If Gabriel had the Lion King, then Connor had Toy Story, it came out a few short months after he was born. From the very beginning he was obsessed. His very first Christmas he was only a few months old but by Christmas of 1996 he was ready and so were we. I believe he got almost every Toy Story toy we could afford that year. The two most loved were the Buzz Lightyear spaceship and this adorable plush Alien light up toy. Both of them used phrases from the movie and he loved to make them “talk”.
Then when he got a little older the second movie came out in 1999 the obsession started all over again. This time we painted his room Buzz Lightyear blue with glow in the dark stars and a glow in the dark Buzz Lightyear and his catch phrase “to Infinity and Beyond". He had Buzz sheets and night light and a personalized Buzz wall hanging.
By the time the third movie came out in summer of 2010 the character Andy was heading off to college and I was sitting in the theater next to Connor who was getting ready to start High School having a complete breakdown. All the memories came flooding back just like in the beginning of the movie and I was not at all prepared for it. So here I am sitting next to my beautiful baby boy who is not a baby anymore and realizing how little time there is left before he goes off into the world on his own. I am not exaggerating when I say internally, I was praying this part of the movie would be over soon or I was not going to be able to hold it together any longer.
My recent trip back to Ohio to see Connor and his wife Kristen just reminded me how quickly life moves forward and how important it is for them to know how much we love them and that we are here for them.
LB Notes:
I have to believe we all sometimes think about what other period in time we would like to live in and experience. But anytime I think about these movies, it feels like we were living exactly when we were supposed to.
Gabriel grew up loving PIXAR LITERALLY as PIXAR was growing up as a company, and it's what set him on his art / animation path.
For Connor and as a family, our family story LITERALLY followed the Toy Story movies - so he grew up the same as Andy was growing up.
Sure the song is written from the perspective as a boy and his toys - but the lyrics take on a whole new meaning as a parent. You want your kids to know you've got a friend in me...
P.S. Another sign (pun intended) we were living in the right timeline was the fact we took the kids to Disney World and ate at PIZZA PLANET!
You've got a friend in me You've got a friend in me When the road looks rough ahead And you're miles and miles From your nice warm bed You just remember what your old pal said Boy, you've got a friend in me Yeah, you've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me You've got a friend in me If you've got troubles, I've got 'em too There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you We stick together and can see it through Cause you've got a friend in me You've got a friend in me
Some other folks might be A little bit smarter than I am Bigger and stronger too Maybe But none of them will ever love you The way I do, it's me and you
Boy, and as the years go by Our friendship will never die You're gonna see it's our destiny You've got a friend in me You've got a friend in me You've got a friend in me
Ghost of a Chance 