{my family in 1958 at Disneyland}
{me at Disneyland for my 53rd birthday 11/25/09, this was before my daughter told me my birthday buttons looked like pasties...I moved them! LOL}
Growing up in the late 50's, Disneyland was every child's dream. If you were lucky enough to have grown up in southern California it was often more then a dream. If you were really lucky, your parents saved their nickles & dimes & once a year would pack up the kids, throw them in the back of the station wagon {without seat belts} & drive to Anaheim to go to the Happiest Place on Earth & if you were really, really lucky, your Daddy worked there!
{excerpt from a past post}
I was born in Long Beach, CA because my Father joined the Marines right out of his High School in Illinois & was stationed in Oceanside. With the VA Bill he was able to go to college & buy our 1st house, but he worked 2 jobs to support his family & we never went without, a gift. One of his jobs was working at Disneyland as a janitor back when Disneyland & the idea of amusement parks was brand new. My brother & I kept empty mayonnaise jars on our dresser. Every morning when we woke up the jars would be filled to the brim with shiny pennies, nickles & dimes. I would find a Disneyland pen light in my jar, while John might find a pop gun or giant pencil in his & of course we would always get TICKETS! Long after the rides had closed for the night & the smiling, sleepy children & worn out parents left the park, my Father swept Main Street. He cleaned the bathrooms & the shops & arcade that lined the street. He worked through the early morning hours while we were home asleep in our beds & at the end of his shift the work crew would divide up the remnants of abandoned toys & lost change & take them home to their children. Every morning when we awoke it was like Christmas!
{Susie 51 years later at Disneyland with Courtney}
Disneyland has always been the Happiest Place on Earth to me, it still is! So when I leave this earthbound form & finally, truly have my wings, scatter a few of my ashes in the flower beds surrounding Disneyland...I'll be smiling in heaven, wearing my Micky Mouse Ears!!! ;)
What a GREAT & FUN day I had at my Lambs & Ivy today!!! My dear friend Lynn from Blue Skies who's blog I just created a fresh, new look for, came by the shop today with her beautiful 2 daughters Brenna & Lauren...could they all be any cuter??? I don't think so!!! It was such a pleasure meeting them & we had so much fun talking about all our arting & blogging, I feel we are instant best friends with so much in common. How fun is that...sooooo fun! She also brought me some lovely hand-crafted items that I'm putting in the store that I love, love, love, especially the awesome vintage M&M filled bottle decorated for Valentine's Day with one of my FAVORITE vintage lady perriots on it {above}...Great Minds Think A Like!!! I look forward to many more visits & laughs & craft brain storming adventures...her daughter Lauren even has a talent for making the sweetest paper roses. I have her making me some custom hair combs to sell in the store so she can make some extra $$$'s too. Then when you think things couldn't get better...I learned how to create a digital signature, a new trick of the trade that I can add to my blog design services. I had fun making mine & hope you all love it & if anyone is interested in adding one to their blog, fly over to http://vintagesusiecustomdesign/ & I can make a custom one just for you for $5.00. Just shoot me over an email so we can get started & you TOO can have this little bit of personality at the bottom of your posts!!! LOL So bye for now friends & today...I'm Feeling The Love! ;)
