Brazos 360 -- Fall 2019 by The Eagle Advertising Department

360 profile Andrew Monaco looks back at his first year in Aggieland

bees in b-CS A look inside the thriving beekeeping community

FALL 2019

what’s in your office? Leisha Mullins’ artifacts at the Museum of the American G.I.

‘SHE IS THE QUEEN’

Texas A&M sophomore Colton Ray jumped at the chance to be Reveille IX’s handler

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Inside

EVENT CALENDAR

Get ready for Texas Reds, the Texas Renaissance Festival, Boonville Days and the Brazos Valley Fair and Rodeo.

BY THE NUMBERS Fun figures on a big bear’s birthday, Texas quarterbacks, top Halloween costumes, fall movie releases and holiday shopping.

360 PROFILE

Andrew Monaco looks back at his first year as the announcer for Texas A&M football and basketball.

COVER STORY

Colton Ray spent the summer getting to know Reveille IX as part of his year as mascot corporal.

BRAZOS VALLEY BEES

The climate and resources make Bryan-College Station an ideal spot for beekeeping enthusiasts.

PARTY PICS

Photos from the Bryan ISD Community Pep Rally, Sassy Shoe Social and the Bryan ISD Hall of Honor.

WHAT’S IN YOUR OFFICE?

Leisha Mullins, operating director of the Museum of the American G.I., shares the stories behind some of her military artifacts and posters.

THE LAST WORD

Brazos 360 | Fall 2019

Staff Crystal Dupré publisher

Rob Clark MANAGING editor

Darren Benson editor

Linda Brinkman advertising manager

Laura McKenzie photographer

Embracing the magic and mayhem of a trip to Disney World.

ON THE COVER Mascot corporal Colton Ray and Reveille IX. Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie.

THERE’S A NEW PLAYER TO FOLLOW Follow Texas A&M's new Instagram and Twitter channels @TAMUbrand for exclusive products, experiences and giveaways. While there's a spirit can ne’er be told, it can always be felt by those who live & love the Aggie lifestyle.

@TAMUbrand

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Local Events SUMMER FILM SERIES The final installment of the summer series features a screening of The Lego Movie. Bring blankets and lawn chairs to watch the film under the stars. Games and free refreshments will begin at 7 p.m., and the movie will start just after sundown. Details: Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. Free. bush41.org. TEXAS REDS STEAK & GRAPE FESTIVAL Celebrate Texas wine and beef with this event that features wine and beer tents, grape-stomping, live music by Sunny Sweeney and David Nail, artists, food vendors, steak sampling and a kids zone. Details: Sept. 27-29 in Downtown Bryan. Free admission, tickets must be purchased for tastings and meals. texasredsfestival.com. WIENERSPIEL The fundraising event for nonprofit organizations that help homeless, unwanted and neglected animals features wiener dog and “wanna-be” wiener dog races, food vendors and costume contests. Details: Sept. 27-29 at Wolf Pen Creek Park. Free to attend; race registration is $30. wienerspiel.org. SUPERHERO RUN Participants are encouraged to dress up in superhero or villain costumes to run a race that supports Voices for Children. Kids can run the 1K race and join in at a post-race dance party. Details: Sept. 28, starting at 8 a.m. Lake Walk Town Center. $15 and $25. active. com/orgs/bcs-superhero-run.

Brazos 360 | Fall 2019

Eagle file photo by Laura McKenzie

brazos valley fair & rodeo The rodeo includes live music with Roger Creager, Blackhawk and Pesado, a carnival, mutton bustin’, livestock events, games, a kids zone, animal exhibits, petting zoo and creative arts displays. Details: Oct. 18-20 at the Brazos County Expo Complex. $15. Tickets not required for ages 12 and under. brazosvalleyfair.com.

