"I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and hope they were entertained." -Walt Disney
I had a very happy childhood and big portion of that was filled watching, singing, dressing and doing all things Disney!
In honor of the 50th animated film being made- I just wanted to share a few things that I learned growing up with Disney...(right about now you should be envisioning Sleeping Beauty's castle painted across the screen with Tinkerbell doing her thing)
Whistle while you work and don't take food from strangers. When you wish upon a star your dreams come true; go to school! Don't try to get water buckets filled by using brooms and Hippos might be large but they are excellent dancers. A mother loves her baby and sometimes we find friends in unexpected places; that said, drinking leads to scary dreams and you might end up in a tree. Being twitterpated makes you feel like your walking on air. Friends make for many adventures and sombreros make you break out into song and dance. Hats have feelings too. Jack has nothing on Mickey, Donald and Goofy. Little Toot could have blamed it on the samba but instead he decided to grow up. Never get in a car when a toad is driving and beware of headless horsemen.
A dream is a wish your heart makes and be nice to mice, you never know when they'll save your life. Don't go following white rabbits and snooping around holes but if you can't help it; embrace the nonsense and sing along. You can fly- all it takes is faith and trust and a little bit of Pixie dust(my dad calls me Pixie)...and Hook really is a codfish. Spaghetti and meatballs is a very romantic meal. Sometimes magic is needed to get the chores done and a true love's kiss is sometimes what it takes to get me out of bed. Dogs have secret codes when they bark. Little servant boys can still grow up to be kings. Sometimes people want to be like you; look for necessities and forget about your worries and your strife; own that little red underwear and as exciting as the jungle may be- a girl is even better.
Apparently, everybody wants to be cat. It's OK to rob the rich to feed the poor as long as you sing and dance and don't get caught. Obsessions with honey always leaves your head in a pot. Again, little mice do big things. Friends come from unexpected places. Stay away from black cauldrons. Mice not only save lives, make dresses and sing and dance but they also make great detectives. Even Charles Dickens was affected by the eighties. Sometimes wanting to be a part of their world gets you in trouble with daddy; kiss the girl and never underestimate the power of body language.
Moms should be more careful letting their little boys run off into the outback but when there's trouble, mice won't just rescue their own countrymen, they're willing to travel down under. Be nice to beasts, you never know when they might turn into a prince; try not to be so beautiful that you make conceited men crazy and if you find yourself being entertained by appliances and housewares- well, good luck with that. You'd be surprised what you can live through and when life gets tricky- hop on a carpet and visit a whole new world. The circle of life moves us all, uncles named scar probably shouldn't be trusted, warthogs are gassy but make loyal friends, baboons are wise while hyenas make an excellent chorus line; hakuna matata is much easier to feel when surrounded by paradise versus the desert.
If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew you never knew. People are always watching, sometimes envying us and we must be kind to everyone. You can go from zero to hero when you realize you're a child of a God, you mean "hunkules" and people do crazy things when they're in love. Women can be very powerful and girls like that don't come along every dynasty. Swinging through the trees while being rescued is one heck of a first date, be mindful of your boots (especially the ones daddy bought you) and family is stronger than blood. (Never saw Fantasia 2000- still freaked out by the first one, but someday). When traveling in a herd be sure you can trust your leader, whether he's a dinosaur or not. Don't throw off someone's groove and when you get flustered, go wash something.
Atlantis does exist. Family means nobody gets left behind and Elvis can help in the transformation of anyone or anything. Friendship is powerful, some villains still have consciences and be careful when dancing with androids named Lupe. Crazy things happen where the light touches the earth but spending a few days in your enemies' skin gives you a whole new perspective. Cows mean business. Believe the chicken. Keep moving forward. Styrofoam does not suck powers from dogs but love and loyalty can give you strength to walk through fire. Dream big, even if you find yourself falling in love with a frog. (And finally,) Don't sweat the bad hair days, frying pans aren't just for cooking, mother knows best, never stop looking for the light and if surrounded by big angry men there is only one thing that can save you- (no, not the the mice)-a song and a dance.
