I love Disney World. I absolutely love it. If you know me well enough, you know that I would love to work for Disney, designing the theme parks and their attractions. I love telling vivid stories through all media, but telling a story through a ride strikes me as unique, challenging, exciting and fulfilling.

So back during my birthday, we went to Disney World. We actually mooched on my mom’s scholarship she won for an Oncology Summit in Orlando. She got money to travel down there and to stay at a hotel near the parks. So all we had to do was pay for everything but the accommodations and air fare and we could join her – Judy, Mickey, Chris and I all accompanied her – whether she liked it or not.

Everyday, my mom would wake up at 6 or 7 AM and eagerly hustle to the Oncology conference like… well… a kid at Disney World. The conference was, in fact, her Disney World, her vacation. The appetite for knowledge on this woman in insatiable and incredible. I am always amazed! Anyway, we convinced her that she needed to take at least one of the days off and go to a park, any park. I selected EPCOT for her, knowing that last time we went the younger half of the Flounders Brood did not want to be there and forced an early departure. While two of the younger half tagged along on this trip, I assured them they would appreciate that park now that they were a few years older. Even if they didn’t, I told them to fake it so mom could enjoy herself.

So before the conferences started, on that Wednesday of the trip, Momma Fish came with baby fish to EPCOT. And we had a great time seeing all of the different worlds. On our way through Mexico, I see a protrudingly plump and handsomely happy man dressed inn candy-cane-red overalls, sitting alone on a bench by one of the Disney-made lakes. You guessed it. Santa himself! He was vacationing in Florida! I was so excited to see him! I ran over to Santa, careful not to trip over my own shoes as I do when I get excited. I scrunched up as close to him as I could on the bench and begged him to let me take a picture with him.

“I know you’re on vacation right now, but could I please please PLEASE get a picture with you?” I begged, in sing-song.

“Of course you can, Brian,” he replied — and my eyes bulged, my mouth dropped. He was good. Very good — well, either that or he may have seen my Birthday nametag. Either way, I got to get my picture taken with the Big Guy – my hero.

Santa Sighted at Disney World!

I thanked him, and told him that I had been a very good boy. He already knew. And he gave me his calling card, with a picture of him and Mrs. Claus on the front and a little note on the back:

To Brian,
Keep the dream alive.
Love, Santa

What an awesome treat! The first day in Disney World, and my dreams were already coming true. (In all seriousness, I really do want to be Santa Claus in my own fantastical way. Seeing this big guy made me laugh to myself, in an almost knowing way. What a fun hobby! Santa wasn’t hired by Disney to spread a little cheer, he was just doing what we were all doing – enjoying strolls in the magical world the Imagineers created.)