Happiest Place On Earth

When I got to Walt Disney World, I realized it was (give or take about 10 days) exactly 35 years since my first visit. On that visit I was 6 years old. It rained 5 inches, and my most vivid memory is of sitting in a large room in the Contemporary Hotel where they were showing a movie as a rainy day activity for kids. The reason it sticks out in my memory is that I was the only child there. My father came to get me halfway through the movie. I felt guilty leaving the projectionist there showing the movie to no one. I have lost count of how many times I've been here since 1973, but they've always been special.

Yesterday we went to one of the water parks here at WDW, Typhoon Lagoon. Of all our visits I'd never been to one of the water parks. It's been in the upper-80's this week, and it was lovely to spend time floating along the lazy river in an inner tube. We also spent time in the wave pool, one of the largest in the world. It creates 6 foot waves. I much preferred bobbing in the 2 foot waves.

The night before and all morning before we went to the park, I nagged my friend Jim about putting on sunscreen. He tans the minute he is in the sun and often won't wear any sunscreen. He got a third degree sunburn on a cruise once, though, and I was adamant that he put on sunscreen early and often. So we did. Lots of sunscreen before starting and reapplied several times. We also sought out lots of shade.

I was vindicated. He did not burn. Neither did Katie or Dirk. My nagging paid off!

For them. Even with multiple applications of SPF 45, I look (and feel) like a broiled lobster.

Sigh.