The Characters

Everyday I see Disney characters on and off stage. I realize that they are actors, regular people dressed in costumes, but the personalities they are impersonating are so much a part of my childhood that I can't resist the magic. Princess Aurora is kind and pretty,Chip and Dale are mischievous and funny, and Eeyore just needs a hug. I want to be a part of their world.

And for all of you wondering, there is only one Mickey Mouse ;)

The Way Things Are

I am an interpreter. I dress in khaki, wear a radio and transform into an encyclopedia of the natural world. Every morning I begin my day in the "Oasis" of the Animal Kingdom, a beautiful section of the park with waterfalls and trees and wildlife. I enjoy being surrounded by life.

This morning started out like most others: I was teaching families about macaws, with a transition message of choosing your pets wisely, when

suddenly, a duckling fell from the sky! All of us, me and the guests, looked up and saw a hawk!! Then everyone turned to me, the presenter caught between parrot, predator, and prey.

The mallard duckling was still alive and active, so I gently picked it up and placed it nearest the other ducks on the other side of the fence. Several female ducks began to quack very loudly as they surrounded the little one who had just escaped death. The red-shouldered hawk flew away, and all the guests now seemed very interested in birds! I couldn't help but feel noble: the ducks seemed grateful and the guests viewed me as a friend to baby birds.

Twenty minutes later, the hawk came back, grabbed a different duckling from the nest. This time, he didn't drop it. There was nothing I could do for that little bird, and perhaps, there's nothing I should have bee doing. Hawks eat ducklings. That's just the way things are.

Friends

I am grateful for friendships that last for a long time. In the past two months, some of my dearest friends have made a great effort to visit. Each one brings out something different in me, and each one has helped me see my world through new eyes.

First visitor was my brother Andrew, a first-timer to Disney! My favorite moment was an evening by the castle in the Magic Kingdom. With that beautiful backdrop we sat and discussed life's beauties and intricacies. I felt completely rejuvenated.

Visitor number 2 was a former mission companion, Tiffiny. She brings me to life, and we had a kid day, full of face paint, parades, and ice-cream. For over two years now, she has been a devoted friend, always lifting me up and making me feel both stronger and happier.

The next visit was a double dose of Provo friends!

Both Emily and Levi's visit overlapped, and I got to spend

time with them in the warm Florida sun and in the parks. Thanks to them, I have a new appreciation for Star Wars Potato Head accessories and roller coasters at night!

And my most recent visitor was my other brother Ben.

He came during his birthday, and it turns out that March 1st is a perfect day to visit an amusement park:

no people = no lines = infinite rounds on all rides!

Thanks to all of you for your visits!