Stream of Consciousness Sunday: The difference a week makes

Still on vacation. Because we are the world’s richest and most relaxed family in the world. Not really. But I do miss writing and have tried to stay connected at least somewhat while I’ve been gone. It hasn’t been easy. Disney kind of makes you forget about the rest of the world. And it makes me wish I could forget the rest of the world.

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I’m trying something new today. I’m speaking my post. I’m using the little app on my phone called Dragon dictation. Basically, I speak and it types what I say. So I will do my best not to do any editing but it may be a little hard to read because my speaking doesn’t always work as well as my writing. I am currently in Florida somewhere north of Jacksonville and what a difference a week makes. I just completed five nights with my family, six nights with my family actually. And I have to tell you that a week away from sickness and cold and the realities of every day life can work wonders. I think it also depends on where you go. Send me escaping to Disney World is beyond amazing. I am constantly marveling at what a machine Disney operations are. I know the original vision of Walt Disney was to create a complete escape from reality and I also read it’s part of why he decided to create a park outside of Disneyland. Apparently Disney land didn’t shield enough protection from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. People were able to view traffic on the highway from rides in the park. I think he’s quite succeeded in creating an alternate reality here in Florida. Something about staying on the compound (which is my word for resort) takes you away from everything. And I most reminded of it as we leave the compound and we head north to our next stop and I stopped at a rest stop. I walk past someone sweeping up the outside and there’s no cheerful smile there’s. There’s nothing that tells me that they are a cast member or what their name is or what country they’re from. I walk into the bathroom and all I can see is the dirt and the lack of cleanliness and the need of repair. And I think to myself why can’t we live in a world like Disney World. I know I’m venturing off into fantasy land right now both literally and figuratively. But why can’t we live where everybody cares about their surroundings and it’s clean and it’s friendly and it’s warm and it’s inviting. And then I’m snapped back to reality and reminded that all of these nice people are paid. I don’t know if they’re paid well but I do know that Disney pays $1.2 billion per year in payroll and an additional $400 million in benefits every year. It is the single largest employer in Orlando. And honestly it looks I can pretty fun place to work. But I also know from a few grumblings that it’s not the easiest place in the world to work. So I commend Disney for creating this alternate reality and making me and my son wish that we could live at Disney World. Now I’m on my way back to reality and I’ll put my rainbows and unicorns away for now.

(P.S. I’m definitely a better writer than speaker so thanks for indulging my dictated gobbledy-gook.)