Before the Parade Passes By
By Pam Sherman | January 24, 2010
Last week I was winging my way back from an incredible trip to Madrid and Morocco. I was engaged to speak at the Young Presidents’ Organization Chapter in Casablanca. I taught my Backstage Secrets for Great Presentations to a group of CEO’s and spouses. It was an amazing experience (more to come on Morocco). But my trip started with a two day visit to Madrid. The plane was going there any way, and I’d never been, so I got off the plane. And am I glad I did. It was a snowy day. Rare for Madrid. There was a holiday spirit in the air as the school’s were closed and kids were running through the parks throwing snow balls. The winter wonderland didn’t stop my companion and I from taking in the city. It was bright and sunny and cold (we’re hearty Rochesterarians we can take it). At one point we decided to get off the bus and walk around the Royal Palace. All of a sudden a marching band came out of one end of the palace and to the glaring trumpets marched right into another door. The crowds stopped and watched. I assumed it was a daily occurrence and asked one of the guards about the band. Apparently, it never happens. Only rarely, for example when a new ambassador is being accepted to the court -which is what was happening on that day. What if we hadn’t gotten off the bus, forget the bus, how about the plane? Getting off the plane yielded a magical day. A magical two days, as the next day while it poured and poured rain we slowly took in the Prado and all the beauty of the art inside. All of this serves to remind me, of the art we have inside. The parades we miss when we don’t stop and take it in. I keep thinking of Babs in Hello Dolly - an iconic song for a reason. Where are you going to stop today that might yield your own marching band? You never know.
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