The music is my life // Everybody dance now!

The new year is here, and we all made it! 
Jackie and I decided to spend it at Disney. We went through our options over the past month or so and every time we thought we may have had a solid plan, we would decide it just wasn't in us to do it. Downtown just seemed like a crazy drunken mess. I wanted to spend today fresh! Not hungover. I also didn't want to worry about how to get home or worse - driving in traffic with people who were under the influence. So... Disney it was! 

You know, I will say, I was a little nervous about going. Sure, I can make anything fun, but would it really just for little kids and families?? We decided on our way there we would stop and get some shots and take them when we got to the Magic Kindom. Shhhh. Don't tell Mickey and the gang! ;) When we got into the park we were met with probably the biggest crowd I've ever experienced. People were everywhere. And guess what?! It wasn't all little kids and families! 

Magic Kingdom was literally one giant dance party. They played Top 40 music all throughout the park as well as hits from the 80's and 90's. If you know me in real life - you know any opportunity to dance and I'm in. I think we danced 90% of the time. Any time we were walking, waiting in line, standing around - dance! 

When it came time to stand and wait for fireworks, we were a little bummed. We were pretty far away and the people we were around seemed like big time grumps. Everyone was laying down, sleeping, sitting down. No smiles. No laughter. No dancing. Then the lady in front of me started to dance with me and I was happy again. 

At 11:50pm the fireworks started. It was a special holiday themed show and the fireworks were not only in front of us, but behind us. Love!  11:58pm the fireworks and Mickey and Minnie came over the speakers to start a count down. 

At midnight everyone cheered, blew their noise makers, kissed, hugged and then there were fireworks. EVERYWHERE. Infront, behind, to the left, to the right -- fireworks. We were surrounded in beautiful fireworks. Everyone was in such awe. I started to tear up at just how beautiful it all was. The family that was dancing with us started to hug us. "Happy New year! Happy New Year! Happy New year!" Hugs all around. Love all around. Happiness all around. Truly magical. 

I realize this is an awful firework picture, but I decided to take it all in and enjoy the beauty rather than get a nice shot. :)

Happy Hearts, 

Alex

Be true 'cause they'll lock you up in a sad, sad zoo.

I grew up on the beach. That's always been my happy place. When I needed time to just be alone with my thoughts I always retreated there. There's something so magical about the Ocean.  Whether you're happy, sad, indifferent. There's just this calm that comes over you and you realize you're not alone. The Universe as huge as it is, is right there by your side. Putting things into perspective. I just love it.

Living in Orlando I don't have the luxury of taking a five or ten minute stroll down to the Ocean to just take it all in. But I have something close to it.... Disney World! ;)

I don't care how old I am, I don't think anyone is ever too old for Disney.

The end of this week has been a rough one on my spirits. Dealing with my Dad has been hard for sure. It comes in spurts. One minute I'm fine and the next I'm drowning myself in unhappy, sad thoughts and I'm breaking down. And that boy I said goodbye to a month or so ago? Yeah, he came back with a vengeance and I've been dealing with that on my end. I asked him not to and he insisted texting me.

I torched any kind of relationship to the ground and with no signs of it ever resurrecting. And that's hard. Because I tried to bow out gracefully. I tried to leave the crazy out and just be peaceful and calm. It didn't have to end for good, just for a little while I kept telling him and myself.  He didn't want it to end for good, I told him it wouldn't, I just needed space. Oh. It ended for good. And I'm sad to say it ended with me basically lighting a match and torching it while I walked away with said "friendship" in flames behind me. Don't look back, Alex. Just don't look back, and don't dare shed a tear. Stand tall, stand strong.

I found myself listening to Ellie Goulding and I closed my eyes and just started swaying. Before I knew I was full on dancing and crying. "I feel you, Dad. I know you're with me" I whispered. I really do believe that. But I need some happy today. Today I need to just forget about it all.  I'm sick of these melancholy days.

So, here's to the happiest place on Earth! Disney, here I come! :)