Notes From The Road
is a new Holiday Express feature, similar to a blog,
written by Tim McLoone during the bus rides home from our events! We hope
you enjoy reading about how Holiday Express fulfills our mission – no matter what –
from Tim's personal and candid observations.
Well, just when I thought we had experienced everything possible at a Holiday Express event, two really compelling ones took place. They were our 18th and 19th of this year and 645th and 646th overall (are you listening Toys 'R Us?) so you would think there would have developed a certain predictability by now.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
The Lyons House – Center of Recovery and Hope
Department of Vererans Affairs
Now, we had had been here at the urging of Maureen Staub (ok, she TOLD us we were going) a couple of times a few years back but we were early in the "season" back then and the vets in attendance were only the geriatrics and they didn't like us very much.... ok, they hated us. So,
this location was dropped from the schedule. It was, obviously, put back on this year and we played to a pretty large audience that really covered all demographics with a number of children, a disabled group, and, of course, many vets from all of this country's unfortunate wars of the the past 60+ years.
The party was a little slow to develop but some dancing broke out early anyway and that seemed to break the ice. A brief ceremony was then held with a lot of "thank yous" being given but it was a prayer offered by one of the older vets that really touched everyone:
"Holy Father in heaven, we come to you today to praise you and to glorify you. But most of all, we want to thank you for making the Veteran's Program what it is today. We ask that you bless this celebration and everyone here – veterans, non-veterans, and especially the volunteers from Holiday Express. We ask that you bless their families and keep them safe. We ask that you guide us and lead us as we travel down the road to recovery. Make our quest for recovery an easy one. Be there when we get weak and when our minds are troubled. Be there when we lose confidence in ourselves. Give us the strength that we need to survive and prosper. Give us your love and peace in our hearts."
I've made a pretty big point over the years of telling people Holiday Express is not a religious organization, but we certainly are a spiritual one and that simply eloquent prayer moved everyone.
After that we dove in with "God Bless America" and there was no turning back. We discovered a vet singer, John Cantey, through "Candles burning low...." and he regaled us (yes, he did) with a very Nat King Cole-esque version of "Chestnuts Roasting... aka "The Christmas Song" that was so very touching. The "Disco Santas" were a howl and we had a rousing version of the 12 Days as well, with a previously reluctant crowd participating to a man and woman. There was even a Bandiera look-alike sighting! (further proof that war is, indeed, hell). Melissa finished it off with what has become a very moving version of "True Colors" and it was time to go home.
The vets and their staff seemed genuinely touched by the whole experience with many of them taking the time to speak with all of us. A great day. Thanks, Maureen (and Amy R). It just took us a few years to figure it out.
Monday, December 7, 2009
A. Harry Moore
Monday morning shows are not necessarily where everyone wants to be, but we never have a problem filling a bus to go here. This is a school in Jersey City for severely disabled children who, in many cases, are also from impoverished families. The staff is warm and loving but the problems they and these children face everyday are more than apparent. Almost everyone is in a chair of some sort and many can neither speak nor hear. The mortality of their students is also a tragic reality the teachers and staff of this school have to face. I don't know the exact age of the students but they appear to be from 4 or 5 up to 18 or 19 when they must graduate. I may be wrong about those ages.
The building itself is an old brick structure that conjures up images of "Ralphie" from "A Christmas Story." We play in a smallish auditorium that has no fixed chairs for obvious reasons. The walls are covered with hand lettered signs welcoming us that we bring back to display in the Holiday Express warehouse.
The "program" began with an introduction by one of the students that he wrote. He could barely get any sound out at all but the audience roared upon the conclusion of his intro. Val walked into the crowd to start with "Happy Holidays" but when it transitioned to "Nobody Ought To Be...." the room exploded with noise and excitement. The KB/HolEx dancers, elves, and characters all entered and it was sheer, beautiful chaos. After that, there were so very many touching moments... the deaf boy who put his head, face first, into the bell of Rick's sax WHILE RICK PLAYED; the outrageous woman with the "Nine Ladies Dancing," "True Colors" (again), and all the rest. The 90 minutes flew by and it was a shame to leave. But they had saved the best for last. The "thank you" was given to us by another student who couldn't herself speak but "typed" her message into a device that can then produce the words as she "said" thank you to us. It was just too much.
Like I said, 646 events and counting, and this may have been the best of them all. We were blessed to be there.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Somerset Hills Residential Treatment Center (#21 of 51 events)
Some of our events just stick with you more than others. Now we had been to Somerset Hills the past two years, but there was something about this year’s visit that I still can't shake.
I'm not certain of the exact age group, but Somerset Hills houses and cares for a couple of hundred young boys between the ages of what looked like 8 and 13. Almost all of these boys have been abused as children, in many cases sexually, and in most of the cases by a relative or other person in a position of high trust and they are not able or safe to live with relatives. So you can imagine the damage that has been done to each and every one of them. Re-establishing trust is the primary goal of the staff at Somerset Hills and it must be a sisyphisian task at best.
Knowing at least the general backstory of these boys, what strikes you is that they look absolutely "normal" – innocent, if you will. They were a pleasure to deal with and ran and played and sang like any other kids of a similar age. But the horror they have experienced runs deep and the magnificent staff at Somerset Hills is fighting the good fight themselves to help these boys get on
a positive track for the rest of their lives.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Matheny Medical and Education Center
This is another of the events that Maureen Staub "told us to do" but, as always with Maureen, she was right on the money with this one. Of course, we have gone to Matheny for over a decade now and it never ceases to amaze. During that time, however, we lost the dear, departed Robin who meant so much to all of us – but onward we march.
Well, this Sunday was a little different as "black ice" covered the roadways of 287, 206, and 202, making access to Matheny treacherous to say the least. I had opted to drive there with bassist Mark Murphy who took the position that, if the roads are dangerous, then let's drive faster so we spend less time on the roads! A little scary, but we did get there.
Unfortunately, the bus was not as lucky so we launched the show minus the costumes and bus-bound musicians and helpers, but with a strong North Jersey contingent of MALE singers. As we started, we never realized how much we depended on costumed characters and women to lead "Candles burning low..." but we fought on.
I finally introduced "Higher and Higher" since we had three horns to provide some musical firepower and, just as we were wailing away, Ron and then Donna appeared on the stage. The bus had at last arrived!!! I extended "Higher and Higher" in anticipation of a zillion female singers swarming the stage leading to a boisterous finale. As Joe Petillo entered (another male singer!!!) as the only singer on the bus, I knew that doom was descending on us – quickly! Ah, nothing like hearing a bunch of guys singing in "girl keys" to lift your heart at the holiday season. I'm pretty sure the audience didn't care but it was all a little scary – musically anyway.
It's a great group at Matheny and a wonderful place to be. It's always good to be with Ara, Camille, Missy, and the rest of the gang – but we will always miss Robin.