Aloha!
Since a number of you use this for your son's journals and other memory items, I will finish it out this year. Makes no sense to have only 16 of the 17 days logged.
This morning was beautiful as the boys boarded the bus from Neillsville, Wisconsin. Two of the ladies looked quite distraught as she was saying "goodbye" to the boys...she was afraid to give them hugs "because of how things are these days", but she wanted desperately to do so. Before I could even get the permission out, the boys instinctively did it on their own to say their farewells. I am more than a little certain that made her week.
The people of Neillsville were extremely kind to us. It was one of the highlights of the tour, for sure. Before we could leave the area completely, we had one more stop to make at "The Highgrounds", a veterans memorial on the outskirts of town. The Highgrounds are the only 24-hour a day staffed veterans memorial in the country. They are very much about healing and helping vets and they show it in everything they do. Kirk, our volunteer tour guide, did a great job of showing the boys each of the exhibits and doing his best to instill the significance of the memorials to the youngsters. The weather was already on the warmer side by 11, but the boys did a great job. They also sang "America the Beautiful" for Kirk, who seemed very moved by the piece.
The boys ate their lunch on site and then boarded the bus for the ride home. Honesty disclosure: It wasn't the most pleasant day to be on the bus, with the temps again pushing our old bus's air conditioner to its limits. With temperatures as high as they were in the bus, some of the anxiousness to get home and the fatigue of 17 incredible days began to wear on the boys. They were tired and really wanted to just get home. I wanted them to get home as well, as some of them were a bit on the cranky side. As wonderful as they are, at the end of the day, they are still boys. These days do happen.
The drive went fast, as we gave them a good long rest period to help prepare them for the concert. At 3:35 or so, we pulled into the parking lot to a wall of family, friends, and other supporters who gathered to welcome us home. Banners, flags, and balloons all waved around as we brought our 34 travelers to their final stop of the tour. We were home!
The dinner was incredible. There was so much food that I wasn't sure we'd be able to even put a dent in it. After filling ourselves again, we warmed-up the boys and took the stage for what would be some of the boys final time. The boys certainly saved their best for last, as well. It was probably the best show of the year.
After unpacking the bus and saying our goodbyes, I have no idea what happened with the boys. They are at their homes, and they are someone elses charge tonight - not this guys.
Thank you to everyone that watched this blog for the past 3 weeks. Your comments and kinds words are inspiration for me to keep it going. Thank you for your support of this organization and these great boys.
P.J.
Thank you for taking such good care of Isaac on this tour, PJ - and for all you have done for him over his 7 years in the LOLCB. You (and all of the staff, along with his fellow choirboys) have, indeed, been a force for good in his life. We will not be strangers, you can count on our continued presence and support. His only request when we got home last night - that he be allowed to sleep as late as he wanted (I think that ended up being until about 10:30am). He was TIRED, ut it was a good kind of tired.
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