This is NOT Disneyland-related, but I feel like it’s important enough to share with all of you, because I know many of you feel the same way.
James and I watched Pinocchio the other night. I hadn’t seen it since I was like 12, or even younger. I guess during my later childhood years, I allowed newer Disney movies at the time to knock it lower on my list of Disney favorites.
My brother got me the Blu-Ray for my 19th birthday, and up until recently I realized that I never watched it since receiving it 2 years ago. My brother said that Pinocchio was the first VHS I ever had when I was a baby, and that I would watch it back to back. As soon as the movie would be over, I’d want the tape rewound and immediately played back. Even when I’d visit my next door neighbors to be babysat, I would bring only that movie. I don’t remember any of this, and I thought it was silly.
When James and I started watching it, I got goosebumps almost immediately, because even though the majority of the movie was seemingly erased from my memory, I began to remember everything as it played out in front of me. I remembered all the wooden clocks and toys in Gepetto’s shop, and I remembered how adorable Cleo and Figaro were, and I remembered the happiness Gepetto had when he had completed painting Pinocchio.
Something I had never really noticed before was: Gepetto was lonely. He was a lonely old man with a kitten and a goldfish for company, and he wanted more than anything for Pinocchio to be real, so he could have someone to love. I couldn’t help but tear up when he wished upon a star; and I couldn’t help but tear up and wished I could comfort him when Pinocchio did not come home to him and the feast he had prepared for everyone in celebration of Pinocchio being in their lives - but then he was gone just as quickly as he had appeared.
And when everything was over and Pinocchio had become a real boy at last, my heart felt… happy. I was so happy to see these cartoon characters share such delight amongst themselves, and again I reminded myself: this is why Disney is such an important part of my life; these wonderful, overwhelming bursts of happiness that are just as important now as they were when those moments were barely becoming a part of my childhood. I didn’t know it then, but I feel it now.
