Day 11 - Marceline, MO - Part Three

I've been very fortunate to have the opportunity to spend time with people that knew Walt Disney.

Typically, I would be interviewing them for our Video Communications team at Disneyland and these interviews would be broadcast to all of the Cast Members at the Disneyland Resort.

But I really haven't had the opportunity to have a private chat with one of these folks.

The opportunity to share just as much as I was going to listen.

And now, the opportunity was right there in front of me.

Kaye and I sit down and start eating the chicken salad sandwiches that Dorothy made for the three of us. Dorothy had to excuse herself as she had some other business that she had to attend to.

And now I'm here with Kaye.

There are pictures of her on display in the Walt Disney Hometown Museum. She is standing there with Walt during one of his visits to Marceline.

And while 50 years have passed since those pictures were taken, Kaye pretty much looks the same.

Short blonde hair that is still styled the same way she had it as a teenager. She's in her eartly 60's now but there is a sparkle in her eyes that is undeniable.

She's just a little bit younger than my Mom.

"What brought you to Marceline?" she asks.

And before I know it, I spill the entire story. Maybe it is because I've been writing so much on the trip but The Bucket Trip story just explodes out of me.

I share with her that I've worked at Disneyland for 24 years and with being this close to Walt's hometown, I had to be here.

She offers he condolences and then shares this.

"You know, John. Tuesdays are my normal day off. I'm really not supposed to be here today. I think your visit here is something that was just meant to be."

She has no idea how right she is.

We talk more about her story and how Walt Disney and his family used to stay at her hourse because they had the only house that had central air in Marceline. Initally, her mother was concerned about hosting the Disney's properly but once they got there, they learned that the Disney's were just country boys are heart despite all of their success in Hollywood.

She told me about going out to Disneyland to work for two summers. I asked her why she decided to come out.

"Walt called me and said that he bet Disneyland would hire me if I applied."

I can't imagine a recruiter at Disneyland declining THAT Casting Scout.

She worked in Attractions both summers. Once on the Matterhorn (she said she worked with Disney Legend, Chuck Abbott) and once in the Carousel of Progress.

We talked about the people working for the Company that we both know. I shared with her a little bit about what is going on at the Disneyland Resort and she shared that she was excited to come out there in July for the Disneyana Convention.

The longer we chatted, the more I realized how much in common the two of us had.

Kaye (along with some other dedicated residents of Marceline) were trying to keep Walt's memory alive here in his hometown.

Back in Anaheim, my job is to keep Walt's dream alive by finding the right people to do just that.

Before I know it, an hour has passed by.

I need to get back to Sikeston. Back to my Mom and Jack.

We exchange business cards and Kaye gives me some other collateral material.

Dorothy has returned and she offers me a homemade oatmeal cookie for the road.

Kaye asks if I've been to the Disney family house and barn. I haven't yet.

"Well you need to go on your way out and sign the barn!"

I ask if there is a place I can by a pen so I can sign the barn and before I can get the question out, Dorothy is handing me a sharpie.

"Just leave it in the barn for the next person," Dorothy says with a smile.

The kindness that these two ladies have shown me is unreal. I'm on the verge of tears as she gives me the pen to use.

I get up to leave and Kaye stops me.

"Before you go, let's have a Marceline HUG!"

I give both Kaye and Dorothy huge hugs and take pictures with them both.

I can't believe that all of this really just happened!