Kiss Their Noses As Greeting

Emily about the age of this story and Papa


For a number of years our family had annual Disneyland passes with parking and could go any time we wanted and stay as long as we wanted. Sometimes it was just for dinner together in the park followed by the fireworks show.

Our first grandchild, Emily (now 20 years old), was three weeks old when she visited Disneyland for the first time. As she grew, we could watch her relate to the Disney characters and enjoy meeting them. Her big thing was she wanted to “kiss their noses” as her way of greeting and meeting. The characters all allowed her to do her thing and she became a hit with the cast members.

One day when she was still quite small, I was holding her on Main Street when we turned the corner and there was Br’er Bear standing next to the building wall frozen in space. Not a hint that anyone was in the costume. He about 7 feet tall and it would be difficult for Emily to do her normal greeting. I was talking to Emily and stating that I was not sure that anyone was in this costume and that he was too tall for her to kiss his nose.

Without hesitation, the cast member inside the costume slowly started lowering himself until he was at the height that Emily could give him her greeting. Emily planted one on the nose and then the “bear” slowly rose to his normal height. Never saying a word. No indication that he acknowledged her greeting.

We had a good laugh at that. It was wonderful for the cast member to recognize that this was important to Emily and he did what was necessary to keep the tradition going for her. It’s things like what he did that will bring you back for another day in “The Happiest Place On Earth”.

Disneyland With Emily

In the 1980's and early 1990's our entire family had Disneyland Annual Passes with parking. We could go at any time we wanted and stay as long as we held up. A lot of times we just met for dinner and maybe stayed for the fireworks. We also liked to sit and people watch. You do see people you know walk by.

In October 1988, Emily (our first grandchild) was born. When she was three weeks old, she went to Disneyland for the first time. When she turned three years old she got her own pass. Disneyland was always a place she loved to go and take the many kid rides. Plus see the parade and have those in the parade wave and talk directly to her. She was quite a cutie (as you can see by the picture) and they noticed her. Of course she didn't mind. She loved the attention.

One day I called her home and asked her mother if she could take the afternoon with Papa and go to Disneyland. Her brother, Eric, was just a baby. I took a half day off work and picked her up. Just Emily and Papa. Nana was teaching first grade and couldn't get off for things like Disneyland.

So here we are driving down the 5 Freeway heading to Disneyland. Of course Emily (age 3) was in the back seat fastened in as she should be. As we were traveling down the road, she said "Are we going to have fun or what?"

You know something? We did! Took in all the kid rides and probably had an ice cream cone to boot. What a great memory that made for me and I hope she remembers it as well.

[Emily is now 19 and a freshman at Sonoma State University. Her annual pass has expired.]