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‘MATILDA: THE MUSICAL’ The Theatre Company presents the story of an extraordinary girl who takes charge of her destiny. Details: Oct. 4-20 at The Theatre Company. Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. $10-$20. theatrecompany.com. WIENER FEST Aggieland Humane Society’s fundraiser features wiener dog and “wanna-be” wiener dog races, a costume contest, vendors, food trucks and a kids zone. Details: Oct. 5 at Wolf Pen Creek Park. Admission is free; race registration is $20. aggielandhumane.org/wienerfest. TEXAS RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL The festival transforms 55 acres into a 16th century English township, with kings, queens, lords and ladies, knights, fairies and other characters. Performers include musicians, magicians, acrobats, jugglers and dancers in more than 200 daily performances on 20 stages. Details: Saturdays and Sundays from Oct. 5 through Dec. 1. 21778 F.M. 1774 in Todd Mission. $11.95 and $23.95. texrenfest.com. BUDDY WALK The 16th annual 5K and 1-mile Buddy Walk raises funds for the Down Syndrome Association of Brazos Valley, with activities for children, music, entertainment and food. Details: Oct. 6, starting with the 5K race at 8 a.m. at the Millican Reserve. Festivities start at 10 a.m. $15 for the Buddy Walk, $25 for the 5K, $35 for both. ds-stride.org/dsabvbuddywalk. ‘DRIVING MISS DAISY’ MSC OPAS’ Intimate Gatherings presents the story of a wealthy 72-year-old woman who develops an unlikely kinship with her chauffeur during the Civil Rights Movement. Details: Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Theatre. $30-$56. mscopas.org. THE FOUR ITALIAN TENORS MSC OPAS presents singers Alessandro D’Acrissa, Federico Serra, Federico Parisi and Roberto Cresca in their first U.S. concert tour. Details: Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium. $22 to $60. mscopas.org. 6

Brazos 360 | Fall 2019

Eagle file photo by Dave McDermand

BOONVILLE DAYS The free festival includes Texas heritage demonstrations, crafts, art, music and dance. There’s also a chuck-wagon cook-off and the Buffalo Stampede Half Marathon and 5K Race. Details: Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History and the Brazos Center. Free; races start at 7:30 a.m. and cost $35-$85. brazosvalleymuseum.org. SMOKEY BEAR’S 75TH BIRTHDAY BASH The Texas A&M Forest Service is hosting a birthday party for Smokey Bear, featuring the official Friends of Smokey Bear Hot Air Balloon that is nearly 10 stories tall. There will also be children’s games, arts and crafts, bounce houses, a dunking booth and cupcakes. Details: Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. Free. bush41.org.

p.m. at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. Free. bush41.org.

‘CARMINA BURANA’ The Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra’s season opener features the 24-movement Carmina Burana with the Brazos Valley Chorale and Brenham Children’s Chorus. Details: Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium. bvso.org.

THE MASQUERADE BALL The elegant ball features live music, hors d’oeuvres and performances. The event benefits the Boys & Girls Club of Brazos Valley. Details: Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. at the Astin Mansion Event Center, 506 W. 26th Street, Bryan. downtownbryan.com.

TEXAS A&M CHEMISTRY ROADSHOW Jim Pennington uses chemistry demonstrations with fire, explosions, polymers and cold materials to put on a show that engages children. Details: Oct. 24 at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30

‘THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW’ The Theatre Company presents the humorous sci-fi musical featuring a newly engaged couple getting caught in a storm and coming to the home of a mad scientist.

TRICK OR TREAT AT WEREWOLF CREEK The City of College Station presents a free trick-or-treating event with dozens of candy booths, carnival games, a costume contest, pumpkin patch, hay maze and haunted trail. Details: Oct. 25 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Wolf Pen Creek Park. Free. cstx.gov.

Details: Oct. 31-Nov. 2. The Theatre Company. $25. theatrecompany.com. ‘LETTERS AND THE POWER OF VALUES’ Author and playwright Barbara Hailey discusses how President George H.W. Bush’s character and resilience is revealed in All the Best, a compilation of his letters. Details: Nov. 7 at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. bush41.org. SANTA’S WONDERLAND The Christmas attraction features the Trail of Lights with more than 3 million lights, games, food, entertainment and activities for kids. A Christmas 5K is Nov. 16. Details: Nov. 8 through Dec. 30. 18898 Texas 6. Prices vary. santas-wonderland. com. BRAZOS VALLEY WORLDFEST The festival organized by Texas A&M University and the Arts Council celebrates diversity and heritage of the Brazos Valley with cultural displays, demonstrations, international cuisine, performances, children’s crafts and games. Details: Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Brazos County Expo Complex. Free. brazosvalleyworldfest.org. THE FOUR SEASONS The Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra presents baroque masterpieces with Javier Chaparro on violin and Penny Zent on the flute. Details: Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. at Rudder The-

