Day #4775 (Wed., Feb. 1, 2023) – Katie’s Story
When I picked up Bobby this afternoon he happily told me that he had strawberry parfait for lunch and only got “One Reminder” today. Reminders are what you get when you are not paying attention in class. At least he’s improving… Hopefully zero tomorrow.
He then proceeded to tell me the story of Mrs. Wolk asking the kids if they wanted to be a liquid or a gas. Bobby told me that Andrew said he didn’t want to be a gas because, and then he farted… The whole class laughed and Mrs. Wolk said to Andrew that that was inappropriate behavior…
I made the kids a fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the air fryer this afternoon. I thought they would love it, as they sell something like this at the State Fair, but they said it was just okay.
Katie had her online architecture class this afternoon. While she was in class Bobby and I made a makeshift seesaw (see photo to the right). It could barely hold his weight, but it did satisfy his desire to build one. Just before bedtime we played some hangman, and then I put him to bed. Sometimes, like tonight, he will ask if I will sleep with him instead of his mother. He was out soon after his head hit the pillow…
Here’s a story that Katie wrote:
Before Covid-19 started, I was always a skittish person. I believed everything that wandered into my ears, and I was scared to try new things. And the year when my family and I took a trip to Disney World, I tried a lot of new things.
My story begins on the day of our flight. My whole family woke up extremely early in the morning, and I vividly remember the things I was feeling that day. My stomach was curled in knots, and I felt like I was going to throw up any minute. I had not been on a flight for years, and wasn’t sure what to expect, and frankly, due to my fear of heights, was not excited for the view I knew that I would experience. These feelings loomed over me like a dark cloud, and partially ruined my excitement for our trip to Disney.
Like any other airport, I was greeted with a sea of other people, which was not helping my anxiety. We had to stand in long lines, and while exciting for my younger self, it was also extremely nerve wracking.
Finally, after hours in lines, we were boarding the plane. My poor stomach, at this point, was twisted into untieable knots beyond repair. When boarding the plane, I remember walking through a long gray hallway, then stepping onboard, greeted by the staff. I was really nervous, but at the same time, excited to begin my trip to Disney.
When we found our seats, we waited for a while longer, and then the flight began. The takeoff was slow at first, but then, as I looked out the window, the ground underneath me grew smaller and smaller, until the airport itself was the size of my fist. It was exhilarating. My eyes were glued to the window, and a beaming smile spread across my face.
Of course, I was still extremely nervous. The feeling of being on the plane made my insides squirm, to the point where I couldn’t relax even if I wanted to. It remained like this for a while longer, but I slowly eased into the feeling. Of course, it was still mortifying to stare out the window, but progress at all is still good progress! By the time our plane had landed, I was overloaded with triumph and joy. I bounced off the plane, exhausted, but excited to begin my journey at Disney.
The day we entered the park, my family and I were greeted by an overwhelming amount of Mickey Mouse ears and excitement. Towering buildings and shops lined the streets, and I couldn’t wait to explore the park.
But a major setback for me was fear. I had been informed by a friend that one of the rides we would be going on was scary, and I took that person’s opinion very seriously. It was called the “Seven Dwarfs Mine Train”, and despite my parent’s encouragement to go on it, I was scared. Very scared.
Butterflies had practically colonized inside my stomach, and just thinking about the ride made my insides churn. But, no matter how strongly I wished it could go away, the day came. Me and my family stood in line, trailing the many people separated by stanchions. My dad recorded it, and to this day, I look back and watch the video.
My face was covered by a mix of fear and nausea, and I remembered my brother, who was around five at the time, being far more composed than the hot mess of a kid I was. The cars we would be riding in looked like logs, and I felt like crying as we climbed into them and strapped ourselves in with seatbelts.
But as the ride began, a series of twists and turns shocked me, but not in a bad way. My heart leapt out of my chest as a smile spread across my face. It was fun, truly fun. It lasted for a while longer, every twist and turn igniting my heart with joy.
As the ride was coming to a close, I looked at my mom and asked: “That was it?”
Turns out, It was. But the memories of my horrified demeanor still live in my brain to this day, and it’s hilarious to think about. I saw and did a lot of new things on that trip, but the most important thing I took away from that experience is that by conquering your fears, you can open doors to new opportunities.