I was 10, almost 11. I lived with my dad. I was just beginning my visit with my mom. They had been divorced forever and since I was 8, I was shuttled between the 2.
Mom & Roger were there and Mom said to me “where have you always wanted to go?”
“Hawaii?” is what I asked in response. I have no idea where that came from. I’ve never mentioned wanting to go there…Odd.
“Not so far,” Mom prompted.
“Disney Land!” I knew I got this one right!
Mom & Roger sold Amway for many years. There was a certain level of sales you could reach called Double Diamond or Diamond Direct or something Diamond…I can’t remember. They always told us that we’d all go to Disney Land when they reached it.
They never reached it.
Despite that, we took a trip to Disney Land, just me, Mom, & Roger. We drove all the way in a small Dodge Ram diesel pickup. It had a bench seat and I was squished the entire way but, I was going to Disney Land!! For my upcoming birthday, Kate (Still Heidi back then) gave me $11 for the trip.
We had a blast. I know we did 2 days at Disney and 1 at the San Diego zoo. I know we camped in Las Vegas and spent some time at Circus Circus.
I remember outside of Longmont, CO there was a truck driver that was tailgating and Roger tapped his brakes. The truck driver did not take kindly to that and partially passed us, then swerved into us, hitting the side-view mirror of the truck. We stopped at a gas station, called the cops, and returned to where the incident took place. the truck driver returned and came over to us, pounded on the window, and called Roger a “fucking pussy!”
I don’t remember anything else about the incident, but Mom & Roger had a good time thinking of ways to turn “fucking pussy” into a funny license plate. The only one I remember was FKN PSY.
Dad & Kathy’s relationship was always a rocky one, and it was especially rocky this year. If I got something, Kim & Kelli had to have one or there was extreme jealousy & fighting.
I returned home with my Disney Land goodies in tow. I had a great t-shirt, a white plastic bag with black handles..the kind that snaps together with the black pins, and some other trinkets.
My joy was crushed, though, when Dad asked me not to mention anything about Disney Land to anyone. Kim did not go so he was afraid there would be fighting.
I don’t know what ever happened to that great t-shirt or that awesome bag. All I know is that for years I could never tell anyone I had been to Disney Land. What should have been a wonderful vacation was marred by my parents’ inability to be adults.
It makes me sad to think about but I am so happy that this past week I was able to go with my kids to Disney World and they don’t need to hide it from anyone. This vacation, with our entire family, set right the wrong from 24 years ago.
We had a blast and we have 1800+ pictures to prove it!