Unreal and Real

So, its been a week.  Some things got pretty real.

When we were all home today, we had Hannah pick a game to play.  She picked Disney Parks Monopoly.

I don't think I was ready to do that.

When we landed on every property, we said that we would share our favorite memory of that  attraction with Audrey.  Spoiler Alert- Audrey loved Disney AKA "Dee Dee."

Every story we shared provided the backdrop for the imaginative world of "Dee Dee" that Audrey loved. It's where Dreams Come True.


When Hannah landed on Space Mountain, she mentioned the time that Audrey and I rode together.  Mandy said that we probably shouldn't have let Audrey ride Space Mountain (she was 3 1/2).  She's probably right.  But Audrey did have a blast.  She really didn't want her right sandal on.  While I was holding her with all my might, she reached for her right sandal and threw it in the air.  I briefly let go of her shoulder with my right hand, and I somehow grabbed her sandal out of the air.  It seemed unreal.

When I landed on Pirates of the Caribbean, I lit up.  Audrey loved Pirates of the Caribbean.  She loved the water and the theme.  But my favorite Audrey Pirates story had to do with this door.

This door is Door #16 of the utilidoor system right outside the Pirates of the Caribbean.  The utilidoor system is Walt's tunnel system underneath the Magic Kingdom.

So, this guy (pictured below) walked out of Door #16, and then Audrey saw her moment, and ran in and then down the stairs.  I ran after her, made quick eye contact with a cast member inside the door that Audrey had already passed, and ran in the door and down the stairs.  Audrey probably made it 100 feet before I caught her and walked her back through the tunnel and up the stairs.  It was an unreal tour of the utilidoors for us.


We didn't play Monopoly for too long.  And even when you do, its eventually ends.  Just like any Disney trip.  And when it ends, you leave imagination and go back to reality.  When we first lost Audrey, it was terrible, but looking back it didn't seem possible that we made it through those days, but we did.  With lots of help from family and friends, and the shock we were going through.


Today is 7 months since Audrey has passed, and last Thursday, her beautiful memorial came in.  And it is so real. I am not ready for real.

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