Fantasy vs...

Fantasy vs……

By Drew Bankston

This past week has been, to me, something out of a fairytale.

Monday morning at 3:30am I caught a shuttle, went to the airport and flew to New York. I had never been to New York, and more importantly, I had never been involved in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

The first night we were all treated to a wonderful reception dinner. It was something that would have only happened to celebrities or dignitaries. It was something that made me feel extremely special. I’m not certain that anything in my life between now and the time I leave this world will ever be as special and exciting as that dinner and what was to follow.

After the dinner, we all went to our first rehearsal. We sang our song for the first time and it was beautiful. Still, we rehearsed for three hours and then ended the day around midnight.

The following day started with an early breakfast, more rehearsing and then lunch. I took that afternoon to catch-up on some sleep, a visit to Macy’s on Herald Square and then another three hours of rehearsing.

On Wednesday, we had our final rehearsal in the morning. I took the afternoon to walk around the town. I saw the parade balloons being inflated. I saw Broadway. I saw Times Square. I walked through Central Park and saw the memorial to John Lennon. Then I walked back to the hotel and turned in for an early night.

The following day was the parade. Breakfast at 4am. Off to another hotel to change into our costumes. 6am and on buses to take us to our float where we learned our positions, practiced our songs a few more times and then waited for the parade to begin.  We sang our two main songs, “We Wish you a Merry Christmas” and “Deck the Halls” over and over again along the parade route but I didn’t mind. Seeing the looks on the faces of the children and the adults, the smiles when I would look at or point at anyone made me want to continue singing.

We sang our premier song in front of Macy’s on 34^th street and even though I was on the backside of the tree, it was still incredible and amazing.

After the parade ended, we all went back to the hotel and returned our costumes, walked back to the Pub where we shared a Thanksgiving lunch and then I was off to the airport.

It was a whirlwind visit but I made some amazing friends and still communicate with them via Facebook today. We all were involved in a historical event. The first ever Macy’s singing Christmas Tree float. They might do more, but none of the future floats will be the first. This week will be back to the normal and back to the old grindstone. I was given a few things to remember my experience with, and I will never forget. In fact, my mind will probably embellish the events of the week as time goes by. I will never forget my experiences there and how they have changed my life and how I think about it. I’ll share more with you in upcoming blogs, but for now, just know that my life will not be the same, but it will be better.

Leaving on a...

Leaving on a…..

By Drew Bankston

The time has come and here I sit on a jet plane on my way to New York. I never thought that I’d be writing my blog from thousands of feet in the air, and yet here I am doing so.

In a few hours, I’ll be on my way to the hotel, resting up and preparing for the welcome meeting where all of us will meet together for the first time. After that, we head off for our first rehearsal. It’s going to be a whirlwind week but, I think, incredibly fun. I’ll be posting frequent updates on my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/drewbankston) and may even add an additional blog this week. We’ll see how time goes.

It was fun watching people at the airport today and seeing the many different types. Some looked sad, tired and totally out of it while others seemed to anticipate the future. Most of those in the airport were strangers, just as on the plane here and now. Some people, like the couple next to me, know one another. I actually know two other people on the plane, but we aren’t sitting in close proximity to each other. Lauren is the other person from Colorado who will be in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with me. She brought her husband, Kwon, who I know from when he was running for mayor in Fort Collins. Perhaps when we get to the airport, the three of us can muddle through finding out Lyft driver together.

Despite the unknowns of New York and the upcoming week, there is a great deal of excitement connected to this trip and the once in a lifetime opportunity that comes with it. How many people can say that they’ve been in this parade? How many can say that they were a part of a brand new float, a brand new song, and brand new Macy’s tradition? Not many I would guess. I’m going to meet so many new people, make numerous new friends, and enjoy so many new experiences that it may be overwhelming, but I’m certainly going to be grateful for the opportunity and take advantage of every moment.

So check back during the week and see what new and exciting adventures I’ll share. It’s going to be fun my friends. I’m glad that I can take you along with me through my words!

Ready or...

Ready or…

by Drew Bankston

In preparation for my upcoming trip to New York and participation in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, this past week has been, without a doubt, the most exciting yet. On Monday I received a red envelope in the mail. It was a large envelope and a mystery until I opened it and found a letter inside. The letter was from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade group congratulating me on being selected to be a part of the parade. Something physical that I can put in a scrapbook! 

The next day I came home to find a very shiny, red envelope on my porch. I opened it to find a per diem card that Macy’s sent me to help pay for food when I’m in New York. Sometime this week we’ll find out about travel arrangements. I’ll find out about my flight to New York and home again. I’ll find out about transportation between the airport and the hotel while in New York. I already know about the hotel where I’ll be staying.

I received information about plays, performances and other activities that I can attend while in New York, and I’ve been practicing my musical parts for the songs that we’ll be singing on the float, including an original Christmas song never heard before!

I’m so excited to be going and to be a part of this.

I’m a little sad though because for the first time in 27 years I won’t be with my wife and family on Thanksgiving. It will be different. The range of emotions for this one day is amazing. The excitement and exhilaration of doing something that I’ve always dreamed about at the cost of not seeing my family on a day when I’m grateful for so much, including my wife and kids.  My wife reminds me that we’ll be together when I get back and that we’ll be together for the remainder of the holidays. Still…

I’ll continue to post about the parade and the thrill and excitement of it. I’ll post photos on my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/drew.bankston) my Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/drewbankston_/) and my Twitter page (@drewbankston1). I might even do a live chat. It will be fun and I’ll announce before it happens.
My blog next week will be the last one before the parade and then I’ll be doing one more after about the parade. Beyond that is like life itself. A mystery to be uncovered when that day comes! Here we go, friends. So much more to tell!

Deck the What?

Deck the What?

By Drew Bankston

Two weeks from tomorrow I leave for New York.  What a kick!  I’m so excited to be going. I’ve done a little more research about this year’s parade and I’ve found out who else will be there as well. Now, I don’t know if I’ll have any opportunity at all to meet them, but here is a short list of the people who will be attending as participants!

In addition to the signature floats, balloons, and the annual first sighting of Santa Claus, this year’s Macy’s Parade will feature multiple musical acts, including middle-aged boy banders 98 Degrees, American Idolalum Lauren Alaina, pop singer Sabrina Carpenter, Andra Day & Common, country singer Sara Evans, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, rapper Flo Rida, ’90s superstars Goo Goo Dolls, Wyclef Jean, Andy Grammer, Bebe Rexha and the legendary Smokey Robinson.

Just knowing that I’ll be in the same parade, on the same street, and a part of the same event as some of these incredible people makes me smile. I’m only special to a handful of people on a daily basis, but in a few weeks, I’ll feel special for a day. I’ll be in the company of some amazing and successful people. Of course the most successful will come right after our Singing Christmas Tree float, the jolly old man with the long white beard. Santa Claus!

Now last week I told you that we received our music and I’ve been learning my part and singing the beautiful music. One of the songs that we’ll be singing is an original piece that is absolutely beautiful, so if you watch the parade each year like I do please watch for us singing this new song for the first time ever! This is destined to be an instant classic.

Would you like to see more about our Singing Christmas Tree? If so, here’s a YouTube video that you can watch, produced by Macy’s, that tells more about what we’re doing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-7lK2lUC-U

Most people won’t get this information, so watch and see what you think. Are as excited as I am?

Much more coming next week so check back then. Thanks for reading.