Charity appearances are one of the best parts about being in the Rhythm & Blue organization. Any appearance or gig outside of our typical gameday responsibilities is gravy to me, but being asked to perform for a charity is a special honor and usually a more interesting performance setting.
On Monday I was among the group of drummers and dancers honored to perform at an annual event for A Wish with Wings, a Fort Worth-based nonprofit that grants "wishes" to children with life-threatening conditions. We squeezed in between tables and up a staircase to the balcony of Del Frisco's steakhouse in downtown Fort Worth, looking down on smiling faces of children and parents…and ponies.
The drummers went into our cadence series, the dancers fit a routine into the limited balcony space, and we welcomed both volunteers and wish recipients to the steakhouse for a holiday-themed reception. It's amazing that this organization is able to shut down an entire block of downtown on a Monday with Shetland ponies, a drumline, a hip-hop dance team, and the arrival of Santa and his entourage on a fire truck. I can't imagine what that spectacle is like for the kids who were in attendance this week, but it sparked my childlike sense of wonder.
The DCR&B team moved down to the street to continue playing just as the fire trucks pulled up and Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph the Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman jumped out. After our playing responsibilities ended we had the opportunity to meet some of the young wishers and pose for a picture or forty. The entryway at Del Frisco's was a mob of grinning kids and appreciative parents before anyone had even ordered their steak.
Even though the A Wish with Wings event had a Christmas theme, it was fitting that it fell the week of Thanksgiving. I have a lot to be thankful for, and performing at appearances like this only helps to put it in perspective. I'm thankful for my family, for my health, and for the fact that I have this avenue to share my passion for drumming with people all over the DFW Metroplex. Turning my focus forward…we have a football game tomorrow. Go Cowboys! Beat the Eagles! Happy Thanksgiving!