Courtesy of MSC OPAS

‘Bandstand’ MSC OPAS presents the musical that features upbeat music and dancing of the 1940s. Details: Oct. 29-30 at 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium. $28-$90. mscopas.org. atre. bvso.org. LIGHTS ON! Downtown Bryan flips the switch to illuminate the Christmas trees that anchor the north and south ends of Downtown Bryan, along with lights along Main

Street and Bryan Avenue. The free event includes singing and other holiday activities. Details: Nov. 22 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Gloria Sale Park, Main and 28th Street, Downtown Bryan. Free. downtownbryan. com.

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WINE WASSAIL Downtown Bryan hosts its sixth annual holiday sip-and-shop event. Each store will feature one holiday beverage (hot chocolate, wassail, cider) and one wine tasting. Participants will receive a holiday wine glass, a shopping bag and a map of participating merchants. Details: Nov. 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. Downtown Bryan. $25 and $35. downtownbryan.com. THE MIDTOWN MEN: ‘HOLIDAY HITS’ Performers from the original cast of Jersey Boys sing holiday classics. Details: Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Auditorium. $22-$60. mscopas.org. BOSTON BRASS & THE BRASS ALL-STARS BIG BAND The band will play Christmas classics with a jazzy, big-band sound. Details: Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Theatre. $30-$56. mscopas.org.

Eagle file photo by Laura McKenzie

christmas in the park The City of College Station’s Christmas event includes hayrides, cookies, cocoa, live entertainment, a petting zoo, a real snow slide and photos with Santa. The Jingle Bell Fun Run will be Dec. 8 at 1:15 p.m., followed by the BCS Christmas Parade. Details: Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-14 from 6 to 9 p.m. Stephen C. Beachy Central Park. Free. cstx.gov.

‘FROZEN JR.’ The Theatre Company presents the story of love between sisters. Details: Dec. 6-15. The Theatre Company. Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and High School Varsity Women’s Choir to matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sun- perform traditional holiday favorites. A days. $7-$20. theatrecompany.com. cookie reception follows the concert. Details: Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. at Christ United HOLIDAY POPS Methodist Church, 4201 Texas 6. bvso. The Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra org/events. collaborates with guest artists James Faith on the organ, the Sanctuary Choir ‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’ and Canticle Ringers of the Christ United MSC OPAS presents the seasonal classic Methodist Church and the College Station about Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts

Brazos 360 | Fall 2019

of Christmas past, present and future. Details: Dec. 8 at 3 and 7:30 p.m. at Rudder Theatre. $20-$40. mscopas.org. DOWNTOWN BRYAN LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE The parade will have floats, vehicles, fire engines and an appearance by Santa. Details: Dec. 13 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in Downtown Bryan. downtownbryan.com.

By the Numbers

9 It only seems right that there are more starting quarterbacks in the NFL that spent time growing up in Texas than any other state can boast. At the start of the season, the nine were Drew Brees (New Orleans), Derek Carr (Oakland), Andy Dalton (Cincinnati), Nick Foles (Jacksonville, now injured), Case Keenum (Washington), last year’s MVP Patrick Mahomes (above, Kansas City), Baker Mayfield (Cleveland), Matthew Stafford (Detroit) and Kyler Murray (Arizona). Former starters with Texas ties include Texas A&M’s own Ryan Tannehill (now with Tennessee) and Baylor’s Robert Griffin III (Baltimore). An injury has kept Colt McCoy from nabbing the starting spot from Keenum in Washington. Andrew Luck left the Texas QB list with his sudden retirement in August, though Josh McCown came back into the fold with his unretirement as a backup in Philadelphia.

75 Happy birthday to Smokey Bear, who recently turned 75. The wildfire prevention character is easily the champion of cartoon public service spokesanimals, edging out Woodsy the Owl’s environmental protection efforts and Magruff the Crime Dog’s crime awareness. (Though all had memorable slogans: Smokey’s “Only YOU can prevent wildfires,” Woodsy’s “Give a hoot, don’t pollute” and Magruff’s “Take a bite out of crime.”) According to smokeybear.com, the U.S. Forest Service introduced Smokey in 1944. The site includes these Smokey notes: He’s a black bear, weighs more than 300 pounds and his favorite foods include insects, salmon, trout, plants, berries and honey. As for fashion, Smokey prefers “his personalized ranger hat, blue jeans and belt.” No shirt, no shoes, no problem.