Yes, I have learned a lot over the years. While I have not yet encouraged the mice to join in, I do enjoy living life with a little music and a lot of magic. Regardless of how many times the villain comes back- good always wins and love conquers all!
"Our heritage and ideals, our code and standards - the things we live by and teach our children - are preserved or diminished by how freely we exchange ideas and feelings."
-Walt Disney
For your reference: (because I'm sure you were wondering:)
1.) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
2.) Pinocchio (1940)
3.) Fantasia (1940)
4.) Dumbo (1941)
5.) Bambi (1942)
6.) Saludos Amigos (1942)
7.) The Three Caballeros (1944)
8.) Make Mine Music (1946)
9.) Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
10.) Melody Time (1948)
11.) The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
12.) Cinderella (1950)
13.) Alice in Wonderland (1951)
14.) Peter Pan (1953)
15.) Lady and the Tramp (1955)
16.) Sleeping Beauty (1959)
17.) One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)
18.) The Sword in the Stone (1963)
19.) The Jungle Book (1967)
20.) The Aristocats (1970)
21.) Robin Hood (1973)
22.) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
23.) The Rescuers (1977)
24.) The Fox and the Hound (1981)
25.) The Black Cauldron (1985)
26.) The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
27.) Oliver & Company (1988)
28.) The Little Mermaid (1989)
29.) The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
30.) Beauty and the Beast (1991)
31.) Aladdin (1992)
32.) The Lion King (1994)
33.) Pocahontas (1995)
34.) The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
35.) Hercules (1997)
36.) Mulan (1998)
37.) Tarzan (1999)
38.) Fantasia 2000 (1999)
39.) Dinosaur (2000)
40.) The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
41.) Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
42.) Lilo & Stitch (2002)
43.) Treasure Planet (2002)
44.) Brother Bear (2003)
45.) Home on the Range (2004)
46.) Chicken Little (2005)
47.) Meet the Robinsons (2007)
48.) Bolt (2008)
49.) The Princess and the Frog (2009)
50.) Tangled (2010)
Thanks for all the entertainment and lessons; you made every little boy want to swing a sword and every little girl believe she was a princess- who am I fooling- we never grow out of that...
4.12.2011
4.08.2011
Jump- or I'll push you...
I like to push people off of cliffs. No really, I do; not to watch them tumble to their deaths but rather to witness the new found freedom as they spread their wings and realize that in spite of all they previously thought about themselves- they really can fly.
I am a mom who pushes my kids because I know they are stronger than they think. Likewise, it takes a true friend to push someone to reach their potential. If they didn't care; they wouldn't waste their time. The best moms encourage their children to find themselves and the best friends accept us for who we are but don't allow us to stay that way for too long.
That said, we were not born to be dependent on any one person. From the very beginning- our life depends on whether or not we've got what it takes to take that first breath. Because some of us are so wrecked with shock that we are naked in a room full of strangers smiling at us- we need a little help and that's when one of them whack's us in the bum to get us started. Sure, mom feeds us and changes us while making googly faces but that's only for a season- it's not cute much longer than a few months but it's not just for her good but for our own. We barely get the hang of crawling and she's pushing for us to walk; we learn how to babble and she's coaching us to say her name and we no sooner get comfortable with the mess we did in our diaper only to have her running us to the potty every 10 minutes- while giving us endless juices to ensure the progress!
We may not always like it; fear of change is something we all experience. Sometimes we think of the bruises we might get because we can't see anything beyond the branches that stand ready to break our fall. Sometimes we don't know how to fly in different types of weather but you never know what you can accomplish until you start flapping your wings.
Every person born to this earth has the potential to learn and grow. This will be different for each individual (after all, penguins may dress nice but they still can't fly) but it's important to remember that we are unique and should embrace our strengths. What works for one isn't right for another. Some birds like the oceans and beaches while others prefer ponds. Don't look at what you can't do and look at what you CAN! Penguins can't fly but they can survive temperatures below freezing (and some can dance but that's a whole other documentary). Our nests provide safety and comfort but what's the point of living if we never get the chance to live?
