OK – let me first explain…. it’s a running joke here in the office that I am not a Disney fan. Not because of Disney per se – but just because the whole commercialism of the operation leaves me cold. So I always jokingly say – there can be nothing worse than a Disney vacation. It’s supposed to be the happiest place on earth – well I can guarantee you that you will see crying children at Disney. It’s just too much for them – too many people – too much waiting in line – everybody stressed out because – oh my goodness – this is the happiest place in the world so why am I miserable? Is there something wrong with me? It’s the pressure to be happy I think that gets too much.
However…. a recent trip up to the ski hills an hour from Calgary made me realise that there is a fate worse than Disney. Talk about stress. Struggling into all those clothes not to mention the boots with bone crushing snaps and buckles makes any sane person go round the bend. Then you have to walk around in these things the whole day – so I can totally understand why people would switch to snow-boarding. The boots look much more comfortable.
Woe betide if you are a non-skier like myself trying to find somewhere to sit at the lodge. Every chair (especially the arm chairs) are taken up by lounging skiers who scatter their helmets, masks, gloves and other stuff all over the place. “Why are you here?” I wanted to shout. “Get back out onto that hill.”
And then there are the poor children who have been squashed into all this equipment because mom and dad think it will do them good to learn to ski.
Oh dear – nobody looks happy here.
Maybe there is a way to turn a horrible vacation experience into a not-so-bad vacation experience. Maybe Disney will buy a ski resort and then you can take your kids and put them into bone crippling ski boots with Mickey helmets and buy day passes that cost even more than lift tickets and then everyone will be happy.
They will won’t they? Because you are supposed to feel happy! And so you will, damn it!
