Saving Mr. Banks……People We See, Paths that Cross…..Who are they; Really?

Saving Mr. BanksI have often stated that there are two ways to do something in today’s world; ‘To do it’, and/or “To do it the Disney way”.  Whether it is the way to move a food line, or to create amusement rides, or even create a new movie–there is just something done in a certain, dare I say magical, way when the name Disney stands before it.  With financials amounting to 36 billion in 2010, I would say financial success is evident as well.

I saw the movie Saving Mr. Banks last night and it was wonderful.  Feel safe, I will add no spoiler alerts in this article so keep reading.  I know more than the average person about ‘Disney stuff’ because I have always been fascinated with the World of Disney and read up on it when I can.  I’m no expert but probably know a little more than most.  I knew a little of the story behind Disney’s attempt to get Mary Poppins made into a movie before this film was released.  It was fun to see what was real and what was, let’s say, artistically altered for the movie.  That happens in Hollywood but if you ever liked Mary Poppins or found anything about Walt Disney and his company fascinating, you will  like this film.

Tom Hanks was good, Emma Thompson was brilliant (I see an Oscar Nom her way for this performance).  Go see it….you’ll like it.  I surely did.

There is a part in the movie when Walt is speaking (again, I will ruin nothing for you).  He states something about himself that made me think of this community we are in called the diabetes community.  Or I guess it is also the online community of any type.  What do we really know about each other?  Surely we all know the name Walt Disney, but how much do we really know about him (FYI–at the time of his death, his remains were not frozen as urban legend has it–he was cremated).

Now none of us are famous like Walt Disney but who we have come to know must be so little compared to who we all are once we ‘hit’ ‘esc’ on our computers and return to our worlds.

We do know each other for the brief moments that we see each other in an online setting but how much do we REALLY know about each other, don’t we?   Now I have reconnected with many friends from other aspects of my life and surely we know each other enough to thoroughly enjoy being reconnected.  Others I have met originally online and met in person at conferences, research updates, or meet-ups. 

But just as I watched this movie last night, in addition to being this giant mogul of the entertainment world, Walt Disney went home each night and was faced with kids, family, and his mind was filled with what was happening at work; just like we do.  There is an entire world of 23 hours and 40 minutes that we do not see people (times, I’m sure, vary) and everyone returns to…….well….life.

Moms, dads, law enforcement officers, stay-at-home moms, stay-at-home-dads, saving lives, first responders, mass transit, executives, writers, lecturers, publishers, actors, singers, waiters, waitresses, office administrators, clerical, lawyers, and the list goes on and on all dealing with problems and life; bills, mortgages, death, accidents, illness, fun, laughter, friends, schools (and EVERYTHING that goes with schools from concerts to 504 plans), parties, work, hobbies. and that list goes on and on also.

Just a little food for thought; that everyone we are in contact within an online community probably we each play only but a small role in their life.  An active role, and in some instances even a larger role, but truly we all must respect the lives of the people we meet.  We all must understand that this is a big world and the intersection of our lives meeting on this internet highway is a gift.  Always know that the person with whom you confer does much in their life just as you do and much that you may not even know that much about.   And how great is that?

Just as I watched Tom hanks perform as Walt Disney and it made me realize that the I know so little about who he was, so too it must be with those we so briefly, but willingly, interact with each day online.

How exciting to know that people have such full lives ‘offline’.  That was a good thought I had when leaving the movie…….now if I can only resolve myself into believing that the wonderful brilliance that Disney left behind will also fix their present policies with speed passes for those with disabilities; I will sleep better once again.

I am a diabetes dad.

Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.

BLOG WEEK ENTRY 5: SERIOUSLY????? I Don’t Think So.

Mary PoppinsThis week is blog week and we, the DOC Bloggers, have all been given a title for each day of the week and asked to write on this topic.the fourth entry into blog week we are asked to address the following title: FREAKY FRIDAY.  If you could switch chronic disease, which one would you choose to deal with instead of diabetes (and has participation in the DOC affected how I treat others with other medical conditions). 

I’m not so sure where this question came from but it had me scratching my head.  But I agreed to answer the questions all week so I will do as I promised.  To actually wish my children had a chronic disease other than diabetes would suggest (to me anyway) that I would think one chronic disease is better, easier, or in some way placing our household in a better position than having diabetes.

I can’t do that.  THAT is not the case.

Well maybe I can, there might be one.  In the movie Mary Poppins Uncle Albert (Famous character actor Ed Wynn) and Bert (DIck Van Dyke) suffer with uncontrollable, chronic, laughter which makes them levitate.  The harder they laugh, the higher they go.  The idea is that laughter lightens the mood.  That is the ONLY disease I would switch with diabetes.  But uncontrollable laughter is not a real chronic disease and I am taking ‘artistic license’ here  because there is no real chronic disease we would ever consider. 

We do with what we have and go forward.

I have never once compared a disease to diabetes, nor wished we had ‘only that’ to deal with instead of diabetes, as I have heard others do so since our first child was diagnosed and quite frankly we just do not agree with it.  Any family dealing with ANYTHING has it tougher than those that do not.  Period.

My involvement with the DOC has nothing to do with how we treat others affected with other medical conditions either.  It has made me more aware, but we are at this long before the DOC was in place and our compassion comes from ‘life’ dealing with people who we both know and love; and we did not need any help in this area on how we treat others.

Let me ask you a question.  What do you think of today’s question; how would you have answered it?  Please reply to this blog and let us all know what you think.  I thought about it for a long time before I answered, but what do I know?  This blog is just me and I will always defer to others, who know so much more than I so please chime in today; how would you have answered?

I am a diabetes dad.

Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.