"Boy, why are you crying?"
And you respond in the only way you know how.
"I don't know. A tear for every happy thought."
To some people, Orlando Airport is nothing but a dingy dive of an airport. But for many, myself included. It's a magical gateway that welcomes you home.
And this visit was no exception. I was overcome with emotion I had to pull myself aside for a moment and get myself together.
I cant explain it, just ever since I visited this place for the first time, it's felt like home. I never feel at home anywhere. Even, at home. But here, it seems to hit different. Having the dream of working at Walt Disney World for a year and having to leave was one of the most painful moments of my life. And to this day it is still painful. It sent me into a spiral of despair that I could not control. I think for the most part I hid it well, but many people knew.
I honestly didn't know how bad it was until nearer the end of the year and realising, I probably need help and to come off my meds. That has most definitely helped... not necessarily move on, but manage the feelings in a more healthy way.
The grief of giving up that life was compounded as, before moving to Florida, as much as I was relieved to be out of that situation, I was still grieving a previous life. I had just gotten out of a 12 year relationship... Hoping that this experience would help me heal. And it did. Though I made the mistake of getting into a groove, a routine. My mind went into, "this is my life now" mode, and I made this place even more of a home.
And when that was taken away (and yes, I knew it was going to happen eventually, still doesn't make it any easier) and then returned back to Australia. It was just a huge reminder of the things that I no longer have, not just the routines and familiar places that I had gotten used to the year prior, but the routines and familiarities of the many years prior.
All that is to say, landing back into what is my land of milk and honey was a very emotional and reflective moment. So much emotion and thought all flooding in and through me at once.
Orlando to me is more than just the place Disney World is. It's the smells, the roads, the 7ELEVEns, Publix, the wetlands, the drives, the vibe and recently it's especially the people.
And tonight will be the first time in a while seeing my brother from another mother.
So off I went to grab the car from the rental desk and head to my hotel room in Flamingo Crossings. And of course, the elevator that greeted my as I went to my room was fitted out to look like the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon.
Chewie we're home, indeed.
After a shower and a nap (in an actual bed that felt like a bed) I headed off to the Transportation and Ticketing Center as that night Tucker would be piloting the Monorail around the lake for the end of his shift. And so for an hour or so that evening I spent it just looping the track and popping out at most of the stations, chatting, getting back in and continuing around.
Honestly one of the best times I have had to that point in a long time.
Their the times I kinda enjoy the most. Don't have to have plans... Need to do some shopping? Happy to come along. Building some furniture? Happy to help. Just wanna sit in the park and read? Happy to bring a book and join.
After he finished work, we headed off to the IHOP on Bronson and properly caught up, made some rough plans, set some basic expectations for the week ahead and then headed off to meet back up in the morning for our adventure at Universal Orlando Resort.
