Call It A Surgical Flamethrower

Because we are anything but normal we decided to pack the girls up and go to Disney World to celebrate the event.  But Disney World isn’t romantic you say?  And to bring the kids??  Yes Disney, and yes with the girls.  We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Many of you know that we are Disney fans.  Now, some Disney fans cross that line into lunatics (trust me, I know a few), but I like to think we stay in a healthy zone of loving the parks and Disney’s  attention to quality and detail, without having “Mickey” tattooed on our ankles.

We were annual pass holders to Disneyland from the first year we were married, in 1985.  Back then (as the author strokes his long white beard and leans back in the rocker for greater emphasis) we had the park nearly to ourselves most Sunday nights.  It was our park, and we loved it.  (Brace yourself for an uncharacteristic romantic story from a Swede.)  I even asked Deb to marry me on the stairwell of Mark Twain Steamboat.  We were so nervous that the ring would fall into the water that it was hardly a gentle moment, rather a careful “passing of the goods” as I put the ring on her finger.

Over the years Disneyland grew and changed, and more and more residents of So Cal became annual pass holders.  Our quiet little park wasn’t so quiet anymore, but it was still a special place for us.  My girls like to say they grew up in Disneyland.  We didn’t have the luxury of a large piece of property where they could run and explore, so in some ways Disneyland became our backyard.  The girls would chase around the park on their own, while Deb and I might listen to a band, jump on a ride, or just walk around taking in the ambiance.

There is much to be learned from Disney.  Attention to quality.  Attention to detail.  Imagination.  Pushing the limits.  Not taking yourself too seriously.  Not taking a situation too lightly.  Mickey and the gang may laugh and act silly, but endless amounts time, energy and talent goes into making Disney what it is.

That premise applies to how I approach my clients and their needs.  Just sticking two speakers above a sofa isn’t how I built my business.  I listen to each client, and offer suggestions.  I explain the various technologies available, and how they can benefit the end user.  No two clients are alike, so neither should two systems be.

Moving away from Southern California meant moving away from Disneyland, our extended back yard.  So we have started making little trips to Walt Disney World.  No, it’s not the same, it’s a bit like Disneyland on steroids, but that’s OK.  I still have the pretty girl by my side to take it all in with, and I still have daughters who laugh and run through the park, though they are a bit bigger and faster than they used to be.  Expedition Everest now trumps Winnie The Pooh.

So what do the next 9125 days hold?  Hopefully more laughter, more sounds of footsteps running up from behind me to drag me to another ride.  Sure, the economy could be better.  Yes, I am concerned about the government bailing out banks and failed auto makers, yet making it harder for small business owners to thrive.  But that’s not where I live, or else I would really go crazy.

Maybe Disney is my escape.  Maybe Disney is my ongoing college.  Maybe Disney is my business model.  Maybe it’s all three and more.  Disney has been a part of our married life for more than 9125 days, so where else would I take Deb for our 25th wedding anniversary?

I’ve said it before, but life goes by like a roller coaster.  Push back from the desk once in a while and go to a Disney park or a ball game with the ones you love.  9125 days went by in the blink of an eye, and I have a feeling the ride only gets faster and better with time.