 Where I Really Learned to Drive Some kids learned how to ride a bike. I learned how to drive… at Disneyland. Autopia was my first taste of freedom. Every visit to Tomorrowland meant another chance to take the wheel, zigzag down the track, and pretend I was really in control. My parents always let me drive, even when it was bumpy at first. And as I got older, I got better. But the part that made it truly personal? Our family drove a blue Datsun 510, a humble car with a lot of heart. I loved it so much, I gave it a name: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. And just like that, every visit to Disneyland turned into a scavenger hunt—for the blue Autopia car. If I could get behind the wheel of a car that looked just like our real one? Magic.  Childhood Magic Meets Real Life In one of my favorite 1978 photos, I’m sitting in a blue Autopia car with my mom, and in another, I’m driving the green one with my dad waving beside me. Those photos represent more than just a fun ride—they captured practice, bonding, and belonging. My First Licensed Drive – Destination: Disneyland Years later, when I officially got my driver's license, the first place I went wasn’t the mall or a friend's house. It was Disneyland. I climbed into Chitty —now mine as a hand-me-down—and headed down the 5 freeway. My maiden voyage as a licensed driver led straight to the Happiest Place on Earth. I remember every minute of that drive: the sunlight, the freedom, the nervous excitement… and the comfort of being in a car that had carried so many of our memories.  A Bittersweet Goodbye That blue Datsun stayed in our family until 1986. We had fallen on hard times, and my dad—who had remarried and was trying to start over—was financially stretched. One day, he pulled me aside. “I might have to sell the car,” he said, “but I want your permission first. If you say no, I’ll find another way.” I’ll never forget that moment. His voice cracked. The car had become a symbol of our old life—and neither of us wanted to let it go. But I knew the money was needed. I said yes. Later, he sold it to two teenage boys. And I watched them drive away in my childhood car.  A Keepsake Sticker for the Vault To honor this story, I created a special sticker for my collection: “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – 506 AZY” It’s a visual hug from the past. A tribute to a car that carried me through childhood and into the world. Support My Memory Projects on Patreon If stories like this bring back your memories of growing up in Southern California or visiting Disneyland with your family, I’d love to have you join my Technicolor Memories Patreon. Supporters get early access to stories, printables, vintage sticker art like the one above, and behind-the-scenes peeks at how I preserve my family’s legacy. 👉 Join the Memory Keeper Tier here  Today is Captain America - Steve Rogers birthday!  Thank you Omar (Captain America) for collaborating on this awesome tribute and to Stefan for the edit.
   End of Season 2, Peggy leaves New York for Los Angeles.  Season two is set in 1947, approximately six months to a year following the events of the first, with the time jump made to show "people are in a little bit different positions, and things have happened between these seasons that we maybe don't know about." Fazekas noted that "the challenge" for the season was to find a way to reunite Carter with Edwin Jarvis since he is "not an agent....that's a really important relationship, how do we keep them together?...The nice thing about Peggy this season is she's not having to hide her agenda from the SSR. Jarvis is helping her out, just in a different way." Elaborating on the SSR's role in the season, Fazekas explained that when Markus and McFeely created the organisation for Captain America: The First Avenger it was inspired by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which was "somewhat disbanded after the war, because it was created because of World War II. So now that the war is over, things are changing. And in real history, the OSS sort of became the CIA and some of its other functions went under other departments. There's a little bit of change going on within SSR and so Thompson [is now the New York SSR chief, but he] has a boss [in Vernon Masters] that's going to be saying, "Look, things are changing, and you need to look out for yourself."" The season also sees Daniel Sousa promoted to the chief of the Los Angeles SSR office.   Investigation in Los Angeles Carter is met by Edwin Jarvis in Los Angeles Landing in Los Angeles she met Edwin Jarvis again. Carter learned that Howard Stark had a defense contract meeting here and, since he liked the scene, had decided that he wanted to create his own movie studio. Jarvis invited Carter to stay with him and his wife on Stark's estate. While driving Carter through Los Angeles, Jarvis also had to transport Stark's newest addition to his menagerie, a flamingo called Bernard Stark. Jarvis told Carter his life was quite boring right now and he would be pleased to drive her around.   Jarvis dropped her off at the Auerbach Theatrical Agency, the cover of the local Strategic Scientific Reserve office, where she was greeted by Rose Roberts. Roberts and Carter discussed Roberts' life in Los Angeles, that Roberts had picked up surfing, and that somehow artists kept showing up for the office, despite their attempts to keep it hidden. Chief Daniel Sousa seemed surprised by her presence but told Carter she was welcome to his team. He introduced her to the police liaison who was skeptical about their odds of capturing the Lady of the Lake Killer.    By 1947, the SSR branched out, opening a facility in Los Angeles, California under the leadership of Daniel Sousa. Using the front of Auerbach Theatrical Agency, Sousa used the alias of "Mr. Auerbach" to cover the reality of the organization. One of the first transfers from the New York Bell Company Office branch was Rose Roberts, who continued her duties as the first line of defense by acting as a secretary. One of the first cases that the new branch received was the murder of Jane Scott, found frozen in a lake in Echo Park on one of the hottest days of the year. Peggy Carter was sent to assist in the matter.   Peggy Carter was sent to assist in the matter, much to her displeasure. When she arrived at the building, two Lookie Loos were attempting to audition. They had managed to find the theatrical agency despite the facts that the agency has no advertising, the sign is barely legible and the address is spelled wrong in the city directory. Peggy Carter is then shown to the secret entrance of the SSR.     |
Welcome to a place where Disney nostalgia meets storytelling magic. I create uplifting, history-rich content celebrating Walt Disney’s original vision and the golden age of Disneyland. From forgotten dining spots to untold stories of Walt’s creative team, this blog is a tribute to imagination, innocence, and timeless joy.
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