First visit to Disneyland! Day One, Post No. 4

While we ate our late lunch at the French Market Restaurant, New Orleans Square, Disneyland, every which way we turned provided a new opportunity to watch people as they enjoyed their meals and the live music. We had time to hear each of the two bands play two sets of different kinds of jazz. The band in the top photo, the Royal Street Bachelors, played a style I found labeled online as jazz standards--smooth-sounding, good-memory-inducing music I had grown up listening to on radio and television and in the movies. It was during the second set of one band's performance that something happened which provided one of my favorite memories of the trip.

When the boy in the blue T-shirt, with somewhat unruly, thick hair wearing wide-rimmed glasses whose lenses magnified his eyes, walked toward a table, his attention glued to the bandstand, I remember thinking, "He's mesmerized by these men and the music they're making." His mother called him to his chair and put their food down onto the table. I looked away, knowing that I'd look again in a few minutes;  his intensity commanded it. Once he'd finished his mac and cheese and the red grapes in a separate bowl, I saw the boy's mother encourage him to go ahead and get closer to the band; she pulled out her cell phone and filmed the musicians. The boy stood up and walked into the open space between the bandstand and their table, standing there, watching and listening. When I realized that he had started to sing along with the music, my heart swelled. Here stood a young boy making a connection with wonderful music, all the while being captured by his mother, making an unforgettable memory for the two of them. And he knew the words!

I too sang along as I had to most of their tunes, and when the boy looked to his left and noticed me, he watched, it seemed, to make sure that we were saying the same words. Neither one of us was loud enough for anyone else to hear. Once the song ended, everyone clapped for the Royal Street Bachelors. The boy and I still looked at each other, and I spoke to him, "You like this song, don't you?" "Yes," he replied. I was choked up and about to lose it when I held my arms out to him and asked, "Could I give you a hug?" He walked into my arms for a quick hug; I saw his mother smiling as I looked over his shoulder.

My only regret--I cannot remember which song we had enjoyed; nor can I remember whether or not any member of the band sang the lyrics or if it was instrumental only. I have looked a several lists of jazz standards online and still don't know for certain. The song might have been "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You" or "Someone to Watch Over Me" or "Make Someone Happy" or "Dream a Little Dream of Me." I am not worried about not being able to remember the song. I have no trouble remembering that boy and I knew the words.

First visit to Disneyland! Day One, Post No. 3

Once we got off the Disney Railroad train and walked down the steps of the depot, Jenna noticed these beautiful blossoms. I am so glad that she did because I hadn't noticed them and would have missed the chance to take these photos. They are in a raised flower bed about mid-shoulder height which made it easy to take the photos, too. Jenna and Sharon, enjoying the sunshine and posing for a photo--after they'd taken mine with Mickey Mouse! See the castle in the background! I'm not sure how I focused this photo because I was just about overcome with excitement to be in this special place which I had loved since I was a young girl. Whoopee! The auto function on the camera took over for me! See, here I am with Mickey! At first, Sharon thought she was taking photos, but there were none in my camera, so gracious Mickey and others waiting for a photo with him allowed us to try again. Happy, happy, joy, joy! Our next stop, this refreshment stand in Main Street USA. I got a bottle of orange juice and a bag of grapes; I drank a bit and ate a few, then put the rest away for later. Fluids, the order of the day so that we fun-lovers could stay hydrated. The predicted high temperature for that day--88 degrees. I think that it made it, too! Later on we decided to eat a late lunch at the French Market Restaurant which is located in New Orleans Square. Turns out there is live music and pretty good food, plus it is next door to the Haunted Mansion. Lunch, sort of cafeteria style: Mighty fine beef and bun arranged as a French dip sandwich, good au jus, crispy chips and fresh grapes--I ate every bit of it and over the hour we sat there, enjoying our food and the music, I drank the entire large cup of Coca Cola on half a cup of ice and the smaller cup of water. Thank goodness there was a restroom nearby.