The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 13: The Parade

The day is ending. Mama and Rocky had promised to pick up Karen and Pegasus after the four o’clock parade, so the little girl and her horse watch the parade, and then head for the exit. Along the way, they recall some words of wisdom from the Disney movie Pinocchio. “When you wish upon a star…”

This song was originally written for the movie, but has since become a Disney icon, loved around the world. The words and music were by Ned Washington and Leigh Harline. They wrote the the words and music for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, too. Don’t you love these wonderful stories and their empowering messages? Here is a link to the Wikipedia article about Ned Washington and Leigh Harline: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_You_Wish_Upon_a_Star

Image of parade at Disneyland

And, here is an image of what the parade might have looked like, as Disney characters marched to the tune of a brass band. Thanks to Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons for the photo.

Scene 13: The Parade

When they reached the Disneyland Railroad Station, Karen looked up at the huge clock on the tower.

“Oh my goodness, Pegasus, it’s almost four o’clock. Mama said she and Rocky would pick us up after the four o’clock parade. Let’s go to the Town Square so we can see it go by.”

They hurried to the square and joined the crowd of excited children and families. After a few minutes, they heard music in the distance. A band played the theme song from the Mickey Mouse Club television show, and the music got louder.

“I can see them, now, Kitten,” Pegasus said. “Climb up on my back so you can see, too.”

Karen scrambled up into her saddle, and from there she could see over the heads of the people in the crowd.

“I see them, Pegasus! Mickey and Minnie and Donald and lots of other Disney characters are leading a marching band. And Cinderella is standing on a float behind the band.”

“Yes!” Pegasus said. “I can see it, now, too. Look at those beautiful horses!”

They watched in awe as their favorite Disney characters paraded to the tune of Disney songs. After a few minutes, the parade disappeared into the distance, and the crowd broke up.

“Oh, boy,” Karen said, “That was great. What did you think?”

Pegasus replied, “I especially liked seeing Jiminy Cricket. Can you guess why?”

Karen thought for a minute and then said, “I think so, boy.”

She took a deep breath and sang:

“When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires will come to you
If your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star as dreamers do…”

“That’s my girl,” he replied. “Now, let’s go find your Mama.”

Disabilities in Politics: Kickstart Your Campaign by Jillian Day

[Editor’s note: Jillian Day created 508Assist.org to help people all across the web make their sites accessible to individuals with disabilities. She was inspired to start 508Assist.org when a close family member, who happens to have a visual impairment, had trouble finding a dinner recipe online that he could read easily. When she’s not chasing after her little ones, Jillian enjoys being outside, whether she’s fishing, hiking, or geocaching with her family.

Disabilities in Politics: Kickstart Your Campaign

by Jillian Day

Maggie Hassan, Michael Bennet, Cyrus Habib — what do these political figures have in common? They are all people with disabilities! Whether it be blindness, autism, or limb disorder, people with disabilities are becoming more and more prominent in the political world. This is great news because these individuals bring a unique insight into how the world treats those who are a bit different.

It’s all about marketing.

Anytime you want to promote yourself, marketing is key. As an up-and-coming public figure, you will need to refine your image early on. While you don’t have to follow the same ultra-strict regulations as the British Royal family, maintaining consistency in the public is important. Voters don’t tend to take well to wishy-washy politicians, so make sure you’re out and about, handing out flyers and meeting people in the community. You should also invest some money in good business cards that let voters know you’re serious about this run (this guide can help you choose the right card size depending on your style and preference).

You need help.

Speaking of marketing, you’ll need a campaign manager and a few other helping hands to make sure you present yourself in the best possible light. Your campaign manager will, among other things, handle public relations and act as a political advisor. You can hire someone part-time or full-time, but make your selection based on experience and charisma. Another important person on your campaign team is an accountant. You will need someone to handle payroll and scheduling, ideally using traceable software. They will need to handle everything from mobile timesheets for your staff to paying your vendors on time. Your time tracking software should also integrate with your other programs, like a payroll platform, and allow you to handle common tasks from anywhere.

Your first run is more about exposure.

