Bug's Land, I had to chuckle when I saw one of the banners, which read, "It's tough to be a bug!" It reminded me of the subtitle of our Bible study on Esther, "It's tough being a woman." The comparison would have to end there, but that's what happens with a mind that's continually seeking random hilarity.
A while later, Steve and I congratulated ourselves on correctly retracing our steps and finding the Jeep! You don't want to know about the hours we spent looking for it in the Rose Bowl parking lot last year after a UCLA game! Today was blessedly smooth, worthy of praising the Lord, because He really did "make straight paths for our feet" (Hebrews 12:13a), allowing us to be on the freeway by 2:07 p.m. and home by 3:00. I even had a conversation with son Kriss all the way from Anaheim Hills. It warms a mom's heart to recognize that things are working smoothly for newlywed children, and seeing that they have goals and plans that they've thought out for their new, more responsible phase of life. We have been blessed by Sean's, Heather's and Kriss' choices of mates, and I think Heidi will not be far behind, since she and Pavel are already studying together on the principles of biblical marriage...
One reason to get home early was that Heidi wouldn't be home to feed our labs, because she is going to a wedding rehearsal for her friend Shea. I really didn't want to pester the neighbors with Jada and Bailey's barking for any longer that the usual 1/2 hour before their 5:00 meal, trying always to be good witnesses for Christ! Steve also had time to walk them this afternoon.
I am grateful that Steve and I can enjoy a new fun pastime for the year of 2010, because we don't know how the passing of another 12 months will affect him. I have a sense that the supplements and prescriptions are keeping him fairly level, able to relax and enjoy strolling around, taking in the sights, and next visit, we'll be going on some thrill rides. Not necessarily a fan, I'll have to allow the Lord to stretch me so Steve can enjoy a rollercoaster or two.
Our companionship is sweet, now that we are taking much-deserved time for one another. Often we'll hear people will say, "If I could just freeze this moment!" usually when their children are small, or in the early days of marriage. It's said with a knowing unreality, even as the speaker looks forward to other great days to come.
But I actually DO wish I could freeze this moment!
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