No. 1 The most popular Halloween costumes last year were getups from the hit video game Fortnite, according to Google’s Frightgeist site, which measures online searches for costume trends. (The Associated Press reports that the costume above, worn by a fan at Comic Con last year, is of something called “Rabbit Raider” in Fortnite.) Spider-Man, unicorns, dinosaurs and witches were highly ranked as well. Other characters in the top 50: Wonder Woman, Batman, Black Panther, the Joker and Deadpool. Fortnite costumes ranked at No. 1 for Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston, but they didn’t top every chart. Some costume curiosities came from Bend, Oregon (vikings); Idaho Falls, Idaho (mouse), Mankato, Minnesota (rabbit), Hattiesburg, Mississippi (cowgirl), Missoula, Montana (Where’s Waldo) and Binghamton, New York (The Addams Family).

165 million That’s the number of Americans who shopped in stores or online last year from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation. The average money spent was $313.29 on gifts and holiday goods. Shoppers ages 35-44 spent the most, shelling out $413.05. The survey also showed that more than 89 million people took advantage of both store and online sales, which was an increase of 40 percent from 2017. The NRF reported that apparel was the top item (57% of those surveyed bought clothes of some sort). Toys came in second with 34%, followed by books and video games (29%), electronics (26%) and gift cards (20%).

11/22 Here’s a box-office battle we can look forward to this fall. Animated ice queen Elsa returns in Disney’s Frozen II on Nov. 22. The same day, adult heartstrings will be severely tugged with A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, starring national treasure Tom Hanks as national treasure Mr. Rogers. Other intriguing movies on the way include Joker (Oct. 4), an origin story of Batman’s best foe; the Harriet Tubman biopic Harriet (Nov. 1); and Doctor Sleep, a sequel to The Shining (Nov. 8). If the straight-up bonkers trailer for the film adaptation of Cats is any indication, it could provide counterprogramming competition for the final installment of the Star Wars series, dubbed The Rise of Skywalker. Both premiere on Dec. 20. — ROB CLARK