In the days of Instagram and TikTok, you might think that one viral campaign is all you need to become a public figure. Unfortunately, this type of fame is often fleeting. If you want to truly connect with your potential voters, you have to take steps to become a public figure. This might include sharing your history and telling your story. Most importantly, be yourself, and let the voters get to know the real you.

Social media is the megaphone of today.

Just because you can’t rely on social media to propel you toward instant success doesn’t mean that the sites don’t have value. You absolutely have to use social media, including Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn, to get your name out into the public’s eye. But be careful! Even the highest office in the nation isn’t immune to social media snafus that alter perception.

Talk about your disability.

Disabilities used to be quite a taboo topic. But today, most folks are understanding that people with disabilities are every bit as capable as everyone else. But make sure to use identity-first language. And if you’re going to discuss your disability as a catalyst for change, try to keep the conversations positive. While negativity tends to make the 6 o’clock news, it is your upbeat attitude that will stick in people’s minds.

As a person with a disability, you are uniquely positioned to bring issues to light that your community may not even know exist. But you can’t do it alone. Make sure to find the right team, and then take other steps to put yourself front and center to political success. Most importantly, remember that this might not mean an immediate win. It takes time to market yourself so that, like those before you, you can make a difference.

Image via Pexels

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 12: The Mark Twain Riverboat

In this scene, Karen and Pegasus take one final ride at Disneyland, and her mentor gives her a little history lesson in disability rights.

If you are interested in the text of the letter from Helen Keller that Mark Twain read at the New York Association for the Blind, in 1906, you can read it at this link:

https://www.disabilitymuseum.org/dhm/lib/detail.html?id=2508

And here is the riverboat that they rode, image courtesy of Jasperado and WikiMedia Commons.

“Mark Twain Riverboat – Disneyland” by Jasperdo is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Scene 12: The Mark Twain Riverboat

After they rode the raft back to the mainland, they also saw a train that went around the park. And then they saw an old fashioned paddle wheel riverboat. It was just about to leave its dock.

“Let’s hurry, Pegasus! There’s still time to get aboard.”

They ran to the boat ramp and were the last ones to board before the big paddle wheel pushed the white boat away from the dock.

They strolled around the broad wooden deck, and then Karen leaned over the back railing so she could see the name of the ship.

“What does it say?” asked Pegasus.

“I’m not sure, boy. Reading is hard enough with dyslexia, but reading upside down is…never mind. I will not complain. Just give me a minute to spell it out.”

With complete concentration, she recited the letters, and then Pegasus said, “You just spelled Mark Twain. He was an author, Kitten. You would like his stories. They are full of adventures and brave children, like you.”

“Do any of them have disabilities?” she asked her mentor.

“I’m not sure, Kitten, but I know he was a champion of disability rights, especially for blind people. He read a letter from Helen Keller out loud to an audience at a meeting of the New York Association for the Blind, in 1906.”

“That long ago?”

“Yes, Kitten. And you must carry on the struggle, just like Madame Leota said.”

This gave little Karen more to think about. When the ride ended, she and her steed walked pensively down the gangplank and back to Main Street USA. Time passed quickly, but she was beginning to look forward to going home.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 11: Tom Sawyer Island

In this scene, Karen and Pegasus take a much-needed break from the excitement of rides and Main Street USA, so they can reflect on what Madame Leota predicted for Karen’s future.

Here is a photo of part of the island, with a raft like the one they would have ridden. You can see that it would be easy for a horse to get on and off.

Thanks to George Louise and the WikiMedia Commons for the image.

Photo of people on a raft to Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland, about 1960

“File:Raft to Tom Sawyer Island, Disneyland California about 1960.jpg” by GeorgeLouis is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Scene 11: Tom Sawyer Island

Outside the Haunted Mansion, Karen said, “Pegasus, that was really special, but I need to do something less dramatic. Ghosts and disembodied heads predicting my future have my mind spinning.”

“I agree, Kitten. We need to pace ourselves. Let’s just stroll for a while.”

Cheerfully they walked away from the haunted house. Then they saw another ride, with a pirate theme.

“Look,” said Karen, “it’s Tom Sawyer Island and the Pirate’s Lair. I think that’s just what we need to wind down. It’s supposed to be quiet and relatively peaceful.”

