STRICTLY OBSERVING: Go Mickey

As officially noted by the Walt Disney Company, November 18th of this year marks the 80th birthday of the animated cartoon character whom, since his conception, has not only become the company’s official mascot, but has turned into one of the most recognizable symbols in the world.  What was originally created by Walt Disney his animation partner, Ub Iwerks, to serve as a replacement for the character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, has spawned a phenomenon that thrives to this day.  Mickey Mouse is now known to generation after generation as the best known cartoon character in America and, most likely, the world.
Ever since I can remember, Mickey Mouse has always been my favorite cartoon character.  To say that, as a child, I was a Mickey Mouse fanatic would be a gross understatement.  Until I was at least nine years old, my bedroom was filled almost beyond capacity with Mickey Mouse related items.  Stuffed animals, figurines, kites, tents, clothes, videos, books and any other type of accessory known to man could all be found within the confines of my room.  My collection was so overwhelming that, at one point when I was around six years old, I was photographed in its midst for The Enterprise. 
I had way too many special items to pick a favorite now, but probably most noteworthy, was the Talking Mickey Mouse.  Created in 1986 by Worlds of Wonder, the makers of the then-popular Teddy Ruxpin, this depiction of Mickey Mouse would come to life via the cassette deck in his back.  He moved his eyes, nose and jaw to the prerecorded tape that was specifically coded with animation signals to tell the story on the cassette.  Accompanied by a book to follow along with each tape, Mickey told me stories of his journeys to foreign countries with his pal, Goofy.  Oftentimes, the pair would begin the stories as normal tourists, but would become detectives midway.  Their insight into a realistic, but cartoon-like setting made their impossible adventures believable, especially with the inspirational thought at the end of each story.  To me, this version of Mickey seemed larger than life and I suppose that, when my parents bought it for me, it was.  They still have a photograph of me looking up at this Talking Mickey Mouse that is bigger than I am, as I listened to yet another fascinating tale.  For many of my early years, I can remember being entertained for hours by this toy.  While I’m sure I had several of the accompanying story tapes, the only one I can clearly recall today is “A Moose on the Loose,” in which Mickey and Goofy help a stressed lodge owner in Canada solve the mystery of why a moose is hanging around his lodge.
I think I enjoyed the Talking Mickey Mouse most of all because I felt like I was interacting with the real Mickey Mouse.  However, even at four years old, I knew that wasn’t the real deal.  Everybody had always told me what a wonderful place Walt Disney World in Orlando was and although it was a dream of mine to go there, I decided that the fourteen-hour car ride and my fear of flying would prohibit me from ever visiting there, where I was convinced the “real” Mickey Mouse resided.
It wasn’t until I was fourteen years old that I was able to go to Walt Disney World with my parents and sister.  The journey there consisted of a series of most unfortunate event, including a fall that resulted in my having a broken nose accompanied by an excruciating pain I can still feel when recall hitting the pavement of the Florida Welcome Center in 103-degree heat.  This came after three hours of traffic delay and spending the previous night in a third-floor hotel room (which is not the best accommodations when you’re in a wheelchair and the hotel has no elevator) that reeked with cigarette smoke.  By the point of my injury, we had nearly reached the point of turning around and heading home.  It would take magic to salvage this vacation, which hadn’t even begun.  Little did we know that we were about to enter a place that was truly magical.  Not only was our vacation salvaged but, despite everything, it became the best we ever had.  Walt Disney World was just as unbelievably fantastic as everyone had said and then some.  There was something there for everyone, regardless of your age, interests or personality.  While the advertisement for this theme park sounds trite with its guarantee that “you’ll become a kid again,” I can assure you with the utmost affirmation that this is true.
Nothing better illustrates my point than the instance where I finally met the “real” Mickey Mouse.  Traveling through the Magic Kingdom, we visited Mickey’s Toontown Fair, an area themed as a small cartoon town hosting a country fair.  It was here that we were able to do a walk-through tour of Mickey’s country home.  As I made my way through his bedroom, living room, kitchen, game room, garden, and garage, I felt as though I were in an actual Disney cartoon.  We exited the house to the garden where Mickey Mouse shaped pumpkins were growing.  From the garden, we headed to the judge’s tent where we passed through Mickey’s office and finally to the room where the mouse himself was standing.  A whirlwind journey and 80-minute wait had all come down to this.  With all my scars and, thankfully, all of my teeth, I smiled proudly as I posed with my favorite childhood character.  Just before the picture was snapped, I said to him, “I’ve waited fourteen years to meet you” and it had been worth it all.  He raised his arms cheerfully and hugged me.  After we all had our pictures made, we thanked him and as we turned to leave, my dad said to me, “Nice mouse.”  So, on his 80th birthday, I salute this legendary cartoon rodent who is indeed a very nice mouse.
A graduate of Wytheville Community College, Zach Cooley lives in Wytheville. Contact him at .