Waddle, Waddle

I waddled.  And I waddled.  I was going to The Magic Kingdom, darn it.  I hurt.  Jeff Galloway says to keep moving, so moving I did.  It was socially acceptable to have the "marathon waddle," as a cast member put it.  There were about 25,000 others doing the same.  Getting off the bus was killer.  I mean, killer.  I felt like my mom when she first came home from the hospital in July.  I needed her walker at this point.  Sorry mom, not poking jokes at all--but I can totally see how you were feeling.

We packed a backpack on this particular trip to the MK.  Inside were precious jewels.  All 6 of my medals.  I HAD to have a castle photo with them.  We stood in line, and I got my shot.  All 6 of my babies spread out on my arms, in which when children at school would later see them, would say, "Miss Ashley, why do you have a cast on?"  A cast of golden medals.  ;)

We rode a few rides.  I was slow.  Somehow we managed to get a fast pass for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.  How fitting.  While on the ride, I remembered what I told Brandon on the very first night of our arrival.  "If I finish the Dopey, we are coming back the last night and riding this ride without holding on."  We lived up to my deal.

We watched the fireworks.  I cried.  The emotions of finishing the Dopey were getting to me again.  Jiminy Cricket opened the show with words that spoke to me:

"Pretty, huh? I'll bet a lot of you folks don’t believe that, about a wish coming true, do ya? We'll I didn’t either. 
Course, I’m just a cricket, but lemme tell you what made me change my mind. 
You see, the most fantastic, magical things can happen, and it all starts with a wish!"

Words couldn't have been more true.  What started with a crazy wish, ended in a dream come true.

"You know, any wish is possible.
All it takes is a little courage, to set it free"

More crying.

We watched the Main Street Electrical Parade.  It was amazing as usual.  My feet were screaming at me, and I could hardly stand, so I risked it, and sat down on the floor, criss cross applesauce like a 5 year old.

After that, we bid farewell to the Magic Kingdom.  I have hopes of taking my children there sometime this year.  At this point in the journey--I can't say when my next race there will be.  The pain is too fresh from this one.