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360 Profile

Brazos 360 | Fall 2019

ANDREW MONACO

Finding his voice in Aggieland Story TRAVIS L. BROWN

Photos LAURA MCKENZIE

here is a certain level of trust that Texas A&M play-by-play the timing.” man Andrew Monaco has enjoyed in his first year of work in Monaco said he has found a football mentor in head coach Jimbo Aggieland. Fisher. Through fall camp, Monaco could be spotted under a sharp, An example is the “ride-along” segment he hosts for A&M’s 12th woven A&M sun hat, jotting notes on individual drills. Each Man Productions’ YouTube page. The bubbly Monaco picks up a difMonday, as the local media gathers to quiz players and Fisher alike, ferent A&M coach and drives them around College Station in a new Monaco stands in the background, listening for key talking points the Ford, learning tidbits about his passenger through conversation. team emphasizes each week. “You all have a lot of trust,” Monaco joked of his interactions with Not only is that research incorporated into his weekly game broadthe coaches. “You have no idea how I drive and you still got into this cast, but it also becomes conversation points between Monaco and Ford vehicle.” Fisher during the coach’s weekly radio show at Rudy’s Bar-B-Q in The Aggie fan base has had a similar experience, with Monaco driv- College Station. Not unlike his approach in the broadcast booth, Moing A&M football and basketball radio broadcasts after taking over naco and Fisher banter back and forth on the intricacies of the world for longtime broadcaster Dave South prior to the 2018 season. around them like two old friends who have watched football together “I met with him before the for decades. season last year and found “It’s like taking a master’s him to be a great guy,” South class in football, doing the said. “He’s talked to and asked Jimbo show every week,” Mome a lot of questions about naco said. “I love hearing what how we had been doing it, and he says on a Monday media asked me for my opinion on availability, and you can tap a few things and I gave them into a topic that he is passionate to him. As far as I can tell, he about, and we can talk about it was well-accepted by the Aga little bit more.” gie fans last year.” “I also like the life lessons,” Monaco’s first football he continued. “I don’t think season was filled with calls of it’s just football or basketball historic moments, from a near lessons. I think there’s these life win against No. 2 Clemson lessons, and I love to hear that.” to the seven-overtime thriller The season offered Monaco against LSU. However, it was a once-in-a-lifetime lesson in his first time in the booth that sports broadcasting. As A&M has burned a memory in his players battled through a mind — a 59-7 Aggie victory Dave Elmendorf and Andrew Monaco at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. seven-overtime, 74-72 victory over Northwestern State. over LSU, Monaco, Elmen“Because it was a combination of new and, for me, so exciting to dorf and sideline reporter Will Johnson remained on air through the finally be here, that’s why Northwestern State is so exciting for me,” marathon. From pregame chatter to postgame recap, the broadcast he said. team was on the air for seven and a half hours. Not one minute felt Monaco observed what unfolded on the field below him and put like work, Monaco said. Fisher presented him with a game ball for his it into words, but he said he found the emotion and history of the efforts, which sits on his mantle. moment through his broadcast partner, former A&M safety Dave El“People always ask, ‘You must have been exhausted,’” Monaco said. mendorf. Their interaction fit into Monaco’s broadcasting philosophy. “And I really wasn’t. You just get so caught up and you can’t wait to “I’ve always taken the approach, it’s just a couple of guys watching a see how it plays out.” game together and people just happen to be listening,” Monaco said. College athletics are often referred to as the “front porch” of a “But that’s what it feels like. To me, that’s where the joy has come in.” university. If that is the case, Monaco is right there, ready to welcome The chemistry between the two began in an unlikely place. Prior anyone who passes by into the fold. to the 2018 season, Elmendorf asked Monaco if he would help call a “We’re never hurting for conversation and we’re never hurting for charity flag-football game for local youth. The two quickly realized laughs,” Elmendorf said. “We really have fun together. We truly enjoy they would work well together. broadcasting together, and he’s just a good guy, and I think we’re “We did it and we just had a blast together,” Elmendorf said, “but it pulling off what his vision is for broadcasting — just sitting around was so beneficial for both of us because we got an opportunity to feel and talking about the game.”

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Cover Story

Brazos 360 | Fall 2019

Colton Ray runs with Reveille IX onto Kyle Field before Texas A&M’s football game against Texas State on Aug. 29.

Center of attention: Reveille IX attracts a crowd

exas A&M sophomore Colton Ray has been learning about what it takes to be the Corps of Cadets’ mascot corporal since getting that coveted role in April. He’s done his research, and he’s received guidance from former mascot corporals. But his top teacher is the reason for the position: Reveille IX. “She knows what she’s doing by now,” Ray said about Reveille, A&M’s mascot and the highest-ranking member of the Corps. “She’s going on her fifth year now as mascot, so it’s cool to see that she kind of knows the traditions like everyone else does. When we practice out on the football field, she knows exactly where to run; she knows exactly what

Story CHELSEA KATZ

Photos LAURA MCKENZIE

song she’s running out to.” Ray, who hails from Greenbrier, Arkansas, spent the summer bonding with “the First Lady of Aggieland,” and said the time between semesters allowed him to understand Reveille’s quirks and how she reacts to the public, and to continue her training. He approached it as if Reveille was his own puppy. “It’s just like getting to know any other dog,” he said. “You spend every single moment with them, and you just kind of observe them and play with them. And through that, you get to know kind of their habits and how healthy they are, when they want to eat, when they don’t want to eat, and when

they want to play and just when they want to sleep.” With Reveille’s celebrity status on campus and in the community, Ray said people sometimes forget she is still a dog that likes treats (peanut butter and cheese), plays with water bottles and squirrels on campus and occasionally gets distracted by bicycles and golf carts. “She’s just a normal dog,” he said. “I just kind of treat her like a normal dog sometimes, let her play around and be a dog at her own expense.” She also plays with Ray’s German shepherd named Trooper when visiting his family, who

