“I’ll be your candle on the water…”
The Main Street Electrical Parade is one of my favorite Disney parades of all time. The lights! The thousands of sparkling lights that illuminated the night. The catchy music and the glowing characters are engrained in my memory and it’s all because of one movie: Pete’s Dragon.
I adored this movie growing up and I have my mom to thank for that. I have such fond memories of sitting snuggled up on the couch with her and my dad as the VHS whined inside the VCR and in later years when we watched it on DVD and then on Blu-Ray. With matching shirts, ornaments and plush, those tangible memories allowed my mom and I to hold tight to the movie and the memories when we’re unable to watch. She knew every song and laughed at the adventures of Elliott and Pete. I consider myself lucky to have been introduced to this classic early on. The story, animation and the songs continue to inspire me.
I will never forget how sad I felt when I found out that the Main Street Electrical Parade was leaving Walt Disney World. On my vacation in October 2016, I made sure to view it each night and even face-timed my mom so she was able to see Elliott. Although we were over a thousand miles apart, I could feel the joy as she watched on the tiny screen in her living room.
Little did I know that in February 2017 I would be able to lay my eyes on it one last time. All of the available space on the streets of Disneyland were filled with revelers welcoming this, their beloved parade home. My boyfriend and I were having some difficulty finding the perfect spot and made our way towards the Matterhorn. A lovely family offered us a spot behind their baby carriage and we tucked ourselves in to feel the magic. As the lights dimmed, I was transported back to my childhood, reliving those memories that I held so dear. There was Elliott in all his green glory gliding past us with Pete waving from up high.
I didn’t want to leave after it ended. Partly because I wanted to soak up every last bit of magic the parade had to offer and partly due to the sea of humanity that were making their exit to the front of the park. Instead, Joe and I made our way deeper into the park like salmon swimming upstream only to find ourselves at an impasse. We were in a dead end also known as Pixie Hollow and were unable to continue our journey. Luckily the crowd had subsided while we managed to get our bearings and we were able to make our way with minimal traffic. With Tomorrowland just coming into view on my left, I felt a tug on my hand. I looked back to see Joe disappear into the darkness. Just as quick as he disappeared, he was right back at my side. He reached out his hand and grabbing mine firmly, he pressed something into my palm. He looked at me with a twinkle in his eye, maybe some left over, residual magic from the parade. I felt the small object in my hand, realization slowly coming over me. I said nothing but from my widened eyes he could tell that I immediately realized what he had given me. A bulb from the Main Street Electrical Parade. That lightbulb sits proudly on my bookshelf beside many other tangible memories that I hold so dear.
I have been fortunate that my mom has given me so many things over the years. Her love, her encouragement and the gift of being my mom. But there’s one that right up there, angling to be in the top spot. She gifted me her love of this classic movie and an invisible green dragon that lives in my heart with her. Boo bop bop bop bop, I love you too mom.