“Let’s go,” said Pegasus.

They walked to the boarding area, where they crowded onto a wooden raft with a lot of other people. It was perfect for Pegasus because he could walk onto and off of it. After a short trip across a river, they stepped off onto Tom Sawyer Island. They were both tired, so instead of exploring they found a shady spot where Karen could rest on a bench, and Pegasus could lie down beside her. She had a lot to think about.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 10: The Prophecy

In this scene, Madame Leota gives little Karen a prophecy about her future as a dancer and a teacher. Pegasus confirms the truth of this. But it comes with a warning about authorities who will someday try to place false limits on Karen’s potential.

Here is an image of Madame Leota in the green of thriving plants, and with a smile on her lips as she gives her blessing to Karen. Thanks to the Disney Fandom Wiki for preserving it. image of Madame Leota in green

Scene 10: The Prophecy

As Karen and Pegasus stared speechlessly, the ghostly globe changed color from blue to green, and Madame Leota smiled at them. Karen immediately thought of green as the color of thriving plants, and she knew this must mean something.

After a dramatic pause, Madame Leota spoke:

In a future time not long away
You will dance and lead the way
Follow the pied piper, the dancing man
He will show you that you can.

Let no discouragement block your way
No matter what authorities say
You can dance and lead the way
You will show others that so can they.

Beware the white coats and teachers false
Stick close to your horse and teacher true
Eyes on your strengths, not on your faults
Become the one who is truly you.

The light and the face dimmed until the Séance Room was lighted only by the light hanging above the table.

“Pegasus,” Karen whispered. “What do you suppose she meant about dancing? Will I ever be able to really dance?”

“Yes, Kitten. You will dance and teach others to dance. You will become your true self and help others. I can feel it. It’s not just the Disney magic. You have your own magic, too.”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 9: Madame Leota

When Karen and Pegasus enter the Séance Room, they receive a mysterious welcome, and Karen’s intuition tells her that what they are about to experience is Disney magic just for them.

Image of Madame Leota

Here is a picture of Madame Leota, the disembodied medium of the Haunted Mansion, the floating face who appears in this scene. Thanks to madam3leota on Pinterest for the image. I don’t know the original source.

And if you are curious about the woman whose face appears in the glass sphere, look at this article. She was an artist and one of the original Disney Imagineers, Leota Toombs Thomas.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/03/recognizing-women-of-the-disneyland-resort-leota-toombs-thomas/

Scene 9: Madame Leota

Karen peeked into the room beyond the door, then Pegasus stuck his head in above hers. They saw a room that was almost dark. A ghostly shape floated in the background, but the ornate wooden table illuminated by a hanging lamp with an embroidered shade and strings of glass beads hanging from its edges held their attention. Karen looked at the table and the beautiful chair on the other side.

“Pegasus, my legs feel weak. Do you suppose it’s okay if I sit in that chair?”

As they pondered her question, a glass sphere resting in a bronze frame on top of the table filled with a ghostly light. The face of a beautiful woman appeared in it, as if her head were floating, and she had no body.

She spoke in poetry:

Serpents and spiders, tail of a rat
call in the spirits wherever you’re at.
Karen and Pegasus, honest and fair,
please take a seat in this lovely old chair.

Karen realized the woman had been speaking to her and now stared at the chair. As she tottered across the room, the disembodied head continued speaking:

Rap on a table, it’s time to respond,
send us a message from somewhere beyond.
Goblins and ghoulies from last Halloween
awaken the spirits with your tambourine.

Karen slowly lowered herself into the chair. Pegasus stood behind her. They heard someone rap on the table, but whoever it was, was invisible. Then they heard a tambourine jingle.

The woman continued:

Creepies and crawlies, toads in a pond
let there be music from regions beyond.
Wizards and witches wherever you dwell
give us a hint by ringing a bell…

A bell sounded, and Karen felt shivers run up and down her spine. She almost stood up to run away, but the woman turned and spoke directly to her. Karen knew in her heart that this would not be part of the standard Haunted Mansion ride, when it opened in the future. This was just for her and her horse.

