Reflections on a magical two weeks

For two weeks I was on cloud nine.

For two weeks there was the possibility of 'what if'.

For two weeks there was that dream.

For two weeks I was THIS CLOSE and hoping to get closer to my dream.

And now, I can only look toward next year.

Yesterday at 2 p.m. I received my 'you did not move on to Round 3' e-mail for the Disney Mom's Panel.

I have cried. A lot. I have wondered 'why?' and 'what didn't I say that needed to be said in 100 words or less?' And I just don't have the answer to that.

I know several of the moms and dads who did make it to Round 3 and they will be amazing representatives of all things Disney. And I am thrilled for them.

But I am still sad. And that's OK.

I've wanted to be a member of the Mom's Panel since it started. This was the third year that I've applied and the first time that I made it to Round 2. So maybe next year I can make it to the next round. Or maybe even to the panel. This year just wasn't "my" year.

The first year I applied (2007), I didn't say much about it. I sent in my answers and then we took the kids to Walt Disney World for a week. A few weeks later I received my 'rejection' e-mail and my invitation to join the Mickey Mom's Club and I was OK with it. When I applied last year I had more hope that I had might have a chance. But again, when I received that 'no' e-mail I felt OK.

This year feels different. I think part of the whole 'this feels different' is the fact that I'm now part of this big, wonderful, amazing and magical online Disney community through Twitter, Facebook and the DIS Boards.

The group of people whom I affectionately call "my Disney friends" are just that. Friends. We supported each other as we submitted our initial applications. And when the second round finalists were announced we cheered those who moved on and virtually hugged those who didn't. Many of us 'hung out' in the 'waiting room' of the DIS Boards before and after the second round was announced, sharing stories and having fun. Monday night a few of us on Twitter even formed the #TwitPack -- our own Disney "Rat Pack" of 3rd round hopefuls/2nd round finalists. A few of those friends moved on to round 3!

Yesterday as the first 'no' e-mails were sent out we rallied together and supported each other, as most of us did not move on to the 3rd round. There were so many Disney friends sending 'hugs' and 'condolences' and messages of support -- it was overwhelming. Some made me laugh, some made me cry. But all were wonderful. And then around 4:30 when the 'you made it to Round 3' e-mails were sent we celebrated together.

One of the best tweets from a Disney friend was by @mouseofzen who writes Disney haiku:
@mouseofzen: RAISE THOSE MICKEY EARS! | FOUGHT A HELL OF A BATTLE | AND WON LIFETIME FRIENDS! #twitpack #disney

And so, I will be known (for at least the next year) as a Round 2 Finalist for the 2010 Mom's Panel. And I'm OK with with. Not making it to Round 3 is a minor bump in the road to the Mom's Panel. I can and will apply for the Mom's Panel again next year. And maybe, just maybe, I'll have enough luck and pixie dust to make it to the next round and ultimately to the panel. But for now, I'll continue giving Disney tips and researching my next Disney trip and loving everything about The Mouse.

And remember:

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you

Well, nuts

So, today was the day.

The day the Round 2 people would hear if they moved on to Round 3 in the search for the next Disney Mom's Panel.

And, at 2 p.m. I received the news - I will not be moving on to Round 3.

In part, it read:

On behalf of Disney Destinations, LLC, thank you for applying for the 2010 Walt Disney World® Moms Panel!

Your application so poignantly conveyed your devotion to your family and the inspiring role Disney plays in your life. We were incredibly touched by your passionate responses and captivated by the special anecdotes you shared with us on your application.

Having received thousands of entries, you can imagine the great task it was trying to narrow the field to the next round.

While you were not among those selected, we are very grateful that you took the time to enter; your experiences and love of the Walt Disney World® Resort meant so much to all of us.

So, life goes on. And there's always next year.

Best of luck and much pixie dust to those who are moving on.

Ghostbusters!

I like ghosts.

No, really...I do.

I'm a fan of Ghost Hunters on SyFy and Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel. The paranormal intrigues me. I really do believe in ghosts.

And, on May 22 of next year, I get to go on a real ghost hunt!!!

I'm just a little (OK, a lot!) excited about this.

Kevin and I signed up for an all night ghost hunt at the Ohio State Reformatory (also called Mansfield Reformatory). Did you ever see The Shawshank Redemption? It's THAT prison. And, it's haunted. It's also been listed as one of the scariest places on Earth.For information on the overnight hunts, go here.

Basically we get to ghost hunt from 8 pm until dawn -- on our own, after learning the 'rules' of ghost hunting. We can bring cameras, recorders, thermometers, etc. - any tools we might need to find the ghosts! (But, no cell phones).

Overnight. In a haunted prison. So cool.

I cannot wait.

[Both Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures have investigated here -- as have many other paranormal teams -- and I believe all have found it to be haunted].

Let me try to explain this....

Tuesday afternoon I received an e-mail that I had been hoping and wishing and praying for since September 10th.

At 1:27 p.m. (yes, I remember the time stamp on the e-mail) I was suddenly and unexpectedly THISMUCH closer to realizing my dream.

When I read these words...

We would like to congratulate you on making it to the next phase of the selection process for the 2010 Walt Disney World® Moms Panel!

We truly appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to apply for the Walt Disney World® Moms Panel. It touched our hearts to see how much you do for your loved ones and the role Disney plays in your life! You are among a special group whose knowledge of and passion for the Walt Disney World® Resort made an incredible impression on the judging panel.

