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Shoemaker
Kylie Shoemaker
Kristi Rastede
ENGL 1020, CRN 12396
12 December 2017
“Finally,” I shouted as I raced out of bed to get dressed. Today was the day of the New York City Thanksgiving Day parade, and I was finally able to march in the parade with the local high school band. I had been waiting years for my shining moment. All of my brothers and sisters who were older than me already had their turn, today was MY day. I was not only a freshman allowed to march in a parade that our band directory typically only allowed juniors and seniors to march in, but I also had a solo. Sure, it caused for some of the upperclassman to be disgruntled, I mean it is kind of like a rite of passage for them, but I didn’t care this was going to be my moment. “Cassandra, 20 minutes and we’re leaving” I heard my mom shouting from downstairs. I went through a quick check to make sure I had everything. Drillmaster marching shoes, check. Parade shirt, check. Thermal undershirt, check. Black marching pants, check. All set!
I could hardly contain my excitement! The balloons, the dancers, the music, all of the decorated parade floats…this was going to be the best day of my life, and it was going to be on national T.V.! I raced down the steps taking them two at a time. I grabbed one of the waffles my mom had just made off the plate, singing “I’m going to be in a parade, I’m going to be in a parade” between mouthfuls. As I was eating, my brother Camryn walked into the kitchen, took one look at me and rolled his eyes. "Jeez Cass, you act like you're staring in an A-list movie, it’s just a parade calm down" "You're just jealous I get to march in it as a freshman, and that I have a solo, and you had to wait until your junior year." I replied. "Whatever, Cass." He said as he rolled his eyes. "We are proud of you, but do you have to be so annoying about it?" "Duh, Cam I'm the baby it's my job to be annoying." I said as mom and I walked out the front door to head to the parade.
Today was going perfect. The parade started at 11:00am, we were an hour away from New York City, and we had to be at our designated meeting spot at 9:00am. It was only 6:55 am according to the clock in the car, we were making great time. In fact I was even going to be an hour early, which to me is perfect because like granny always said "If you're on time, you're late." I looked down at my phone to see if my best friend Kyrsten texed me. Nothing yet. She must still be sleeping. She didn't believe in being early like I did. She wasn't actually in the parade, she was just going to watch me, I mean the band perform. I texted her reminding her to bring her sleeping bag, since after the parade we were going to have a camp-out in my backyard, and then I put my phone away, so I could see the city all decorated for Christmas as we drove through it.
This was my favorite time of the year. I loved seeing the lights, the decorations, the gigantic Christmas tree they put up every year, and of course the parade that kicked off the season. Not to mention the shopping! Shopping was the whole reason Kyrsten was coming to stay the night. We were going Black Friday shopping tomorrow for the first time ever, and we wanted to be there early to make sure we got everything we wanted. It was going to be awesome. We were going to spend all day shopping with the money we had been saving up all year. The mall, Target, Macy's. I cannot contain my excitement. Today I get to march in a national parade, and tomorrow I get to go shopping all day with my best friend. "Focus Cass, focus." No more daydreaming. I was about to have the biggest moment in my life and I could not afford to be distracted.
I looked at the clock on the dashboard 7:30, we were making great time. I'd be there plenty early to have time to put on my costume (I got to dress as Ms. Clause since I had a solo) and practice marching in it, as well as practice my solo. Being early also meant I got to see the floats first. I was most excited to see Pentatonix float. They are my favorite Christmas band, well a cappella group and they would be singing their song "Drummer Boy", my favorite Christmas song, so it was going to be absolutely perfect. Mom dropped me off at exactly 8:00am. I quickly got dressed in my costume and began to practice my solo.
As I was practicing my solo, I saw the floats beginning to line up for the parade. There was Pikachu, Trolls, Moana, Minions, Pirates of the Caribbean, and tons of other movies. There were also floats for singers like Mariah Carrey, Blake Shelton, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and finally the one I had been waiting for, Pentatonix. Their float was amazing. It had tons of lights, a real Christmas tree, all different types of drums to go with their song. It was by far the prettiest Christmas themed float. Then we saw the float everyone anticipates….Santa. His float was always the last float. This year in our line up we were in between Mickey Mouse and Spongebob.
The rest of the band members began arriving at 8:45 and getting dressed in their elf costumes. Jase, who was the other solo and consequently playing Mr. Claus, got there at exactly 9:00am. As soon as Jase was dressed, we began practicing how we would march together and helping each other put the final touches on our solos. At 9:30 our band director, Mr. Annesi, had us line up so we could practice our parade march and run through our songs. We were playing “Jingle Bells”, “O Come all Ye Faithful”, and “We Wish you a Merry Christmas”. My solo was in “O Come all Ye Faithful.” Mr. Clause’s solo was in “We Wish you a Merry Christmas.”
At 11:00 sharp the parade started. I was so excited at this point, that I was shaking…or maybe that was from the cold, but either way I was excited. All of my family was going to be here, and my Grandmother was recording it at home. She was too sick to come out in the cold and watch, plus someone had to stay home with the Turkey (the one in the oven, not my brother Cam). So since she would have been miserable in the cold she volunteered to stay at home and record it. I would have loved for her to be there in person since she is my role model and my biggest inspiration in life, but I understood that her health was way more important than standing in the cold for hours just to see me for a few minutes.