If I seem pushy it's not because you take up too much room on the cliff but because the skies are endless and I want you to experience them! Just think of how inconvenient it would be to still be wearing diapers; aren't you glad somebody filled you with juice and pushed you to the potty? You have potential; I see it and I will do what it takes to help you see it too. But don't wait for me or anyone else to dictate your flight; the first time I'll kindly nudge but after that I'll start shoving, sneak up behind you and knock your legs out from under you- I'll do it if that's what it takes for you to get the courage. Real friends won't let you stand there for long. They'll prod and push and then glide down to coach you in every step until you are flying higher and further than before. I will make sure you're ready but I'm going to push you- be sure of that- and you will have two options; you can fall aimlessly while glaring me down and shouting obscenities or you can put your head against the wind and test your wings.
That is what separates us from the birds. We have intelligence, we have reasoning and we have purpose (though I thank all creatures for lending themselves as themes for my blogs). If we stand where we are, we won't see what's only a few steps away and there is so much world to enjoy. You may not remember the first time you tasted chocolate but I assure you it was a definitive moment and a big step up from the bottle and mashed beans. Don't be the one thing that holds you back. Go out and live! Start with the small mountains and work your way up- but never stop climbing!
... And the next time you find yourself standing at the edge of a cliff desperately wanting to jump but are terrified of what bumps you might get on the way down; know that you don't have to settle or be afraid. Take that leap and remember that you were born to fly!
I am a mom who pushes my kids because I know they are stronger than they think. Likewise, it takes a true friend to push someone to reach their potential. If they didn't care; they wouldn't waste their time. The best moms encourage their children to find themselves and the best friends accept us for who we are but don't allow us to stay that way for too long.
That said, we were not born to be dependent on any one person. From the very beginning- our life depends on whether or not we've got what it takes to take that first breath. Because some of us are so wrecked with shock that we are naked in a room full of strangers smiling at us- we need a little help and that's when one of them whack's us in the bum to get us started. Sure, mom feeds us and changes us while making googly faces but that's only for a season- it's not cute much longer than a few months but it's not just for her good but for our own. We barely get the hang of crawling and she's pushing for us to walk; we learn how to babble and she's coaching us to say her name and we no sooner get comfortable with the mess we did in our diaper only to have her running us to the potty every 10 minutes- while giving us endless juices to ensure the progress!
We may not always like it; fear of change is something we all experience. Sometimes we think of the bruises we might get because we can't see anything beyond the branches that stand ready to break our fall. Sometimes we don't know how to fly in different types of weather but you never know what you can accomplish until you start flapping your wings.
Every person born to this earth has the potential to learn and grow. This will be different for each individual (after all, penguins may dress nice but they still can't fly) but it's important to remember that we are unique and should embrace our strengths. What works for one isn't right for another. Some birds like the oceans and beaches while others prefer ponds. Don't look at what you can't do and look at what you CAN! Penguins can't fly but they can survive temperatures below freezing (and some can dance but that's a whole other documentary). Our nests provide safety and comfort but what's the point of living if we never get the chance to live?
If I seem pushy it's not because you take up too much room on the cliff but because the skies are endless and I want you to experience them! Just think of how inconvenient it would be to still be wearing diapers; aren't you glad somebody filled you with juice and pushed you to the potty? You have potential; I see it and I will do what it takes to help you see it too. But don't wait for me or anyone else to dictate your flight; the first time I'll kindly nudge but after that I'll start shoving, sneak up behind you and knock your legs out from under you- I'll do it if that's what it takes for you to get the courage. Real friends won't let you stand there for long. They'll prod and push and then glide down to coach you in every step until you are flying higher and further than before. I will make sure you're ready but I'm going to push you- be sure of that- and you will have two options; you can fall aimlessly while glaring me down and shouting obscenities or you can put your head against the wind and test your wings.
