The only time I ever saw Momma cry...

Momma wore so many hats as lots of Mommas do. But beneath one of those hats, I actually saw her cry, just once. She as a Girl Scout leader, and several chaperone mothers, had taken a gaggle of young girl scouts to Disney World for several days. It was a huge deal for these little girls. They had scrimped and saved. They had earned money with fund raisers. They had begged, borrowed, and pleaded for the money to make this, once-in-a-lifetime trip together. And here they were, at last, in the great castle, standing in line to see and have their pictures taken with none other than the eternally beautiful and elegant Cinderella. Closer and closer they got as the line inched along. Now, to a group of 11 and 12 year olds from mid-America, this was no small matter. Cinderella was IT. Of all the fun things to do on this trip, an audience with the wonderful queen of eternal beauty and grace who actually married the handsome Prince was at the top of the list. These little girls were ecstatic. They were actually going to get to MEET the real Cinderella and have their picture taken. They could see her just a few feet away!The anticipation grew exponentially with each small movement of the line, one less person to be ahead of this group of girls. The excitement was electric in a way only little girls have the ability to create. “OOOO! Isn’t she just soooooo beautiful?!!!” “She is just right there! It’s only going to be just a few more minutes!!” The line had been eternally long but finally, finally!, the moment was so close they could almost taste it. From behind a curtain appeared a man. He approached Cinderella herself and whispered in her ear. “Oh My!”, the apologies were profuse, but it seemed that Cinderella had to Marshall the Disney World parade that evening, and she must leave right away. “WHAT?!!!!!” Momma was beside herself. Gathering the other moms into a huddle quickly to determine just HOW to soothe this incredible pain of disappointment for these little girls who had wished upon the star, who had traveled all this far, these darling little girl scouts who got so very close only to be disappointed. So terribly, crushingly, disappointed. In the midst of this frantic huddle, Momma felt a tug at her skirt. It was her own little princess. “Momma!” she said, “come on, we’re all ready for our group picture with Cinderella!”Turning her attention to the throne she saw all her little “ducklings” surrounding the throne with a beautiful, crowned princess upon it. The little Cinderella, now crowned with a crown they had purchased earlier, and seated proudly upon the golden throne, smiling from ear to ear, was a little Down’s Syndrome girl who had been in line just ahead of them. They had chosen her to replace the real Cinderella and were excitedly awaiting their picture.Momma cried. Oh, how she cried.

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And “that is all I have to say about that.”