Original Text ©2021, Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved. (Part of the text was adapted from the actual poem that Madame Leota recited. You can read about it at this link: https://discuss.micechat.com/forum/disney-theme-park-news-and-discussion/disneyland-resort/38124-disneyland-history-the-haunted-mansion-seance-room

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 8: In the Haunted Mansion

In this scene, once again brave Karen and Pegasus overcome their fears and actually enjoy being in a haunted house full of ghosts. But when the ride ends, they receive a mysterious invitation. What will happen, next?

If you’re interested in Disney history, here’s a link to an article on the opening of the Haunted Mansion, along with a picture that is part of the article.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/08/today-in-disney-history-haunted-mansion-opened-at-disneyland-park-in-1969/

Scene 8: In the Haunted Mansion

They walked slowly up the stairs to the open door. When they stepped inside, it slammed behind them. Karen whirled and grabbed the doorknob, but it would not turn.

A deep voice said, “Welcome, Karen and Pegasus. We have been awaiting your presence. This attraction will not open to the public for years, but for you it is open today.”

Lights in sconces provided the only illumination. Sunlight did not seem able to pass through the windows. The lights flickered and dimmed slowly. Suddenly, they moved and danced about in the air.. Karen giggled nervously and held onto Pegasus’ mane. She did not know what to expect.

The deep voice said, “Please move forward to the next room.”

Karen continued to hold Pegasus’ mane, as they passed through a pair of double doors into another room. Everything seemed to rotate in it. Then an old-fashioned carriage appeared.

“Please enjoy your ride in your Doom Buggy,” the voice said. “It is specially made to carry horses as well as people.”

“Hold on to me, Kitten.” Pegasus said. “I do not want to fall out of this thing.”

As soon as they got in, Karen sat down and held Pegasus with both arms around his neck. A ghost appeared ahead of them. She looked at it, and it looked back at her.

“Oh!” Karen said.

She was startled. But then, she and Pegasus both began to giggle out of a combination of being scared and having jittery nerves. They did not know what to expect.

Next, they saw their own reflections, as if they were ghosts, too. Their heads seemed to float along beside them.

With each twist and turn they began to relax. Soon, they were laughing. They didn’t want it to end, but the Doom Buggy stopped.

The deep voice said, “There is someone here who wants to speak with you, Karen and Pegasus. Please go up the stairs to the Séance Room of Madame Leota.”

“Oh boy, Pegasus. Now I’m scared,” Karen whispered.

“That’s all right Kitten. Just as you said, we need to face our fears and climb those stairs.”

The stairs were wide, but as the reached each floor, they grew narrower. At last, they reached the top and stood before a closed door. They looked at each other, and Karen knocked.

From inside, a woman’s voice said, “You have faced your fear, so you may enter here.”

Karen reached for the doorknob with her strong right hand. It turned, and she pushed the door open.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 7: The Haunted Mansion

In this scene, Karen and Pegasus stroll by the Haunted Mansion. It will not open to the public for years, but the Disney magic opens it for them. Karen overcomes her fear and leads Pegasus toward the ghosts waiting inside.

The image is from the Wonderful World of Disney Magazine, Vol. 1 No 4, with thanks to the Internet Archive.

Scene 7: The Haunted Mansion

As they moseyed down the street, they veered to the left. A huge white mansion house stood about fifteen feet away from them. As Karen watched, it shimmered as if it were not quite real.

“Pegasus,” she said. “What’s happening? That house looks really strange.”

“I don’t know, Kitten,” he replied. “It looks strange to me, too. Look at that sign in front of it.”

They read the sign. It said ghosts could move in sometime in the future.

“I think it’s a coming attraction, boy. It isn’t open, yet.”

“I can’t stop shivering, Kitten. If it isn’t ready, then why is the front door opening, and why is a scary voice calling for us to enter?”

“What do you mean, boy? I see the door and hear the voice, too. What should we do?”

“I think it’s more of the Disney magic, Kitten. It won’t really open for years, but it’s open for us, today.”

