Spring in Central New York

March. The promise of Spring is clearly in view. My husband reported a Robin sighting last week. My dad and I had a contest every year and whomever saw the first Robin of the season would call the other and sufficiently rub it in their face. I think my dad is smiling just a little at the thought that Andy beat me in seeing the first one for 2011. I am smiling, too.

Other signs of Spring in Central New York? The sidewalk! It is visible and we walk on it joyfully without the fear of slipping off the three inches of ice buildup that was there just last week before all that rain that fell and melted it away. The last bit of ice is ready to fall off of the roof and I'm actually looking forward to Spring clean-up. Ah yes, Spring. I can smell it.

And speaking of smells, we really need to get out there and clean up all the Max deposits that have collected. I could use many words to describe it. I could go on and on but I think "ewww" pretty much says it all. He's a big dog. We'll leave it at that.

The potholes are massive this year. At least one could be mistaken for the hole Alice fell down. Be careful! If you find yourself tumbling down, falling, falling only see a White Rabbit running around, crazily chanting how late he is, it might be time to fill that darn thing in.

As much as we complain about the snow at this time of the year (I think I speak for almost everyone when I say, "Enough is enough!") all the dirt and grime under the newer-fallen stuff shows it's ugliness and the mud is so abundant that every slope is a slippery slope.

Now on to my biggest pet peeve about the Spring.....parking. I drive aimlessly around the parking garage every morning looking at cars whose drivers clearly do not know how to park between the lines. As I drive by the fourth or fifth car that has taken up two spots, I begin to feel a twinge of Evelyn Couch when the young girl took her parking place and I want to scream, "Towanda! Righter of Wrongs, Queen Beyond Compare!" And then I want to push one of the idiot-parkers out of the way and skip merrily along my way. I would plead insanity. No court would convict me.

On March 13, we Spring ahead. Daylight savings time affords us more light at the end of our days! March 20, we will welcome Spring 2011! Yes, bring it on! Bring your mud, your rain and your wind. You will also bring sunshine, flowers and warmth. Everything wakes up and comes alive again in the Spring. It's a time for new beginnings, rebirth and re-connections.

Thank you, Spring.

Die-Hard Disney Girl

I am a Disney girl and I'm proud of it. I didn't know I was a Disney girl when I was young. Sure I watched the Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights at seven o'clock just like everyone else did. I loved the non-animated Cinderella with Stuart Damon and Leslie Ann Warren. I wanted to be a Princess; wanted someone to come and sweep me off my feet; wanted someone to look at me like the Prince looked at her.

I was 14 the first time I went to Disneyworld. It was Spring break in 1975 and the Magic Kingdom was the only park open at the time. It was magical! I had never been anyplace that spectacular and the fireworks were like nothing I could even describe. I knew I wanted to go back but it wouldn't happen for a very long time.

Fast forward to 1997, I'm shopping at Carousel Center pushing my three-year-old in a stroller. I had been a stay-at-home mom since 1981 and I figured maybe I should apply for a part-time job just to get out of the house and earn a few bucks for fun. I had always said that if I ever decided to go to work, I would go directly to Disney Store. There was no other place I wanted to work. So in I went, pushing that stroller, wearing sweat pants and a men's flannel shirt and sporting some left over big hair from the 80's. Looking back, I'm surprised I got a call back.

I had NO experience with work. They gave me a chance and that was the beginning of my transformation. I must thank them for that. I learned that I was important; that I could do a job and be praised for it; that I was part of a team. I developed a voice. I found strength to do what I had to do in ending my marriage. It was still hard, but I had courage. My Disney Store experience was the beginning of the road that led me to where I am now.

The next time I set foot in Disneyworld, I was weeks away from my 43rd birthday. Now with four parks and two water parks to visit, I was absolutely hooked. It was apparent that this would be our vacation spot many times in the future. I took my two youngest back two more times and after finding the man of my dreams, we went back with him and his youngest and his step-daughter and had a blast introducing them to the wonders of Disney.

Now at fifty, I am still a Disney girl. A die-hard Disney girl. And now, I have my Prince.