Daniel Paul Alley

Danny, I want to tell about your visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure in Orlando in Sep 2010. Ollivander's Wand Shop in the village has about 20 people enter at a time. Then the shop keeper picks a special person for whom a wand will be chosen. On our visit, you and I were the last ones to enter the shop. The shop keeper immediately focused on you—so tall and handsome in your aviator sunglasses, military pilot style hair cut, and F35 T-shirt. You looked so cool that he had to choose you. It was an awesome experience watching you interact with the store as books and drawers flew about in the wand choosing process. Needless to say, we purchased the wand that chose you. I wish I could wave a magic wand now and bring you back to life, or at least go back and have stayed at home that weekend. Maybe you would still be with us. I will love you always and forever. Please forgive me for not staying here that weekend and putting a trip to WDW before you.

Danny, I want to tell about your visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure in Orlando in Sep 2010. Ollivander's Wand Shop in the village has about 20 people enter at a time. Then the shop keeper picks a special person for whom a wand will be chosen. On our visit, you and I were the last ones to enter the shop. The shop keeper immediately focused on you—so tall and handsome in your aviator sunglasses, military pilot style hair cut, and F35 T-shirt. You looked so cool that he had to choose you. It was an awesome experience watching you interact with the store as books and drawers flew about in the wand choosing process. Needless to say, we purchased the wand that chose you. I wish I could wave a magic wand now and... READ MORE →

Danny, I want to tell of your love for animals, especially the love and care you showed your blessed German Sheppard, Ben. In Aug 09, Ben was about 12 yrs old, and had lost complete use of his back legs due to degenerative myelopathy. We ordered Ben a "wheel chair" (doggie cart for his rear legs) on-line, and you made him stirrups for it. Ben was able to get around quite well outside. The cart was too large for inside the house, so you served as his wheel chair. You were only 15 years old, but you showed more love and devotion to your dog Ben, than any adult father could have ever shown his son. Several times a day (from early morning to late at night), you painstakingly put him in the cart and took him outside. This was a difficult feat because of his size and weight. When he had "accidents" on the floor, you quickly and without complaint, cleaned them off the floor. Ben made it through the holidays. On Jan 13, 2010 you knew it was time to let him go. You and I stayed with Ben in the vet's office, loving him, until we thought he was gone. You put his cremated ashes, along with Sunka's and Checkers' (our kitty who followed you "home" at the campground) ashes on a special shelf in your room. On Sep 15, 2011, while Robbie and I were at WDW enjoying ourselves, you made a slide show tribute with music to your dogs Ben and Sunka. Sunka, your 6 yr old hound dog passed away Sep 15, 2010 while we were all at WDW. I don't think you ever forgave yourself for not being there with him. I feel the same for not being with you when you passed—again we were at WDW instead of being with you when you needed me most. Robbie and I did not know of your beautiful tribute to Ben and Sunka until we saw it on your computer after you were gone. What a warm and loving person you are to have made such a beautiful tribute to your two best and loyal friends and to have taken such wonderful care of Ben. I hope you are all together now, along with Marley, Jack, Otis, Checkers, Sandy, and all of the other loving pets we have lost through the years. I will love you always and forever. Please forgive me for not seeing your needs and pain and being there when you needed me most.

Danny, I want to tell of your love for animals, especially the love and care you showed your blessed German Sheppard, Ben. In Aug 09, Ben was about 12 yrs old, and had lost complete use of his back legs due to degenerative myelopathy. We ordered Ben a "wheel chair" (doggie cart for his rear legs) on-line, and you made him stirrups for it. Ben was able to get around quite well outside. The cart was too large for inside the house, so you served as his wheel chair. You were only 15 years old, but you showed more love and devotion to your dog Ben, than any adult father could have ever shown his son. Several times a day (from early morning to late at night), you painstakingly put him in the cart and took him outside. This was a difficult feat... READ MORE →

