The biting winter breeze enters through your jacket. You grasp the tails of the collar, pop them, and bring the edges closer about your neck. The chilling night frost slowly settles in the park. You try bouncing up and down to keep your circulation flowing, attempting to stay warm as you wait in line, impatient. Finally reaching the head of the queue, you fish out a five dollar bill hidden in the depths of the black purse slung over your shoulder. You hand it to the man with the outstretched hand, palm up. The cash register rings, the tinkle of cold metal coins dropping into your hand; the wallet is hastily stuffed into your purse. Behind the Plexiglas he rolls the fried dough in a tub of cinnamon. Eager, hungry, cold, you grasp the treat and hold it by the small wrapper encircling the middle of the churro.
It warms your hands. With that first bite, it warms your body and soul, all the way to your toes. Steam emits from the sugary sweetness, warming your nose. Twinkling fairy lights blink in every tree. Holly wreaths decorate every window. Carolers can be heard in the distance singing “Winter Wonderland.” Snow still sticks in street corners atop and shop awnings from the fireworks display that has a holiday touch. Gold, red, green, and other festive shades illuminate Main Street. The centerpiece reaches its piney arms to the heavens, embracing the winter night sky and the North Star. Yet this giant Christmas tree cannot hide Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Newly painted, it has been reborn: sparkling with youth, the hopes of tomorrow, the dreams of yesterday, and the timelessness of fantasy.
All around you are the cheery faces of adults and beaming faces of children.
Jingle bells chime and The Emporium’s windows glow joyfully. Inside is the bustling of shoppers snatching up holiday ornaments and other souvenirs.
This realm is so magical and so real that you look up to the sky, anticipating Santa Clause’s sleigh to appear with a relish, and then disappear behind a silvery cloud. You shiver, either from excitement or from the weather, and know that this is the best time to be in Disneyland.
