When asked what my favorite Disney park is, I honestly have to say Disneyland.
Disneyland seems more magical somehow. This is perhaps, psychological, knowing Walt actually walked those very streets; his presence is almost palpable. And then there is Disney California Adventure, which is now a park to rival Disneyland for fun!
I could go on, but this is a story about a flea market, me, and a book I found. A Disneyland Book.
I have a couple Disneyland books, picked up at flea markets. This booklet from 1976 I picked up just a few months before our first trip to Disneyland in 2008.
This next one is more of a history of Disneyland, from 1969.
But our story is about this book. Just an ordinary picture book, from 1985.
To be honest, I wasn't even that impressed with the book, the other two I already had were much more interesting.
So, as fate would have it, just as I was putting it down, I noticed the writing on the first leaf. The inscription was: To Nicholas.
Well, that's my name. I immediately asked how much the book was. $1. Sold.
Without even reading it more carefully, I carried it off, in search of my wife. I showed her the inscription, and she said "awesome", and we continued our search through the market. In the car on the way home, I opened the book to read the whole inscription. Then I noticed the date.
September 18, 1986.
The day I bought the book? September 18, 2011.
25 years to the day! We were in shock and awe. What are the odds of something like that?!
This book I almost put down is now one of my favorite pieces of Disneyana.
This is lovely! And to find it inscribed to 'you', very special.
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