Disneyland!!
I love the parades at Disneyland. They light up the streets and the faces of thousands of children. Even the adults are brightened by the action! It’s like all the worries of adulthood fall away, and they are children again– able to enjoy dancing lights and friends they’ve only met across a screen.
A few years ago, Prince Charming blew a kiss at me. Despite the fact I’ve written articles on the template-nature of his character and the sexism (in both directions) that Prince Charming embodies– I basically swooned.
Big worldly ideas are so small when you’re standing in front of a 30 foot tall parade boat.
Widespread worldly concerns are so dull compared to the bright lights decorating a long stretch of road.
I think it’s healthy for people to take take a few minutes out of every day to forget all our adulthood worries, and let ourselves be illuminated by the simplicity of child-like wonders.
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination!
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/01/11/lights/
I’ve never been, but hear that these parades are something to see. And not everyone can claim to have been blown a kiss by Prince Charming.
They’re amazing!!! Of course, you have to save a seat and wait for an hour to be in a good spot… but they’re a blast. If you like parades. Yep, the Prince Charming thing is one of my claims to fame.
haha!
Love Disneyland! It’s the happiest place on earth!
It absolutely it!
Love the phrase “illuminated by the simplicity of childhood wonder” It captures the entire mood of your post. Wow!
Sadly? I can no longer look to Disneyland for my sanctuary of innocence. My daughter, as she was growing up, started to deconstruct them, from the “except for Snow White, why are they all blond and blue-eyed and the villains have black hair? Why do they all be rescued by a prince? Can’t they extricate themselves from their oppressors? My daughter prefers Robert Munsch’s The Paperbag Princess as a childhood heroine. After having read the story at bedtime thousands of times over the years, I think I’ve been “reprogrammed.”
haha, I have too! But still, during the wonders of the parade, I forget all that truth and just enjoy the show!
It’s magical that way.
I like your comments *a lot*
Imagine the world if we were all illuminated by the simple wonder of life! Like children again. Sweet.
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I very much agree. Sometimes we need to just strip away all the layers of seriousness & see the world in the way that a child does.
My son has helped me do that a lot lately. It’s fantastic how they perceive things.
Children keep us sane with their brilliance!
They always see the brightest side of things. 
They certainly do.
I think its healthy too
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I love Disneyland.. There’s something for everyone – adults or kids. And their parade & fireworks are spectacular! I love your last line so much – “To be illuminated by the simplicity of child-like wonders”. Simple & profound!
I wholeheartedly agree, the Lion King was the theme when I saw it in the ’90s, great fun!
Ooh, the Lion King is awesome! I didn’t see the themed parade since I didn’t live out here then, but it would have been great, I’m sure!
So true. I just made reservations for Disney World in May. if I could live there and hide from all my adult issues I would. Absolutely. It’s good for the spirit.
Exactly, exactly, exactly. Same effect when lighting up the Christmas tree for the first time on Christmas Eve. And standing on the beach with your toes almost touching the water when you’ve been away from the sea for a long time.
Oh yes, the Christmas tree– I still light up right alongside the tree, haha, it’s a beautiful ceremony!
I’m not a beach person but I can still appreciate that moment– it’s much like looking up and enjoying the stars after a long while in a city. It’s important to take beautiful breaks like that. 
While everyone else is enjoying the parades I’m running around trying to squeeze in as many rides as I can before the lines get long again! Of course, that probably won’t be the case the next time I make it to Disneyland… then I’ll be seeing the it all again through the eyes of my child (and probably thankful for the little break to just sit still and have the entertainment come to us).
I have to agree. I can still remember my son’s face the first time he saw a Disney parade and the second and the third and the fourth… His face still lights up when watching the parades and he’s 18 now!
I chose Disney as my “Illumination” topic too
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Gotta agree with you on this one … after all, life needs balance and your suggestion would be one of the balancing acts.
Balance is one of my most favorite words… and beliefs.
Thanks for the comment, Frank!
My pleasure … and thanks for reading about the speck.
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Thanks for the post of the lights at Disneyland. Reminds me of the time we took my granddaughter to see the light parade. The best times in life are the things you do with kids not the things you buy them. You have a fun blog here.
I love how all your rationality and intellectual prowess just disappeared with one kiss. You are a lover at heart. Somehow your RAWR isn’t so scary anymore.
You do know that Prince Charming is just some San Dimas High School drop out with make-up and a wig, don’t you? haha
Lies!
He’s one of the heroes in every story, and a veritable beacon of luck! 
I’ve seen the Main Street Electrical Parade (as it was known way back when) both in California and Florida. Great stuff! And back when they used real light bulbs! Probably all fancy-schmancy LEDs and new-fangled stuff. Dang whippersnappers think they invented everything these days…..
)
(Oops, sorry, hit the wrong button and triggered the “old man rant” function again!
I think it’s called that still!
I have to agree that lightbulbs are cooler than LEDs, though LEDs are more responsible. 
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