30somethingandsearching

My sister’s family went to Disney World after Christmas for about a week.

My sister and brother-in-law really enjoy Disney World.  They went for their honeymoon and have been a few times since.

5 years ago, we all went.  My sister, brother-in-law, niece (almost 2 at the time), my mom, my step-dad (who had never been) and my grandma (who had just turned 85).

For years, we had said that if we went to Disney World, we would take Grandma with us.  She was always excited about the idea.  When we all planned to go, I insisted we take her.  I asked how we could go after talking about it for as long as I could remember and not take her.

She had to be pushed in a wheelchair for the entire visit, but she enjoyed it.  She mostly enjoyed seeing my niece experience it all for the first time.  I can remember my niece’s expressions and reactions like it was last week.  She was so much fun to watch.  It was all wonderful and awing to her.

She and I bonded that trip.  My brother-in-law would get annoyed anytime she acted 2, so rather than have him take her off for a talking-to, I would swoop her up and we would get away from him for a while.  They wanted her to walk, but she was 2.  Little legs get tired quickly, so I carried her most of the time.  She was so tiny, she barely weighed enough to notice I had anything in my arms.

My little Peanut and I had a great time.  She wanted me and only me to push her if she was in the stroller, ride the rides, carry her, hold her hand or whatever it was.  I think it started to irritate my brother-in-law.

One day was spent entirely at Epcot.  He drank his way around the world, so by the end of the night, he was crocked. 

I was carrying my niece to the bus back to our hotel when he tried to take her from me.  She didn’t want to go to him.  Probably because he smelled of beer, but either way, she wrapped herself around me and shook her head.  My darling, homophobic brother-in-law said angrily, and I quote because this stuck with me, “what are you?  A bunch of lesbians?”

Yeah, you got that right.  Me and my 2-year-old niece.  Pissed me off like you wouldn’t believe.  She is 2!  AND she is my niece!  Even if I was a lesbian, that kind of remark was uncalled for and distasteful.  I lost a lot of respect for him at that moment and he has failed to get it back.

This year, the trip was just my sister and her family.  As much as I would have loved to see my nephew on his first trip, especially since he adores Mickey, I have no desire to vacation with my sister or brother-in-law any time soon.  We have different vacation styles.  I like to be slow and laid back.  My sister sets a schedule and races around to fit as much in as possible.  Not fun for me and I need a vacation afterward.

My nephew didn’t have much to say about the trip (he’s the strong, silent type, you know).  He liked it and he liked the scarier rides, ones my niece would not have gone on at his age and does not like even now.

She told me all about the trip, but the thing that she told everyone about was the pillows.  Did you know Disney World has magic pillows?  They do.  As soon as you put your head on them, you fall right to sleep.  I asked her why she didn’t bring one home.  She said she wasn’t allowed to, but she sure would like one of those pillows at home.