Friday, September 11, 2009

Tales From the Kingdom

I used to be a girl who did not like tomatoes. A girl who never wore gold jewelry, who wore pajamas to bed, a girl who slept in 'til noon. Then one year I went to Italy and ate tomatoes, simple as that, the before and after of a girl defined by citrus. Now my very favorite food is insalate caprese, could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner, heirloom all the better but I will eat winter romas in a pinch, hard and admittedly a little bit bland. I wear gold jewelry now, never silver; I wake up early every morning naked in my bed.

I used to be a girl who did not like Disneyland. Nothing against Mickey and the gang, although Daisy does annoy. No, I simply don't like crowds, the ugliness of the human race en masse and under the sun like that sweaty. Too many tattoos, fingertips, pores enlarged and fat, everything a surface touched by so many, sticky systems of skin, eating and breathing and pooping and then eating some more. Oh, but I am a joy at street fairs!

And now this: a before and after of a girl defined by a petunia. I thought I would hate Disneyland, but I didn't. Because of this, because of her, my very own sticky system of skin that found the est in that place of the Happi:
First stop was the Bippity Boppity Boutique where Zoey was transformed into a betrothed Cinderella, the politics of the princessification of girls be damned. Here she had a personal shopper who helped her pick out her dress, glass (plastic) slippers, gloves and jewelry, then she was whisked off to have her nails polished and hair done, adding a shiny blond ringletted fall that would make Kim Zolciak proud. (Someday her Big Poppa will come, second verse, same as the first.)
Followed by a photo shoot, natch, in the grand tradition of Glamour Shots complete with resin woodland creatures and carriage. It was all a little disturbing in a Toddlers and Tiaras sense, but honestly? Zoey was so damn pleased I didn't care. All day long she licked mouse-eared lollipops and stared at herself in the reflections cast by Toon Town glass, her green eyes glowing with the magic of it all. Or maybe it was the purple eyeshadow that made her eyes pop, I don't know. But here's the thing: I didn't care. Don't care, the elbow length white gloves now brown with what. Zoey LOVED Disneyland and when I say loved I mean she was possessed by it all, a girl who danced with Goofy in front of a crowd of strangers, a girl who hates tomatoes and sleeps in 'til six am.
And I am left to wonder what this means to me, a girl who now loves Disneyland. Who is this person? Do I wear pajamas to bed, a Mickey Mouse print with a seasonal theme? Do I don pleated pants, a fanny pack, rat my bangs even though I don't actually have bangs? Do I say don?? Dot my i's with smiley faces, the est in a world that is no longer seen as sticky sick and fat, too crowded? A before and after of a petunia face of a girl who found herself a princess in a world without pragmatism or politic.
Happy Patriot Day everyone. Bippity Boppity Boo, I'm back.
xo,
Susannah

16 comments:

Simply Mel {Reverie} said...

I am speechless...she is the most beautiful princess in all the sticky Kingdom!

Isn't it amazing how these little loves make us see the magic sparkle amongst the sweaty, ugly, noisy, annoying themed-park crowds? Hmmm, maybe there is a heaven afterall!?!

Welcome Back!

Erin said...

O! M! G!

That is sooo cute! And I love the reveal, complete with sparkle mirror and magical charm soundtrack. What a little pricess.

We missed you here in Marin (and also in Petunia-land). Can't wait to see you sometime next week and hear all the stories! xoxo

Janet said...

That is the happiest face I have ever seen. You see it in her face how delighted she was. That is the only reason to go to Disneyland, to witness those faces of unimaginable happy.

Unknown said...

Her face at the 'big reveal' is priceless. I teared up a little. Really I did. I can't wait to take my girls to Disney. Payton will have a heart attack LOL.

Vanessa said...

Look at the princess! So adorable, that must have been such a dream come true for her. Glad you had an amazing time, but I have to admit I'm so glad to have you back!

Heather said...

That is the cutest thing ever!

We love Disneyland. I love to see the wonder through my childrens eyes. It brings back the wonder of my own childhood.

Rosalie said...

Ok--the ONLY reason I want Sadie to hurry up and grow is so I can take her to Disneyland. Yes, I too have a problem with the en masse of the human race and all the waiting, but even with all that, I have always loved Disneyland and can't wait to see it through her eyes.
However--that video had a little bit of 'The Swan' in it, no? Remember that show....OY!
Xo
Ro

Meghan M said...

Did they sell those mirrors there? I really think I need one of those mirrors. It would be perfect for PMS Week...

krista said...

as much as that completely freaked me out, i lurved it. yes, i said 'lurved.'
see, i grew up in the oc. disneyland was cheap back in the day and suffice it to say, i spent A LOT of time there. it lost the magic but felt so familiar. i was also in junior high at the time and running around with my friends ogling the manufactured boy bands, not getting dolled up like a princess. i think we're taking finn for her 2nd birthday. i wonder how she'll like it....

Jeanette Mc. said...

Whatever about Disneyland. I always liked it, husband hates it (I read him your second paragraph and he totally agreed). I cannot say how adorable your daughter is because she is ridiculous cute. What I want to say is you have a way of writing that makes me want to read a book written by you. Get started. I'm waiting.

Unknown said...

Awesome to see the video after hearing you describe it...SOOO cute!

Kirsten @Apothecasf.com said...

How could you not love Disneyland when it brings such pure wonder to that little petunia face?
I'm amazed at how much I can love things that used to be unpalatable to me. Holidays in particular are pure fun with a little kid, now that there is no adult pressure to conveniently forget complicated family dynamics and smile like you mean it for a day.
Such a sweet post.

BALLET NEWS said...

Hello, I just had to leave you a note because I've so enjoyed reading your posts today. You have the most gorgeously beautiful site - best wishes & thank you ..

Richie Designs said...

so cute.

I want a bibbidy bobbity do moment myself now that I think about it.

PalagiGirl said...

I have always loved Disneyland. I still love it now but I have to say it was so much better experiencing it through the eyes of my children! The look on her face is so precious! Adorable!

Petunia Face said...

Thank you all for your sweet comments. I almost understand the mothers on Toddlers and Tiaras now. Almost. ;)