At Honda, we've never looked to other car companies for inspiration.

No, it's not a matter of an inflated ego. We just prefer listening to what people really need.

For example, the Honda Jazz Hybrid doesn't have the expected six airbags.

It has ten, including one that prevents the drive and passenger from colliding with each other.

And because we also listen to our conscience, all our safety features come a standard. No charge.

Honda, the power of dreams.

So a few summers ago, the old ball and chain and I took the kids down to Florida for a week so they could visit Disney World.

It was a win-win situation. They would actually stop hounding us to take them there while us grown-ups could soak up the tropics for a whole seven days to experience what an actual summer feels like.

No, get me wrong. I love my native state of Maine, but the only thing scarier than Stephen King's books is the weather here.

As the saying goes, don't like the weather in New England. All you gotta do is wait a minute.

So we're down in Orlando for the weekend. The arrangement is, we'll spend three days at Disney World with a day on either side where the grown-ups can do fairly grown-up things.

So we're walking around the city, seeing some sights and baking in the Florida sunshine.

I get the one thing I'd really been after, which was a huge Cuban sandwich.

So the kids are being caroued by their mom while I'm trailing behind, trying not to pass out from ingesting my body weight in pork, bread and cheese.

So at one point, my wife needs to use the bathroom, so I'm in charge of keeping an eye on the kids while she runs off to find somewhere that'll let her use the bathroom without making her open her purse.

Now admittedly, this is where I feel short of being my best as a father.

I find a bench nearby, plant my bottom down on it and tell the kids to stay where I can see them, which, since I shut my eyes and start sunbathing like the disgusting greasy lizard person I was, was a little redundant.

Next thing I know, I'm about to doze off when I kind of jerk out of my haze thinking, oh, the kid.

I get up, look around and see my son, like halfway down the street, talking to some guy dressed as Mickey Mouse.

I knew that the Disney characters appeared outside of the parks on occasion, but all the way in downtown Orlando.

I was a little confused, but more relieved than anything since they hadn't disappeared in a thin air, which would have ruined more than just our vacation.

I can tell you that much.

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