"It's a Small World" ~ Thank You, Gather

Friday was the last day of school before the winter recess. It was a very busy day with gift-opening, a party, and then to finish off the day the children performed a Concert singing holiday songs to parents and friends. Among the songs the children sang was "It's a Small World", written by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman for a ride at Disneyland. That ride is my all time favorite and I can remember so clearly my first time on it. Papa, Will, and Christopher, an Aleut ten year old boy from Bethel, Alaska, had driven down from Alaska in the summer of '74 in our trusty Volkswagon bus. The night before we headed off to Disneyland, we camped behind a Safeway Grocery store in Anaheim. Before leaving for the Park, we bought all the makings for a picnic lunch and stuffed it all in our backpacks. We had heard food prices were "out of this world" at Disney and we were always thrifty with our money. Both Will and Chris had never lived outside a small village in bush Alaska and so you can imagine their delight not only with Disneyland but the whole trip itself.

As my kindergarten children started singing "It's a Small World" the other day, tears just started flowing down my cheeks, as I remembered other times, other places. Through the lense of my camera, I saw new children, earnest in their hearts, sing loud and clear and all of a sudden tears turned to a smile as I watched my wee ones perform.

                        It's a world of laughter, A world of tears

                        It's a world of hopes, And a world of fears

                          There's so much that we share

                          That it's time we're aware

                          It's a small world after all

There is just one moon

And one golden sun

And a smile means

Friendship to ev'ryone

Though the mountains divide

And the oceans are wide

It's a small world after all

It's a small world after all

It's a small world after all

It's a small world after all

It's a small, small world

Wishing all my Gather friends, whether you live near or far, a joyful holiday season this year. I wish to thank also Tom and all the Staff as well as the Guides a hearty thanks for making this "A Small World After All".