“Let’s go in, Pegasus,” Karen said, as she motioned with her hand. “That’s the best thing to do when you’re scared. You have to face your fears, or you’ll never get anywhere. I’m scared, but I’m going in.”

“Okay, Kitten. I’ll be by your side.”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 6: Mouse Ears

In this scene, Karen and Pegasus don their own mouse ears, and once again the Magic Kingdom welcomes them and accepts them as they are. Believe it or not, I had trouble finding a picture of the mouse ear beanies as they used to be, but finally I found one on ebay. This cap was actually from Walt Disney World, but the ones at Disneyland were essentially the same.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/143616542871 Mickey Mouse Ears cap

Scene 6: Mouse Ears

As they strolled down Main Street, they enjoyed every moment. They looked into shop windows and even visited some of them. Then Karen noticed something. Nearly all the other children were wearing something that she was not.

“Pegasus,” she said. “I think we forgot to buy something very important. Can you guess what it is?”

Pegasus thought for a moment, and then said, “No, Kitten, I cannot. We bought tickets to get in. We bought food. You wanted to buy a glass figurine, but they were too expensive, so you are going to save your money to buy one. When we get to the rides, we can go on them, but we are not that far, yet. What am I missing?”

“Well,” Karen said slyly. “You and I each have two of these, already. Can you guess, now?”

“Eyes?”

“You’re very close, my friend. What do we have two of that are beside our eyes, but just around our heads?”

“Ears? We have two ears, right?”

“Yes! Pegasus! You guessed it, but what kind of ears do we need for a day at Disneyland?”

Pegasus laughed, as he realized what she was hinting at.

“Mouse ears!” he said. “We need Mickey Mouse ears.”

“Yes!” Karen said. “There’s a souvenir stand. Let’s go buy some.”

The bright red stand sold all kinds of Disneyland souvenirs, everything from hats to pillows and even little white gloves.

Karen said to the girl working at it, “I want to buy a Mickey Mouse beanie for myself, and do you have one that’s big enough for my horse?”

The girl said, “Not a beanie, but I think this might work.”

She pulled a springy headband with Mickey ears attached to it down from her display.

“You wanna try it on him?” she asked.

“Sure!” Karen said as Pegasus lowered his head, so she could put the headband on him.

He straightened up and said, “How do I look? Do they fit right?”

The girl’s mouth opened wide, and she said, “You’re a talking horse! You’re magical, and I think the mouse ears look great on you.”

“Thank you,” Pegasus said. “How about you, Kitten? Do they look good?”

Karen’s heart filled with joy, not only about the ears but about how the girl accepted Pegasus as magical.

Blinking back tears of joy, she said, “You look fantastic!”

She put a beanie on herself and paid for her purchases.

The girl said, “Be sure to come back and see me, next time you come to Disneyland.”

Karen and Pegasus said in unison, “We sure will.”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 15, Scene 5: The Glass Blower

In this scene, Karen and Pegasus watch in wonder as a glass artist creates a figurine of a horse. Karen takes another step toward learning to make her own decisions by deciding that she will save her money so she can buy one.

If you are interested in glass blowing, here’s a link to some info about the Disneyland glassblowing studio, followed by a link to a YouTube video that will show you how it’s done.

Scene 5: The Glass Blower

After they finished their snacks, they continued walking. They passed a bank with a line of people standing outside.

“Pegasus, why do you suppose they’re standing in line?”

Her horse replied, “Probably to cash checks, so they have money to spend.”

“Oh,” Karen said. “I hadn’t thought of that. How do you know so much, Pegasus?”

He laughed and said, “I heard Tex and Babbs talking about going to their bank for cash, so it wasn’t hard to figure out.”

They walked a little further, and Karen looked into a store.

“Oh my!” she said.

Pegasus stuck his head into the shop and then froze in fascination.

As they watched, a man held a long metal tube with a blob of red-hot glass on the end of it. He blew into the tube, and as he blew he turned it. At first it was just a big blob of color, but as they watched, he created a glass sculpture of a horse.

When he finished, they took a moment to look at the beautiful blown glass figurines that filled the shop’s shelves.

“Pegasus, I’m going to save enough money to buy one of those.”

They backed out of the shop and continued on their way.