In 1967, I was a young soldier (22) who had just graduated from the Defense Language Institute, West Coast, in Monterey, California. I had successfully completed a 24-week course in German.
Two friends and I, hopped in my 1955 Buick, The Silver Slab, and headed for Goodfellow Air Force Base, in San Angelo, Texas, where we were going to receive further training.
On the way, we stopped at Disneyland, in Anaheim, California.
I had a small camera, and, agog with actually being at a place I had only seen on television, I snapped several pictures.
As we passed one of the businesses, I saw a girl standing in the doorway, dressed in costume. Apparently a peasant lass, she was tending a business near the Tiki Room.
I thought she was lovely. Not just that she was pretty, but, the faraway look and half smile on her face seemed to fit in with the Fantasyland motif. On impulse, I snapped her picture.
That's her to the left.
It was quite some time before I got the film developed,
and, when I finally did, I was actually a bit surprised at
the pictures I had taken.
I was especially glad to see the picture of the young
lady, whoever she was. She was my fairytale princess
and proof of my adventure.
I have had this picture for 50 years now, and she, if alive
must be about my age. I've not obsessed about her, but,
over the years, whenever I came across her picture, I've
wondered who she was, and what ever happened to her.
I've also wondered what she would think of someone being smitten with her half a century ago, and taking her picture.
Maybe someday, I'll find out who she is, or was.