Mr. Disney, we need you back here on Earth.

My happy place.
It was clean and well-kept and certainly a happy place for me to be. I had looked forward to being in this place ever since Walt Disney talked about it on his Wednesday night Disneyland TV show. Finally in 1955 the theme park opened to the general public. But what was noticed and appreciated by me and others was how clean and organized the park was in those early days. Disney had an army of white uniformed boys with broom and pans picking up every cup and paper wrap and stowing it in nearby waste receptacles. Tidy and organized seem to be the order of the day. Every day, almost to the point of being surreal. A portrait of cleanliness. And for sure, the beginnings of happiness. Happiness for others and me.
Disneyland Main street America was for sure a photo of how a town’s main thoroughfare should look as prescribed by the Chamber of Commerce. At the one end of the main street was the Santa Fe Railroad station and Sleeping Beauty’s castle at the other. So kept up and clean one would hate to bring small children with their gum and candy wrappers in fear they might drop litter here and there. But small children is who this happy place was designed and built for. My first visit was at age eleven. And visited Disneyland at least a dozen times since. My happy place for sure.
I had the momentary chance to thank Walt himself in person but was in such awe and shock, I couldn’t even speak. I was dumbfounded and speechless. An Okie kid with no words to offer. Just a blank stare.
Uncle Walt, please forgive me.