Continued on Page 14

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Continued from Page 13

now lives in Plano. When it comes to commands and tricks, Reveille’s training goes beyond the typical “sit” and “lay down” commands. She will shake Ray’s hand when he says, “Howdy.” And she knows where her allegiance lies: “When I ask her, ‘Would you rather be a teasip or a dead dog?’ she’ll play dead,” he said with a chuckle. As the university mascot, Reveille encounters many things that other dogs do not, Ray said, such as being approached almost constantly by others. He acknowledges part of his job as her handler is to allow for those meetings and interactions to take place, which can require leaving an hour earlier to get to class or leaving class a little early. “When somebody meets her for the first time, you want to make sure that they get the chance to pet her and take a picture with her, because sometimes, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Ray said. One such instance occurred during a photo shoot for this story, when A&M senior Emilio Martinez walked by Ray and Reveille posing for pictures. Stopping to ask for a photo of his own, Martinez said he had seen Reveille in person only about three times in his almost four years on campus. “Every time I see her, I have to stop by and take her picture,” he said. “It’s huge.” “Just getting to take the opportunity to let them pet her and take a picture with her, I cherish that and I know they do too,” Ray said about these moments. During Ray’s freshman year as a member of E-2, he spent time exploring the Cushing Memorial Library archives in the spring to learn about each of Reveille’s predecessors. That provided some guidance about what it takes to be Reveille’s handler, but he said there is no way to know the full extent of the job until taking it on. “You work for the university,” he said. “You’re always in the public eye. They say, basically, when you step out of this dorm, there’s always going to be some type of camera on you, whether it’s a normal camera or some type of phone. Someone’s always going to be recording you.” Reveille is a “normal student,” he said, and goes with Ray to class, along with morning and evening formations. Sometimes she accompanies him to the grocery store. She is by his side enough that he describes her as his shadow. “She’s kind of like having a girlfriend with you 24/7,” Ray said. “I put all my time and effort into her.” The mascot corporal duties also include

Brazos 360 | Fall 2019

Colton Ray walks with Reveille IX during the Corps of Cadets’ Fish Review at Simpson Drill Field on Aug. 24.

protection. Ray referenced a notable Reveille moment from 2014, when mascot corporal Ryan Kreider shielded Reveille VIII from an incoming player on the sidelines of A&M’s game at SMU. “To protect her, you put your body in front of her,” Ray said. “Anytime, you want to protect her. That’s your number one responsibility.” Despite the time commitment and the responsibilities of the job, Ray said he knew he wanted the role because it is special to E-2: “Every outfit has their guidon and their leadership roles, but not every outfit has a mascot corporal.” Ray calls it a privilege. “She is the queen,” he said. Once a week, Reveille gets treated like a queen, spending about six hours getting a bath, a haircut and being pampered, he said. There is plenty of support among E-2 as

well, and Ray notes that all sophomores put in time and effort to help care for her, and someone is always with her. “I mean, we’re protecting a tradition that’s been here since 1931,” he said. “We want to keep it as sacred as possible and as special as possible to everyone around campus.” Ray said the thing he was most looking forward to was running out on Kyle Field with Reveille, which he did on Aug. 29 in the Aggies’ season opener against Texas State. Looking ahead, he is also excited to teach the new freshmen about her care and passing her on to the next mascot corporal. “I bet it will be hard passing her down, because you get to create such a close bond with her over the year,” he said. “But that’s just the tradition, and you respect that. That’s kind of the cool thing about it — you get to train your successor to prepare for the same job you did.”

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Brazos 360 | Fall 2019

Left: Katherine Sherrod pulls a frame from a beehive box while checking on her bee colonies. The bees live inside the boxes (above) behind her home in Bryan.

The buzz on bees in the Brazos Valley Story LUKE HENKHAUS

n a Saturday morning in Bryan, Katherine Sherrod walks between rows of pastel-colored boxes in her backyard. Inside each is a sprawling, complex society of bees, who are almost always hard at work. In tightly packed rows of wax cells, the substance that gives honey bees their name is stored as a food source for the colony. Some of the excess will eventually find its way into bottles, allowing humans to get a taste, too. For Sherrod, who manages 25 hives of 10,000 to 60,000 bees each, the whole process is a labor of love. In the Brazos Valley — where a thriving beekeeping scene is bolstered by education, community and natural resources — people take up the practice for a variety of reasons. For some, it’s an interesting hobby that might even make them some money on the side. For others, it’s a full-time job. And for many, it’s a way to support a species that faces a battery of man-made and natural threats.