Mom and I had come three weeks earlier, and I had marched starting at 77th street, where the parade would start, until I started my solo so mom would know exactly where to place her chair. I wanted to be passing her as I played my solo. She was truly the most amazing woman ever. She had come at 4 in the morning and set up her chairs, my brother Scott had gone with her and stayed behind to save the chairs. She then came all the way back home, made me breakfast and drove me to the parade. She was by far my biggest fan in life, and supported me in everything I did to the fullest extent.
We had just passed Bergdorfs as we finished playing “Jingle Bells” my shining moment was coming up in just a few short minutes. I began to shake for a whole different reason. My nerves were shooting through the roof right now. There was no way I could mess this up. I had been practicing for months for this. I had to nail my solo. I had to prove to everyone who ever doubted me, who ever had something rude to say, that I Cassidy Jean Baker deserved to be the only freshman to ever march in the parade, and that I deserved this solo. I had literally been practicing for this moment since I was 9 years old. Scott and Camryn were both older than me by quite a bit, so I learned about the parade at a very young age. It had been my dream since Scott had first marched in it 8 years ago, and the dream only kept getting stronger when Camryn marched in it.
We were just about to pass the largest candy store in the world, which meant in just a few seconds my moment would arrive. I brought my flute to my lips and began my solo, just as we were passing my family. The looks on their face could not have showed more pride if they tried. I nailed it. It was the best I had ever played that solo, and I had been practicing it since August. My solo could not have gone any better. I hit every note, bar, and run perfectly. Now to just get through the rest of the parade so that Kyrsten could come over.
About fifteen minutes later we arrived at the end of the parade. My family was already waiting at the pickup point for me. Their smiles said it all. They had loved the parade and loved my solo. Kyrsten ran over to me as soon as she saw me and jumped up onto me in a huge hug. “You were amazing” She squealed in my ear as she choked me in her hug that seemed like it would never end. “Th-h-anks Kyrs” I coughed out. “Oh, sorry Cass” I didn’t realize how hard I was squeezing, its just that you were so awesome, and the parade was so pretty and I just cannot contain my excitement,” she said talking about 100 miles a minute. “Thanks Kyrs, ready for our camp out and shopping spree?” “Absolutely, without a doubt going to best night ever” she replied.
I quickly changed out of my costume and raced to the car where everyone was waiting. When I got into the car, mom immediately began saying how awesome the band did, and how our sounds blended and sounded so good, but that she was especially proud of her baby girl who nailed an impossibly challenging solo and as a freshman at that. I could have listened to mom talk like that for hours. Let’s be honest, it was always good to hear people compliment you on something you worked so hard for. Even Scott and Cam high-fived me and told me that they had the coolest little sister by far. I was their only little sister, but hey it’s Thanksgiving, who was worried about semantics at this point.
When we got home Kyrsten and I set up our tent and pillows in the backyard then went inside to eat the delicious dinner that my grandma had prepared. After eating it was about 5:00pm. Kyrsten and I headed out back to our tent so that we could try to get some sleep before waking up extremely early for shopping. Of course sleep was not an option for a few hours…it never is when you have your best friend at a sleepover. We finally fell asleep at 9:00pm. 3:30 was going to come quick and I was going to be so tired, but today had been totally worth it. It was the best day of my life by far. Now time to get some sleep so that I could shop with my best friend tomorrow. I knew what everyone was getting, I had to be at the stores early enough to make sure I got one before they sold out. I was getting mom and dad a new smart T.V. for their room, Cam bluetooth headphones that he could use when he went running, and Scott was getting new Nike running shoes. Time to sleep. Goodnight to the best day ever!
Theme: The theme for my family is hard-work, family, and friendship. Cassidy demonstrates hard work by how diligent she was in practicing before the parade, showing up early, and preparing for this moment since she was 9 years old. Friendship is demonstrated through Cassidy and Kyrsten’s friendship. Kyrsten, also a freshman wasn’t in the parade but went anyway to watch her best friend perform and to support her. Family is demonstrated by how supportive and encouraging her mom, brothers, and grandmother are of Cassidy and her dreams.
Cassidy: Cassidy is a very determined young lady who will stop short of nothing to achieve her goals and dreams. She practices all the time, she shows up early, she makes sure she is prepared. Cassidy knows what she wants and how to get it. She is a very talented musician as is apparent by her ability to land a solo as a freshman in a parade that typically only juniors and seniors are allowed to march in.
Mom: Cassidy’s mom is the ideal mom that all young girls want. She is supportive of Cassidy and goes out of her way to show her support and to make Cassidy know that someone believes in her. She shows Cassidy through her actions that she should never give up on her dreams and to always believe in herself.
Scott and Camryn: Scott and Camryn are Cassidy’s older brothers. They are like any typical older brother would be. They tease her, they mess with her, but at the end of the day they show that they love her and are very supportive of her.
Kyrsten: Kyrsten is Cassidy’s best friend. She is always there for Cassidy and will go out out of her way to be supportive. Kyrsten is also a freshman in the band, and was not allowed to march in the parade. However, that did not stop her from showing up to the parade and showing her support for Cassidy. Kyrsten is the type of friend that anyone would be lucky to have.