Visiting Toronto with Jill and the Boys

Adobe Acrobat Format

Last week was spring vacation for our three youngest grandsons so Ruth and I decided we would take them to the Lion King, which is appearing in Toronto, Canada. Jill, who is attending EMT school, was off for the week too, and so all six of us headed to Toronto on Wednesday morning.

In preparation for the trip, I purchased the Lion King CD to listen to on the trip. Ruth and I have found that we enjoy musicals more if we are familiar with all of the songs…and at $78 per seat, we didn’t want the kids to miss a word! I put the CD in the CD player, and to my surprise…Andrew, Connor, Austin and Jill sang along with every song! They knew all of the music…and I must admit…so did Ruth. I should have got the CD earlier for me! I followed the words in the CD booklet and got to understand the music very well.

In route to Toronto, we stopped at Niagara Falls and grandpa told his grandsons about the crazy people who use to go over the Falls in a barrel. The boys acted like I was making up this story, but believed me when Ruth said it was true. I notice that happens a lot when I tell stories…I finish, and then the boys look at Ruth and she says, "That’s really true," and then they believe me. It makes me wonder if I tease too much!

We arrived in Toronto, checked into the Delta Chelsea, and the boys and Jill went for a swim. Ruth and I said we would find a place for dinner, and did, after we had a glass of wine! After a great dinner, we headed for the show in two taxis. I was shocked to hear Ruth say we should get there early…and more shocked when we actually got there one hour early! Ruth really wanted to see this show!

The Lion King was worth the wait. What a wonderful show! The costumes were terrific, the plot believable, and the music superb. Before we left for Toronto, a friend asked me about the Lion King plot…and I had to admit that I really didn’t know what it was about (remember, I bought the CD). The plot was wonderful and brought a few tears to the eyes of this aging, emotional grandpa. The basic idea of the story was about The Circle of Life, one of the featured songs. That is why grandpas and grandmas take children to shows and trips…because the have started to understand this "circle of life" thing. We get older and start to value the next generations more than our own…and want to do everything to make sure that they have all of the opportunities to live the good life that we have lived…or even improve upon it. And the Can You Feel the Love Tonight? song had special meaning for Ruth and I as we sat there with some of the most important people in our lives. They started to sing that song and Ruth and I looked at each other, and gave each other that silly little shrug we give one another when we are getting a little teary…and aren’t embarrassed about it. The kids loved the show and clapped and clapped.

We jumped into our two taxis and headed "home." We had our midnight ice cream snack, and, after telling Connor and Austin that it was too late to swim, went to bed.

The next morning, we visited the CN Tower (where we all walked on the glass floor at 1500 feet), and then had lunch at the Hard Rock Café in right field at the Sky Dome. And then it was time to head back home, so Ruth could pack for her trip to South Carolina with the bridge group (with Glenn staying at home doing yard work and cleaning Ruth’s car). I asked the boys the question I always ask after a trip, "What was your favorite part of the trip?" Jill, Andrew and Connor said "The Lion King." Jill loved the whole package… and seeing her boys love this experience so much. Andrew was impressed about the production, since he had been in several musical productions at Firestone High School. Connor loved the music and costumes, and said the show was phenomenal. Austin said that he couldn’t decide between The Lion King and swimming! You can’t win ’em all!

We had a wonderful trip…Ruth and I could feel the love. We wish all of you, "Hakuna Matata.

The End

March, 2001