5. patti
A few months ago I got transfixed with Walt Disney. It all started when I saw a job posting on LinkedIn at Disney. I reached out to my friend Jesus, who works at the Florida offices and whom I know from Chicago. When I first arrived at Energy BBDO I got sat next to his friend Ramiro and on my first day, when I wasn’t around they took my phone off my desk and took a series of photos on it.
(2016)
He put me in touch with the recruiter who put me through to the next rounds of interviews. In an effort to understand the company values and sieze my excitement, I went to the local book store and bought Walt Disney: An American Original.
It’s a lengthy book and not at all whimsical. It’s serious. Walt’s life was serious. He took creative work very seriously and oftentimes he failed at first. But he kept going. He kept striving for more. Bigger dreams. And once he mastered what was infront of him, he aimed for something higher. Something more inspired. The next bubble of imagination floating in the white space of possibilities. He loathed sequels, he did not see the point in doing something again. I think about what he would say about the current state of entertainment. People around him compared him to a god. Disney World was his greatest imagination and he didn’t live long enough to see it. His brother, Roy, finished the park upon his death and named it Walt Disney World so that the world would always know who’s grand idea it was and not just the brand.
What I personally found most interesting in the book is that the only time Walt Disney, the man who started his career with laugh-o-grams six scond gags, only laughs once. When his brother, Roy tells him they’re 4.5 million in debt.
The two of them were living the entrepreneurial rat race for years. Earning just enough to make Walt’s next bigger and better business idea. They went from laugh o grams to an international brand of entertainment. Walt didn’t just make stuff, he created a “type” of entertainment. You know what I mean when I say something’s a “Disney” movie. But when I say... an MGM movie - it could be anything, all sorts.
I have been finding sprinklings of Walt all throughout my life ever since. It should be known my first trip ever was to Walt Disney World when I was only 1 years old. My family had airline points that were about to expire so they packed up their three kids and our grandmother, Rose and headed to Florida. This was my grandmothers first and only flight. She very rarely left her townhouse in The Bronx and always preferred to travel by train, bus or car.
^the pool at my parents 55+ community. patti is president of the pool committee and the only other person who rivaled my pool attendance this summer. i started swimming laps every day and tanning on the weekends.
This isn’t about Disney but while you’re here. This photo of mushrooms is from the night my parents and I ate dinner at the Royal Taj. Which is an amazing Indian restaurant in Columbia, Maryland - they do really well for themselves.
The people who own the restaurant bought our old house. And apparently, at settlement, after signing the papers - Binda, the owner of the Royal Taj, shook his fathers hand and said “congrats dad, you just got the taj mahal.” Our old house is one of the most gorgeous houses in the ellicott city area. In my opinion! And I’m biased!
What makes it lovely is that it’s not tucked away in a neighborhood. It sits centered on three acres, on a road off a main street no one really remembers going down - but every one knows where it is. It’s down the road from the snowball stand. one of the most iconic small businesses in ellicott city, maryland. if you ever come to town you must get a pic there.
It’s on one of those roads you frequent if you’re local but rarely see if you’re coming into town.
anyway, binda kept giving us free drinks at the royal taj since he lives in our old house and really loves the place and subsequently, loves us. that last time we saw him, the second time we’d been to the royal taj... he told us “love you” as he hugged us goodbye and sent us home with a bottle of wine. i love him so much. i told my parents i wanna be as prosperous and fulfilled as he is one day.
it’s three generations living in the house. his parents, him + wife, brother + wife, + children of both familys.
he said his parents sleep in the master bedroom and when they die they’ll close the doors and they’ll be the only ones who ever sleep in that room. indian tradition.
i’m kind of getting goose bumps as i type this and i’m definitely holding back tears because it’s just so special passing something on to someone who finds it as special as you did. because the house was so special to my family and then you have to let it go. and it’s just so nice the people who recieved it, love it as much as i did.
if you’re ever in the baltimore area, you should go to the royal taj. it’s fucking amazing. the best service out of any restaurant i’ve ever been to in maryland - honest to god. everyone who works there is indian and they love their job, they’re appreciative for their job and they treat you like british royalty.
the entire atmosphere is so beautiful - the lighting, the decor, the chairs, the tables, the service, the people. we went there for my last dinner in maryland and binda gave us a shot and champagne.
💗
apparently, the people who built the house won the lottery and did so with the winnings.
binda got so excited when we told him that.
then my mom told him that the last two times it sold was because of divorces.
binda got anxious about that.
my dad said but don’t worry, we’ve been together 42 years. we broke that curse.
binda put his hand to his chest and felt grateful.
he said i’m so glad to hear that.