Yesterday was one of those days when we truly made the best
of the situation we found ourselves in and because we did, doors opened providing
opportunities for us that were least excepted.
You see yesterday was supposed to be a severe storm day here
in Orlando. Lightning strikes, heavy rain, flooding and thunderstorms at first
for the whole day then the forecast changed to a window of between 12 and 3.
By noon it became dark and the heavens opened. Heavy
downpours such that it was almost impossible to see in front of us. So we
decided we would come back to our place and ride out the storm. During that
time, the forecast changed again as the storm had shifted and spared us from
the worst of it because we were not going to be in the band that got the heavy
thunderstorms and fork lightning, we just got the intermittent heavy rain.
By about 2 pm the weather was breaking so we decided to go
to the Animal Kingdom so our daughter could ride the Yeti roller coaster she
was too small and too afraid to ride four years ago and to go on the tea cup
ride in Dinoland because she remembered loving that ride very much with her
papa. As we drove to the park, the weather decided it was not ready to let up
yet and the heavens opened again. Downpours so heavy we could barely see in
front of us.
All of us doubting whether we had made the right decision to
go to the park or if we should just turn back. But then we started laughing and joking about
the situation we found ourselves in. We were on holiday after all so did it really
matter if we got soaking wet?
By the time we got to the park it was 3.30 and we were the
only car approaching the parking booth. The park closes at 7 pm. So really all
we had was 3 and a half hours to do what we wanted to do and the parking regardless
of what time we arrived was $17. My husband complained to the lady at the booth
in a kind way. She looked at us and must have decided because there was not
another car in sight and the pouring rain that she felt sorry for us because
she decided not to charge us for parking. Instead handing us back the money and
saying, “You know what I am going to give you a Magic Moment. Just following the
signs for parking and enjoy your time at the park.”
We drove in and there was no one to be seen so we lost our
way and ended up on the way back out of the park, slowing down to figure out
what we had done wrong. But this time right next to a Disney police car who put
his siren and flashing lights on and came over to us to tell us we needed to
move on. We told him we were lost and he said we needed to exit the park and
come back again. By this time the rain was coming down so much that we were
trying to decide if getting lost was a sign that we were meant to leave the
park all together.
But my husband was insistent that we were there so we needed
to stay. We exited the park and came back through our Magic Moment lady and she
let us through again. And once again we
got lost but this time we just found a spot and parked.
As we were walking into the park in the rain, throngs of people were exiting. Soaked to the skin. Not smiling and
looking like they had had the most miserable time ever. Our son
telling us there was a reason why people were leaving so why in the world would
we be arriving. The skies still dark. Rain seeming like it was not going to end
even though it was after 4 pm. So much for the forecast.
When we got to the park entrance, the attendants were equally
looking as pitiful as the people leaving so I decided to be cheerful and greet
them as if it was a hot and sunny day. I said to our attendant, “We are going
to make the best out of what could be a bad situation.”
She looked at me with the brightest smile and said, “Thank you
for that because so many people are irritated with us because of the weather,
like we can do anything about it.”
She started joking with us and then our attitudes shifted
even more. Hundreds of people were exiting as we were making our way in. As we
got to the first ride, the rain had turned into a drizzle. And there was no one
lining up for my daughter’s treasured tea cup ride which she and her papa did
not once but twice because there were no lines. My fifteen year old standing
beside me in disbelief that we would be in the park under those conditions.
By the time they had completed the ride, the rain had
stopped, the sky looked less ominous and we had the park all to ourselves it
seemed. We got to the Yeti ride – the ride my daughter so desperately wanted to
try but when she saw it, she said there was no way she was going to ride it. My
husband and son had to take a bathroom break and while they were doing that,
she wanted to go to watch others on the ride. She was gripping my hand in fear
as we watched the ride climb slowly up a track that made my teeth hurt just
looking at it. Sheer drops on either side. With her palms sweaty and her little
body shaking, a light came on in her eyes and she said, “I’m going to do it.
Let’s find Papa and Raven before they get on.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said.
We rushed over to the entrance just as they were exiting the
bathroom and she took her papa’s hand and told him she was going. I could see
the fear in her eyes. I could feel it. My heart pounding. My palms sweaty. I
stood at the entrance for a minute to make sure she was going to go. And
because there were no lines she did not have time to change her mind. I watched
as they climbed the steep track, my heart in my throat. I took pictures as they
came down the steep track curving sharply to the left and felt her fear within
me.
When she finished she said she was terrified but wanted to
do the ride again. And she did. They did. The triumph on her face almost
indescribable.
Then we went on the Safari as our last real thing we wanted
to do. By this time the rain had completely stopped. All the animals were out
in full force. Relieved too that the rain had stopped so not only did we walk
straight onto the safari, we got to see all the animals as well.
When we got off the safari our daughter decided she wanted
to do the Yeti one more time. This time with her brother because he had wanted
to ride with her all along but she needed her papa first to feel brave enough
to do the ride. But by the end her confidence had built so much that she could
now go with her brother. The two of them walking off hand in hand. Him proud
that she felt comfortable enough to ride with him and her brave enough to be
comfortable with her brother. Tears stinging my eyes as I watched my children
taking further steps away from us. No longer needing us to help them feel brave
because they have built a love and trust for each other and now they are maturing
with that love and respect.
Watching with pride as they came down the mountain together
on the ride. She laughing and he holding his arms up in the air with a huge
smile on his face. My husband and I holding hands as we stood watching our
children doing their first rollercoaster ride together without needing any of
us. Proud to know we are parents of children who are growing independent and
strong.
And then our time was done. The day that had started without
promise under the threat of a severe storm ending perfectly for us. An empty
park allowing us to do all the things we wanted to do and ending on such a
bittersweet moment with our children were prime examples of when life give us
lemons we need to make lemonade as we did yesterday. And boy was that lemonade some
sort of sweet. Namaste.
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