Five years ago I knew the world was going to change real soon, but I was in the unenviable spot of not a lot of people believing me. And for a long stretch of 2020 and a shorter stretch of 2021 I didn’t think we were ever going to get back to normal.*
I missed seeing people. I missed hot food served in restaurants (curbside pickup fries are terrible). I missed the sound of kids on the school playground. I missed dipping in and out of stores.
And I missed Walt Disney World, my happy place. Yes, we travel to other places too, but you know WDW has my heart. No matter what the weather or the situation, I’ve never had a bad vacation there.
But for a very long time I was afraid to leave the house.
When WM and I finally bit the bullet and went in January 2022, we still had to mask up on the airplane, inside of buildings, and on attractions. It was cold and rainy and strange but also heartwarming.
As always, Walt Disney World knew what they were doing with their marketing, especially for those of us who come alive once we pass the purple welcome sign.
I bought this mug.
I have many things from Walt Disney World: clothing, knickknacks, magnets, bags, etc. But nothing makes me smile larger than this mug does. It reminds me on how we were lucky and privileged enough to make it through a tough time and how I pushed myself past my fear of everyone and everything.
*I know some people have not. But other than wearing a mask on public transportation during the winters and being obsessive about vaccines, I’ve chosen to go back to normal.