...well, let's just say I very nearly passed out because I was almost hyperventilating. I was shaking. And crying. And repeating 'ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh" over and over and over again.

And, I don't think many people understand WHY I am so excited.

So, let me try to explain this for all the non-Disney fanatics out there.

I love Disney. I LOVE IT. I love the theme parks, the movies, the characters, the Disney store, the music, the books. All of it. I'm a 36-year-old Disney fanatic. [Yes, I even had a credit card for the Disney Store. And we have a Disney Visa card. Go ahead, laugh.]

I have always loved Walt Disney World - we used to visit there practically every summer on our vacations in Florida. I wrote a blog post about it here. I have these somewhat fuzzy, grainy memories of those childhood trips - I don't remember the crowds or the weather or what we ate. What I remember is the excitement I felt when the doors of the Monorail opened and we were that much closer to walking into the Magic Kingdom. I remember the magic you could feel in the air as soon as you stepped onto Main Street USA and saw Cinderella's castle. I remember the parades and the characters and how much I loved (and STILL love) the queue for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

And now that I'm a mom....that magic is even better when I see it through the eyes of my children. I remember the first time Olivia saw Mickey Mouse - her eyes lit up and she was in AWE. I mean, c'mon .... it's Mickey Mouse! And when she finally met Cinderella and the rest of the princesses - well, you would have thought she just won the lottery. That right there - seeing Disney through your children - that is PURE magic.

Part of my love for Disney is in the details. I love planning trips for my family and friends. I love the research aspect of it - and yes, if you are going to WDW you must do research. I love reading about the hotels and restaurants and special events. Choosing the right character meals - and learning from my mistakes -- it's all magical to me.

This, my friends, is why I am so excited to make it to Round 2 in the Mom's Panel search - because if I am one of the lucky 10 people chosen for the panel, I can help other families plan their own magical trips.

Simply put - I will be helping people make memories.

Now, do I think that I'm going to be one of those 10 people chosen this year? Well, I suppose the right answer is - I have as good a chance as the other 199 people who made it to Round 2 with me.

So for now, we ("we" being the 200 people in the 2nd Round and a few hundred of our closest online friends) are waiting patiently on Twitter and Facebook and on the DIS Boards, chatting and sending each other pixie dust messages and laughing about how the non-Disney fanatics just "don't get it".

And that part (the not getting it) is so true. I can go on and on and on here about why I love Disney and why the Mom's Panel means so much to me ... and you dear reader still might not get it.

But the people I know in the online Disney community -- they GET IT. A few weeks ago I heard someone on a Disney podcast say something like "until I found the Disney community online I felt like I was the only person on Disney Geek Island."

That statement cracked me up - because it is SO TRUE. My family tells me I need a 12-step program for my Disney addiction. (Of course, I blogged about that too). And, I'm quite certain there is no such thing as a 12-step program for those of us who are Disney addicts.

But there is Twitter and Facebook and the DIS Boards and those places are full of wonderful, supportive, funny, and talented people who love Disney as much as I do. Some of these friends made it to Round 2 with me -- which makes it that much more magical! And that's where I go when I want to talk Disney - it's my own online support group.

And, so for next 11 days I am going to enjoy this little bit of magic that I've been given. And if on October 27th I don't get another e-mail with the words 'we would like to congratulate you' in the first sentence, I will be OK because Walt Disney World will still be the most magical place in the world.

And there will always be next year.

But until then....a little extra pixie dust would be wonderful.

Today WAS the day!

And....

I MADE IT TO THE 2ND ROUND FOR THE DISNEY MOM'S PANEL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my gosh.

I darn near passed out when I saw the e-mail in my inbox.

I am currently shaking, nearly hyperventilating, crying and laughing at the same time.

This puts me ONE step closer to making my dream come true.

Now, I have three more essays to answer by Friday.

Then, I wait to see if I made it to the final round -- which involves a phone interview.

And, if I make that, they will pick 10 people for the 2010 panel.

(Close to 20,000 people applied for this year's panel. I am one of 200 to make it to the 2nd round).

Deep breaths, deep breaths.....

Wishing and hoping and waiting

Today MIGHT be THE DAY.

It might be the day that the e-mail goes out alerting wanna-be Mom's Panelists that they have made it to the second round.

Then again, today might NOT be that day.

Either way, I'm having a hard time concentrating on much today. I am obsessively checking my e-mail. I freak every time my Blackberry chirps at me, alerting me of a new message. I am staying 'online' at the one Disney board that I frequent. I'm on Twitter.

I am totally CONNECTED today.

And I know I'm not alone. There are 20,000 people out there waiting to hear if they've 'made it' to Round 2.

Yes, I said TWENTY THOUSAND.

Have I mentioned that only TEN people are going to be chosen for this year's Mom's Panel?

You do the math. My odds, in a word, suck.

And yet here I am .... fretting over something that will likely not occur.

But I have to keep wishing and hoping and waiting until the time comes when I know FOR CERTAIN that it's not meant to be this year. And when (if) that time comes, I'll move on and try again next year.

For now, I will keep clicking "check mail".

Because, when you wish upon a star......

------------------------------
6:16 pm update: So far, today was not 'the day'.

And if you want a glimpse into what it's all about, check out this video featuring the 2009 panelists.

Seven years ago....

October 5, 2002

Happy anniversary to my hubby!
Love you honey!

My kind of latte