That is what separates us from the birds. We have intelligence, we have reasoning and we have purpose (though I thank all creatures for lending themselves as themes for my blogs). If we stand where we are, we won't see what's only a few steps away and there is so much world to enjoy. You may not remember the first time you tasted chocolate but I assure you it was a definitive moment and a big step up from the bottle and mashed beans. Don't be the one thing that holds you back. Go out and live! Start with the small mountains and work your way up- but never stop climbing!
... And the next time you find yourself standing at the edge of a cliff desperately wanting to jump but are terrified of what bumps you might get on the way down; know that you don't have to settle or be afraid. Take that leap and remember that you were born to fly!
4.07.2011
and to think- it all started with a magic marker...
Eleven years ago today I went to a church dance with my sister and friends. We had no idea where the building was and since I insist on dancing from the very first to very last minute provided, we went a little early. After finding the church, we decided to take a tour of the neighborhood to fill the time and get something to eat. Arby's is a favorite and it must have been a good omen to be the only place we could find.
Anxious to get my groove on- we headed back for the chapel. Pretending to have patience, I waited eagerly in the line to pay my dues and enter. (Had I known it would be so packed I might have camped out the night before to reserve my spot but alas, Arby's did taste so good and kept my stomach from creatinga beat of it's own.)The sound of the music went in my ears and straight down through my body- I could hardly hold still. What is taking the line so long? I peaked ahead but could only see more anxious bodies standing in line so I waited some more, tapping my foot to try and keep from skipping through the line.
Finally, it was my turn and I handed over my entry donation of two dollars. I turned to walk on when this man called out, "hold on."
"What?", I asked rather impatiently.
"I need to stamp your hand."
With a sigh I held out my hand only to see a giant magic marker heading toward my person. I pulled back.
"What are you doing?"
"Stamping your hand" , he said with reproof.
"That's not a stamp"
"so"
"so- you're not marking my hand with a magic marker!"
"why- what's the big deal?"
"It's a permanent magic marker and I don't want a big fat black line marking up my body." I tried to speak slower to set right any confusion but by this point I was in a serious debate and the lack of patience showed. I raised my eyebrows as if to say "so what are you going to do about it now big guy."
He raised his as if to say "crazy lady".
Caught off guard and probably racked with disbelief that someone could feel so passionately about a magic marker, the puzzled doorman tossed his head to the side and raised his hands giving me clearance to proceed.
Though I'd caused a little disagreement over the poor choice of "stamping", I did find the guy to be cute so thought I'd seek him out for a second meeting, preferably with a better topic to discuss. Yeah; I can't imagine why he walked right passed me and asked my friend for a dance?
Dancing always makes me thirsty and after four hours I needed more than just a drink of water. My friends and I headed for seven-eleven. Slurpee and junior mints in tow, I turned to my sister and said- I could marry that guy (one of those reasons single men avoid single girls). He wasn't really my "type" and we by no means had a fairytale meeting, but still, there was something about him, even if he did show a lack of character in not falling in love with me at first sight.
A week later I attended yet another dance but with a purpose in mind. It took a few hours of waiting but there he was and I was going in for the kill.
Apparently I didn't make as big of an impression on him as he did with me; he didn't remember ever seeing me before and if our paths crossed that night it was because he was seeking out my friend... I guess I wasn't really his type either. (Though who wouldn't want a pushy girl with opinions and agendas?)
Lucky for me, scary, creepy and just plain weird happened. I had some stalker guy staring me down (see, I wasn't totally repulsive) and my naive doorman decided it would be fun to make him jealous so he kept me dancing for the last half hour of the night. I, of course, reluctantly agreed to play the game making sure I got in just enough giggles to boost his male ego but not too many to betray my non-silly girl persona, after all, I had a marker campaign to protect.
Like a true "Huntsman", I had tracked and trapped my prey. A few more "chance" encounters and he was smitten. He could not get enough of me!
I tried to resist his charm but alas, five months later, we were man and wife.
