Hurricane Hugo and the Arrow

We were on a show called When the Arrow Flies. We pulled into Providence Rhode Island, and the load in was the biggest nightmare you could ask for. The loading dock was on the side of the building that was on a hill, so the 45' tractor trailer parked face down hill. The loading dock door was 14' above us in the air, and there was a steel I-beam that protruded from the building above the door with a chain hoist mounted to it. Everything that we had that wouldn't fit into an 8' deep elevator had to be lifted by union workers with the chain hoist. probably 80% of  everything in the truck did not fit in the elevator. So, from the second we pulled up to the venue, we were way behind the 8 ball. 

The other contributing factor to our madness, was that this was a brand new show, and we had barely fit it into the truck because there were so many new set pieces. We were not practiced at this show as we were with the other ones. As I remember, (and believe me... it is really foggy) The union guys were experts at this process even though it was crazy for us. So, the load in really went with out a hitch. It took a lot longer than we were used to, so once we got in, we really had to work hard and fast, but it all went with out much problem. 

During the show, the weather outside turned really bad, and Hurricane Hugo slammed into providence with a fury.

The load out was enough to make a grown man cry.... let alone, me a 20 year old kid. The next day we were supposed to do a show in Bangor Maine. So, at the end of the night.. and considering that the load out was going to last forever, we sent most of the kids home before it was finished so that the host families didn't have to wait around till midnight, and about 8 of us stayed to pack the truck. 

I just remember getting soaked. It was raining so hard, and the wind was blowing so fiercely, that as I was carrying one of the set pieces to the truck, a gust of wind picked me up off the ground and spit me into the street like I was a kite. As I lay there wondering if I was going to make it through the night, I looked up to see Scott Freeman soaked to the bone as well... water dripping down his face... giving me words of warm encouragement. "Come on buddy... we can do this" That was enough for me. I still had a lot to prove and I knew it. So, I got up, and picked the set piece up and headed for the truck. 

We finally had everything out of the venue, all sitting on the sidewalk, and we were trying to figure out which piece of the puzzle to put in the truck next. The Union crew closed the doors and went home. I can't recall, although I am sure Jimmy and Scotty could, how much stuff we left sitting on the sidewalk in providence, but we had had enough. So, we emptied out boxes, and racks that held set pieces, put the goods in the truck and left the containers for them sitting in Rhode Island.

Then About 5 of us plus the driver hopped into the truck and drove all night to maine. A couple guys sleeping in the sleeper cab. Me sleeping on the dash of the truck. We must have looked like a bunch of clowns as we rolled out of the cab at a Dunkin Donuts to get late night food and coffee.

The next day was Sunday and we had an afternoon matinee show, that started around 2:00 pm. That is why we had to drive all night. We needed an early start. At some point all the kids arrived, after we had unloaded the truck. They were all happy and excited... just enough to make us even more crabby having been up just about round the clock.

The show ended, and the tear down and load out was rushed, because we had to get to the local church and the kids had to perform a few songs during the evening service. Then finally we got to go home with a family... completely exhausted. Milk and cookies, scary breakfast, ham and cheese sandwich, and then off to the next city to do it all again.