Danny, I want to share another Sea World Orlando adventure story. It is really 2 stories in 1. You were only 3 years old, but you were very mature and tall for your age. We arrived early for the Whale & Dolphin show and sat down in the front of the stadium. For this show, a SW staff member would choose a special child from the audience to participate in the show. Since you were so cute and handsome in your blue shorts with red watermelons on them and white matching T-shirt, the staff member naturally chose you to interact with the trainer and dolphin. They put big rubber boots on you and at the appropriate time took you to the edge of the very deep and cold pool next to one of the dolphins. Thanks to your direction, the dolphin did some behaviors, such as splashing you and twirling around in place in the water. You then tossed some fish into the dolphin’s mouth. The trainer jokingly told you to jump into the pool, and had she not stopped, you would have joined the dolphin in the water! The SW staff member took pictures of your interaction with a disposable underwater camera and then gave us the camera to develop the pictures. Robbie and I were so thrilled and proud of you for being able to “play” with the dolphin and be part of the show.
After the show, we visited the Manatee Exhibit, where we separated. I was totally captivated by the manatees and thought you had gone with Robbie. Robbie was intent on looking at the alligators and the manatee shop, and thought you went with me. About 30 minutes later, he and I met up, but you were nowhere in sight. I tried to remain calm. We immediately contacted SW security and they sent out a call that there was a lost 3 year old boy wandering the park and started a park-wide search. After at least 45 minutes had passed, security still had not found you. I was frantic, but not crying—I broke down when they brought you to us. I described you and your blue shorts with the watermelons and white T-shirt again to security. One security guard on a bicycle spotted a young boy sitting on a bench at the park exit who matched your description. However, he said the boy did not appear to be lost. He was calmly sitting on the bench. When he asked you what you were doing, you told him you were waiting for your mom and brother. Security could not find you because they were all looking for a “lost” 3 year old. They said kids who are “lost” are normally wandering around crying for their parents. However, you knew what you were doing and you were not “lost.” You told us that you knew Robbie and I had to leave the park sometime, so you would just sit at the exit and wait for us. You were not lost—we were! God Bless You Danny. I will love you always and forever. Please forgive me for not seeing your pain and helping you or being there for you when you needed me most.

Danny, I want to share another Sea World Orlando adventure story. It is really 2 stories in 1. You were only 3 years old, but you were very mature and tall for your age. We arrived early for the Whale & Dolphin show and sat down in the front of the stadium. For this show, a SW staff member would choose a special child from the audience to participate in the show. Since you were so cute and handsome in your blue shorts with red watermelons on them and white matching T-shirt, the staff member naturally chose you to interact with the trainer and dolphin. They put big rubber boots on you and at the appropriate time took you to the edge of the very deep and cold pool next to one of the dolphins. Thanks to your direction, the dolphin did some... READ MORE →

Danny, I want to share your deep dive shark adventure from Sea World. Sea World Orlando has a shark interaction program where a person goes down in a shark cage with a special dive helmet in SW's shark tank. You were only 12, but you have always been very tall and mature for your age. SW's rule was for you to be 13, but they made an exception for you. You had such a blast with all of these huge, potentially dangerous (well-fed, of course) sharks--sand-tiger, bamboo, nurse (not dangerous), black-tip, white-tip, zebra, and guitar sharks swimming within touching distance. You walked the entire length of the tank, and spent at least 20 minutes with the sharks, reaching out to the sharks and taking pictures of them. One lady saw you in the tank, and exclaimed, "Look at the man in there with the sharks!" I wanted to burst out with pride that "that man" is my 12 yr old son. I am so sorry I was not there for you in your greatest time of need, but I will always love you, and keep your respect and love for all living creatures. Please forgive me for not being there.

Danny, I want to share your deep dive shark adventure from Sea World. Sea World Orlando has a shark interaction program where a person goes down in a shark cage with a special dive helmet in SW's shark tank. You were only 12, but you have always been very tall and mature for your age. SW's rule was for you to be 13, but they made an exception for you. You had such a blast with all of these huge, potentially dangerous (well-fed, of course) sharks--sand-tiger, bamboo, nurse (not dangerous), black-tip, white-tip, zebra, and guitar sharks swimming within touching distance. You walked the entire length of the tank, and spent at least 20 minutes with the sharks, reaching out to the sharks and taking pictures of them. One lady saw you in the tank, and exclaimed, "Look at the man in there with the sharks!" I wanted to burst... READ MORE →