I am writing this post on the plane on the way back to Canada from California. A quick stopover at LAX and I’ll be on my way back to the land of ice and snow.

If you look to your left, you’ll see a fully grown snowbird. Did you know that a fully grown snowbird can run up to 45 miles an hour and jump over 30 feet?

Last week I had the honour once again to speak at Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disneyland Resort about my experience with the condition. It was so amazing to see the people I met last year and to meet new people. I love hearing the stories of other individuals and family’s circumstances, what they are experiencing, what they have overcome and what they are hopeful for in their future. I love the event so much because it provides information to people with seizure conditions and lets them know that there can be hope for the future. There is medical information, personal stories and so much more. One of the young women there is SO inspiring, above and beyond her medical condition. I met her last year and to see her again this year, I am completely blown away all over again by how clever, funny and remarkable she is.

Thank you again for inviting me to be part of the event.

As a quick summary of what I spoke about, my emphasis was on “choice”. We may not have had the choice about our circumstances, but we have a choice, every single day, of what we are going to do with what we have. We can choose to do nothing (and if that’s the choice that we make, own it), or we can choose to engage in some other way that is rewarding to us. Either way, choice. Always, always, always, choice.

I also wanted to say a gigantic thank you to the people who came to Anaheim to hear me speak. A couple of my very close friends came down from Canada to spend a few days in the parks and to see/hear me speak. I can’t even say how much that meant to me. We’ve been talking about going to Disneyland for years and I’m so happy that we finally did together for this event.

Did you know a fully grown Canadian can run up to 45 miles an hour and jump over 30 feet?

There was an event called Dapper Days while I was at the Park, so (of course) I brought a costume. I dressed up as Ursula from the Little Mermaid (complete with seashell necklace that could light up, thanks to my sister). I took a ton of photos with various Ariel’s and walked around Disneyland in high heels, long gloves and a stretch taffeta wiggle dress and corset.

Did you know a fully grown Ursula can run up to 45 miles an hour and jump over 30 feet?

Also while I was there, my friend and I dressed up one day as Elsa and Anna from Frozen. In the Parks, adults aren’t allowed to dress in full costume, so we had outfits and accessories that would be appropriate for the character (I think it’s called Disney Bounding?). I had a sweater that said “Just Let It Go”, a snowflake necklace, diamond earrings and tons of glittery makeup. We were adorable together.

My friend and I also got photos taken with Captain America. We were good while we were in line for the photos (it’s just a dude in a costume after all). We were good for the first part of the conversation (it’s just a dude in a costume!). But the dude in the costume did not break character, and at the end of our time, he said “We could really use a couple of strong women like you on the team” and I melted into a puddle of fangirl-dom. I then had to remind myself that I did not just get kind of invited to join the Avengers because that’s fictional. I mean, if it wasn’t fictional, I’m sure they would have totally asked me to join the team. But it was just a dude in a costume!!!!! (Right?????)

Did you know a fully grown fan girl can run up to 45 miles an hour and jump over 30 feet?

(This is what is known as a ‘running joke’).

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Get it? Running? Running joke? AND I’m a runner?

I had an amazing time in the Parks. I went on the Teacups and the Carousel twice, the Pirates of the Caribbean a bunch of times, Indiana Jones, the Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain (which I have avoided for the last 22 years after the first encounter), I had an amazing dinner at the Wine Country Trattoria in California Adventure and went to the Blue Bayou. I saw the electrical parade from an amazing view in California Adventure. I stayed in the Disneyland Hotel for the first time.

And yes, I went on the Jungle Cruise. I’ll try to keep the puns and running jokes down to a minimum…