THE SONIC BOOMER
Well, here I am at a Walt Disney World resort where they gave me a Happy Birthday button and the TV proclaims, “Happy Birthday, Deb Welky!” even though I told them my birthday wasn’t technically until next week. They don’t care. They are “the Happiest Place on Earth.”
I flew down from Kansas City, which is currently the Most Fan-Crazed Place on Earth as the Chiefs try for a “three-peat” at the Super Bowl this Sunday. I must say that the enthusiasm is contagious. Union Station is bathed in red light, office windows downtown have been strategically lit to spell out “Go, Chiefs!” and the KC airport is swathed in red and gold.
That’s when I decided to help them out by wearing the team colors to Disney, a worldwide stage, even at Animal Kingdom, where I was headed. But the T-shirts were $42 at the airport and, for a mere $137 more, I could buy a fringed, gold-sequined jacket with the arrowhead logo on the front and sequined red letters on the back. So, I was wavering.
I don’t think I have to tell you that I’m not a gold sequin kind of girl. I’m a gray sweatshirt kind of girl. Plus, who needs a jacket in Florida? But I had heard that the water parks might be closed due to cool weather, and my friend said it was in the 70s, so I was tempted. When I asked a fellow shopper if he thought it would be OK for Disney World, he said it was a very cool jacket, and he thought I should get it. As I was paying, he said, “But if you see green, run!”
Oh, yeah. The Eagles. With probably the second-most crazy fans. Some of them might be at Disney World, too.
So I started to worry. I saw a reflection of myself in a store window and thought, “Elvis has left the building.” Then I started to feel bad about the $179. Then I wondered if a lion would charge a tram full of innocent Disney-goers if he saw gold sequins twinkling in the sun.
But then something happened. Even when transferring in Atlanta, people started high-fiving me and fist-bumping me. My seat on the plane was changed from 15C to 1C. I got the best table at the airport restaurant. I wondered if people thought I was part of the Chiefs organization. But by then, I didn’t care. I found myself saying things like, “We’re gonna do it,” “A three-peat!” and “All the way, baby!” I was smiling a lot. I couldn’t wait to board that Disney tram.
But now I’m here, and it’s supposed to be 81 degrees tomorrow. Will I wear my jacket? Will I sweat for Kansas City? Can I truly say I’m part of the Chiefs Kingdom?
Yup, yup and yup.
