The picture of my waving, smiling Luke in his band
uniform at the 2014 Capital One Bowl is my relief picture. The day before at the pep rally, we heard
the Mighty Sound of the Southeast play and raced to the buses to say "hello,"
except he wasn't at the buses. He's 21, but before I knew he was with Concocktion pep band headed to play for
another group, I panicked, It brought back a
memory. |
| David, James and Grandma |
As a high school freshman, Luke traveled with the
Westside Ram Band to march before Disney's Spectro Magic parade. This was a BIG deal for the entire family:
our son, grandson, nephew, brother marching down Main Street U.S.A., the place
we enjoyed as a family for many years.
We sold, bought and ate Band Fruit.
Seven excited, loyal fans flew, rented a car, stayed at a Disney resort, bought
park passes, overpriced food and frivolous souvenirs at Walt Disney World in not
so sunny Florida to see Luke march past Cinderella's castle.
It rained all day on Friday and again on Saturday
while Luke, wearing soaked shoes, led his friends around Disney World stopping long enough for a coke and fries, so
when they arrived at Magic Kingdom four hours prior to the parade, we received
a "your son isn't feeling well" call from a chaperone. Thirty minutes later, we received another
call, "we're taking him to first aid." 
We arrived at first aid to find him gray, clammy, shivering, and
miserable. Gatorade and crackers didn't help, but when we took his shoes and
socks off, we saw why. I assumed they
were feet because swollen white prunes usually aren't attached to ankles. But, I had a GRAND idea. First aid's back door opened to the parade
"step off" spot. Luke could
rest under a blanket, eat more crackers, drink more Gatorade, and dress in his
band uniform. Brilliant. I called
chaperones who were with the band in another section of the park. Sorry, he
can't dress in first aid. According to
Disney, it will RUIN the atmosphere. As
a band member, he's part of the MAGIC.
WHAT? Sitting with my kids in the
waiting room, my sister, a former Disney cast member, informed me that Disney
doesn't bend the rules EVER. "We'll
see about that." I ran through Adventure
land in the rain with my flip phone and terrible service while David stayed
with Luke. Even for a sick 15 year old and
his frantic mother running around in a storm, they didn't. I couldn't even have his "part of the
magic" shoes we owned. |
| Susi, Hope, Katy A rare sunny day |
One hour until step off. Pacing under an awning while a Disney guest
spilled soda on my shoe, I called the band director begging for some way to
bring barefooted Luke to the band.
"Are you trying to make him well so he can march?" Of course I was. I'm a mom, and seven of us
flew down here. "Oh, no. I think
he's much better." The nurse suggested
a wheelchair. What better way for the band director to see he's fit to march.
No thanks. 30 minutes until step off. Thunder, lightening, and April hail delayed
the parade. So, I made one last frantic
call to the band director, and he really wanted Luke to march. "What can we do?" With an exhausted voice, I cried, "My
son. sniff...Just needs.sniff.... Some shooooooes." 20 minutes prior to step off. Mark, an unforgettable Disney cast member,
drove a golf cart to first aid and took Luke to his band.
Did I enjoy the parade? No. I waited impatiently
expecting Luke to collapse on the front row after I promised the director he
was fine. David and I followed the band with cameras and anxious hearts to the
end of the parade where we saw Mark, who
had played trombone in high school, offer a smile and a thumbs up. Luke was fine. Well, he actually had strep throat, but he
marched. He was OK.
He gives power to the weak, And to those who have
no might He increases strength.
Isaiah 40:29
You have
granted me life and favor, And Your care has preserved my spirit. Job 10:12
My
relief picture reminds me that we don't walk around ecstatic every day, but
we're OK; we're still standing. Maybe
not running a marathon, but well and strong enough to work. Not living in a
mansion, but having a bed. Maybe not feeling our best, but we feel His Favor. Maybe not at the top of our game, but
surviving and marching to the end of the parade without fainting. Maybe
we ride on a bus for 12 hours with a fever
and marvelous chaperones take care of us. We make it home and we bounce back with renewed strength.
Relieved & OK,
Katy
By the way, they sell socks, shoes and DRY clothes
at the gift shop next to first aid where I stood frantically begging for shoes.
The marvelous chaperones were Carrie Motes, Lynn Guthrie, Maryellen Minniear, and Paula McAbee. The band director, Shane Vickery, was responsible for Luke's and the entire band's welfare.
