the griswolds

Look out National Lampoon's. Here come the Bramer's. Our Bramer family vacation to Walt Disney World is less than 6 weeks away at this point! And yes, we are driving there. Gluttons for punishment you say? Nah. Just thrifty and wanting a fun, good, old-fashioned family vacation together. There are no stops to visit a "cousin Eddie" along the way. There are no plans to pick up an "Aunt Edna", or to try and take any shortcuts.

Sarah and I have decided to do this trip like, 90% for our kids, and the rest, I think, for ourselves. I know there are haters out there---not Disney fans at all, the corporate, branded happiness that it peddles. I am coming from a place where it was my lifelong dream to work as an animator for Disney (that or be a wide out for the Buffalo Bills) and had even signed a letter of intent to attend Disney's premiere art institution for my studies. It didn't work out, and that's OK. I've been back as an "ADULT" to Disney an average of every 3 years since graduating high school, and if I could afford it, I'd probably go even more.
My perspective is this...everything that's not illegal, is acceptable to partake of, in moderation. Because honestly, when we get in that car, and they ask where we're going (yes, we're keeping it a total surprise from them), why we've been driving so long, I can't wait to explain to them where we're taking them. I chuckle at the whining I can already hear of "Are we there yet?" (I'm sure I'll feel differently at the time) I can't wait to see Luke's face when we eat at the Coral Sea restaurant INSIDE a gigantic fish tank, or take them to Sea World. I am giddy at how Megan will react seeing Cinderella's castle and having the chance to meet her favorite Princesses. And I have to mentally prepare myself that their reaction might not be what I am hoping it to be, but I know, regardless, it is still very much worth it.
With every new developmental milestone that our children hit, I am made so very aware to how much my parents endured, sacrificed, planned and provided for me, and it breaks my heart and rebuilds it all in the same breath and I can never thank them enough. Long, tiring waits in line, bad traffic, pinching pennies to save for trips, these are just scratching the surface of what it takes to be a good parent like Clark and Ellen Griswold tried to be. And I'm hoping with those good-spirited intentions, if we do happen to fall short of expectation, that at least it will be an amusing anecdote to look back on and laugh. Like Chevy Chase with his pants around his head wandering the desert. I am so excited when I daydream about it that words fail. I am literally moved to tears about this trip.
Thanks to Richard and Sue Bramer. The best parents I could have. Maybe part of this trip is actually for them, too, and all the "Griswolds" out there, who just want to give their children the world. In this case, Disney World. Sarah and I will be blogging regularly about the trip. Be sure to check back.