Mr. Zookeeper has his own version of that story, one that INSISTS he was never searching for my friend, but regardless of what he was looking for- I'm glad I was the one he found (and ETERNALLY grateful for the cuter friend not attending the dance that night).
While we never argue and rarely disagree, Mr. Zookeeper and I still have issues with markers- but that's just because they're now being used to mark up the walls, floors, furniture and children.
Indeed, whenever we find a new masterpiece, I simply turn to Mr. Zookeeper, hide my grin and politely inform him, "They get that from you, you know"...
Anxious to get my groove on- we headed back for the chapel. Pretending to have patience, I waited eagerly in the line to pay my dues and enter. (Had I known it would be so packed I might have camped out the night before to reserve my spot but alas, Arby's did taste so good and kept my stomach from creatinga beat of it's own.)The sound of the music went in my ears and straight down through my body- I could hardly hold still. What is taking the line so long? I peaked ahead but could only see more anxious bodies standing in line so I waited some more, tapping my foot to try and keep from skipping through the line.
Finally, it was my turn and I handed over my entry donation of two dollars. I turned to walk on when this man called out, "hold on."
"What?", I asked rather impatiently.
"I need to stamp your hand."
With a sigh I held out my hand only to see a giant magic marker heading toward my person. I pulled back.
"What are you doing?"
"Stamping your hand" , he said with reproof.
"That's not a stamp"
"so"
"so- you're not marking my hand with a magic marker!"
"why- what's the big deal?"
"It's a permanent magic marker and I don't want a big fat black line marking up my body." I tried to speak slower to set right any confusion but by this point I was in a serious debate and the lack of patience showed. I raised my eyebrows as if to say "so what are you going to do about it now big guy."
He raised his as if to say "crazy lady".
Caught off guard and probably racked with disbelief that someone could feel so passionately about a magic marker, the puzzled doorman tossed his head to the side and raised his hands giving me clearance to proceed.
Though I'd caused a little disagreement over the poor choice of "stamping", I did find the guy to be cute so thought I'd seek him out for a second meeting, preferably with a better topic to discuss. Yeah; I can't imagine why he walked right passed me and asked my friend for a dance?
Dancing always makes me thirsty and after four hours I needed more than just a drink of water. My friends and I headed for seven-eleven. Slurpee and junior mints in tow, I turned to my sister and said- I could marry that guy (one of those reasons single men avoid single girls). He wasn't really my "type" and we by no means had a fairytale meeting, but still, there was something about him, even if he did show a lack of character in not falling in love with me at first sight.
A week later I attended yet another dance but with a purpose in mind. It took a few hours of waiting but there he was and I was going in for the kill.
Apparently I didn't make as big of an impression on him as he did with me; he didn't remember ever seeing me before and if our paths crossed that night it was because he was seeking out my friend... I guess I wasn't really his type either. (Though who wouldn't want a pushy girl with opinions and agendas?)
Lucky for me, scary, creepy and just plain weird happened. I had some stalker guy staring me down (see, I wasn't totally repulsive) and my naive doorman decided it would be fun to make him jealous so he kept me dancing for the last half hour of the night. I, of course, reluctantly agreed to play the game making sure I got in just enough giggles to boost his male ego but not too many to betray my non-silly girl persona, after all, I had a marker campaign to protect.
Like a true "Huntsman", I had tracked and trapped my prey. A few more "chance" encounters and he was smitten. He could not get enough of me!
I tried to resist his charm but alas, five months later, we were man and wife.
Mr. Zookeeper has his own version of that story, one that INSISTS he was never searching for my friend, but regardless of what he was looking for- I'm glad I was the one he found (and ETERNALLY grateful for the cuter friend not attending the dance that night).
While we never argue and rarely disagree, Mr. Zookeeper and I still have issues with markers- but that's just because they're now being used to mark up the walls, floors, furniture and children.
Indeed, whenever we find a new masterpiece, I simply turn to Mr. Zookeeper, hide my grin and politely inform him, "They get that from you, you know"...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)