Waiting...waiting…and more waiting. Cowboy Band members and Six White Horses Riders gathered at the HSU Band Hall at 3:30 Friday morning to load hundreds of pounds of musical instruments and personal luggage for the bus trip to Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport. Most had played an evening engagement at the Stamford Rodeo, and were working on little or no sleep.

Road trips are always fun, but the chatter quickly gave way to snores as everyone pulled out blankets and pillows. Everyone seemed to catch a much needed nap, and students can sleep hard; especially the guy who toppled over and drooled on my shirt.

Imagine 60 groggy people trying to get through airport check-in and security. I don’t think we appreciate the enormity of the logistical challenge placed on the trip coordinator, Dr. Wayne Dorothy, Cowboy Band director, as he checked in students, oversized instruments, dealt with ticket requests that hadn’t properly processed by the airline, waited patiently as 30 late departing passengers were placed in the middle of our group (because their plane was on hold), and counted heads on the other side. After all of his meticulous planning, wouldn’t you know that Dr. Dorothy’s luggage was the only baggage that didn’t make it to Boston?

Airport security was tight as one student had to produce a suspicious bar of soap, another a dangerous looking curling iron….and there was the swarm of special agents as one of my camera lenses looked especially threatening.

Sleep was the order of the day. Students can sleep anywhere. The horse riders found a soft piece of carpet (below) and others just leaned against each other and snored; loudly.

Flight was a new experience for rider Starla Bailiff. She was a little unsure of her decision to travel as the aircraft made a bumpy approach to Atlanta in a wicked cross-wind, and the grimace she made when the plane plopped down and deployed reverse thrusters is a photo I wish I’d taken. But the approach to Boston, with the gentle ocean, scenic lighthouses, and sailing ships brought out the cameras and “ooh how beautifuls.”

Everyone pitched in when baggage needed to be moved. "Royalty" was no exception. The reigning “Miss Abilene,” Bridgette Holmes, who recently competed in the Miss Texas pageant, frequently hauled more than her body weight (seen below making the last of three trips to the bus with luggage).

Everyone did finally arrive at a stopping place, and showers seemed the most popular activity. Even the horse riders, whose next stop was washing the grime off of the six and one-half white horses, felt better about the task after a refreshing clean-up. Mini Me just felt good, period. He sends this Texas Howdy to everyone back home.

One quick note confirmed today. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry’s office has been helping, behind the scenes, with accommodations for the Six White Horses. His office has been very gracious with offers for assistance, and called Debbie Jones again today to see if anything was needed.

The rubber meets the road Saturday morning as the Six White Horses and Cowboy Band lead the entire Lion’s Club International Parade down Boylston Street. We’ll all be there for the special honor. Check in Saturday….