Blog #624: Three Tickets Short

“Do I quit…or do I keep going?”

I’m not through with the question yet.
Because how we answer is TOO important.

Our answer…

Could impact the next 20 years of our lives.
Or it could redirect a day gone wrong at Disneyland.

Huh?

______

Let’s start at the beginning.

It was over thirty years ago.

I was at a small car lot looking to buy a quality used car.

I was leery the first moment the car salesman approached me.

I had read about “those guys.”

I bought a car that day.

From THAT guy.

______

Fast forward to 2024.

THAT guy is now one of my greatest friends. The honor and integrity he showed thirty years ago was extraordinary…and it has only grown since.

So…

When Mohsen told me that his wife Arasoo was touring the west coast with her sister Farrah (who was visiting the U.S. for the first time), I jumped forward and asked:

“Do they want to go to Disneyland? I’ll take them!”

A very exciting plan was set.

______

Three days later…

I drove 1:45 to meet them at 8:00 a.m. when Disneyland opened. They’d left San Diego that morning at 5:00 a.m. Our plan together was to stay until the park closed at 10:00 p.m.

It would be a long, great day.

Before meeting them at the entrance, I went to the ticket booth.

Me: “Three day tickets…please.”

Booth guy: “We don’t have tickets for today.”

(Did I hear that right?)

Me: “You have no tickets?”

Booth guy: “I have a Park Hopper Pass for tomorrow…but nothing today.”

Me: “How can that be?”

(I pleaded my case on how important today was.)

Booth guy: “You should have bought them online. Since Covid, we limit park tickets…and we’re sold out today.”

(My brain was not quitting. I looked for other ways in.)

Me: “Do people cancel online? Do people sell tickets outside the park?”

Booth guy: “You can keep your eye on the app and see if anything opens up, but there’s nothing I can do for you.”

I ran to Disney’s front gate and explained the situation to the gatekeeper. I was told the same thing…except with one ray of hope: “Go to Guest Services.”

I sprinted there.

BUT…

Guest Services succeeded perfectly in drowning every ounce of hope I carried.

“You can’t get in today.”

I was officially out of options.

Have you ever felt absolutely shocked by the turn of events?

That was me.

______

And then…

There they were.

Arasoo and her sister were smiling huge when they saw me.

They were absolutely excited to be going to DISNEYLAND!

And then…

My moment of “I can’t believe this is happening!” arrived.

In total humiliation, I had to tell them.

“I’m so sorry. But there are no tickets today.”

I explained the situation to Aresoo.

She translated the situation for her sister.

Both smiles stopped.

It was a downer.

I was feeling rock-bottom-defeated for failing my friends.

______

BUT…

It’s wise to hang out with WISER friends.

Within thirty seconds…

Aresoo’s gracious and kind words picked me up from the ground.

And…

She offered a new plan.

“Let’s go to Universal Studios!”

And we did.

And the day turned out amazing.

______

“Do I quit…or do I keep going?”

Sometimes…

We really have no choice but to quit.

I had to at Disneyland.

Or did I?

______

Three lessons stick with me about that day:

#1: Don’t go to Disneyland expecting to buy same-day tickets.

#2: Surround yourself with people who see victory past defeat.

#3: Closed doors often point to amazing openings.

Lessons #2 and #3?

They’re the ones I hope stick with you MOST this week.

Unless, of course…

You’re going to Disneyland.

S.