Photos LAURA MCKENZIE

Declining honey bee populations could have far-reaching consequences for the nation’s agricultural sector, and even small-scale beekeepers like Sherrod have a role to play in maintaining the relationship between humans and these insects. She and her husband had been interested in beekeeping for a while, but they didn’t take the leap until they moved to a property with an agricultural tax exemption. “It was kind of the push to get us into it,” Sherrod said. “And then I fell absolutely in love with it.” Her children — ages 2, 4 and 3 months — are too little to be much help with the hives. But they have become a kind of audience to their mother’s work, whether they’re covered head to toe in a spare bee veil, or observing from the windows of her minivan. If they show a real interest and put in the work, Sherrod said they may earn bee suits of their own someday. As her operation grows, Sherrod connects

with other local beekeepers — including newcomers, small-scale producers and commercial operators — through the Brazos Valley Beekeepers Association (BVBeeks). The group helped Sherrod get her start, and she now serves as its communication director. During monthly meetings at Bryan’s First Christian Church, beekeepers from across the region come together to socialize, share tips and hear from guest speakers about improving their craft. For those just getting started, association president Nathan Krueger said visitors would be hard-pressed to find a more welcoming community. “The beauty of this organization is that you can come in here and ask questions,” Krueger said. “Google is not always correct. There’s lots of information out there, and this kind of helps to get that information out and decipher through the good, the bad and the ugly.” Continued on Page 18

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Kyle Patterson of the Brazos Valley Beekeepers Association works on removing a bee colony from a Bryan home in July.

Continued from Page 17

Local advantages The local beekeeping community, as well as the area bee population at large, benefits greatly from the climate and resources around the Brazos River, Krueger said. As they leave their home to forage — flying within a 3-mile radius of the hive — the honey bees have a few different goals to accomplish before coming back to base. “Pollen, nectar and plant resins are what they’re looking for, and we’ve got an abundance of that with the diverse floral population that we have in the Brazos Valley,” Krueger said. The pollen serves as a protein source and plays a key role in feeding the next generation of bees, Krueger said. Resins can be turned into a kind of spackle — helping bees fill cracks and holes around the hive. And the flowers’ nectar is what ultimately becomes honey. While they collect these resources, bees are also playing a vital role in the natural world. As they land on countless flowers, some of the pollen they pick up is spread from plant to

Brazos 360 | Fall 2019

plant, facilitating seed production. In the Brazos Valley, this mutual relationship between bees and plants is fortified by the local climate, said BVBeeks treasurer David Boatcallie. “Our winters aren’t harsh, we typically have early springs, we have plentiful rainfall at the right times to increase the floral content,” Boatcallie said. “It really lends itself very well to being a great area. And on top of that, all these other services that we have, plus this agricultural belt that surrounds us, it’s a combination of a lot of different factors that make this a great zone for beekeeping.” Youthful interest Even before BVBeeks’ main meeting begins, the room is already buzzing with activity, as the next generation of beekeepers learns the ropes through the club’s youth program — one of the largest in the state. Led by BVBeeks founder Chris Barnes, the twoyear program allows students ages 12 to 17 to receive training and equipment needed to manage their own hive. Experienced mentors help keep the young beekeepers on track throughout their journey.

One of Barnes’ mentees, Gentry Gonzales, said learning to take care of her blackand-yellow charges has been a fascinating experience. “It’s really cool seeing this small population that I started off with and seeing how big it’s gotten,” Gonzales said. A junior at Rudder High School, Gonzales said her friends and classmates have enjoyed hearing about her atypical teenage hobby. “All my friends know a lot about beekeeping now and they’re super interested in it,” Gonzales said. “It’s a cool thing to say, ‘Hey, I’m a beekeeper by the way.’” Her father, Ponch Gonzales, said he’s loved watching his daughter learn and grow as a beekeeper, and noted that Barnes’ mentoring has been a big part of that. “Whenever he has a job or he has to go look at a hive or something, he’ll call and say, ‘Hey, I’m going to go do an inspection, do you want to go?’” Ponch said. “That teaches her what right looks like and what a bad hive looks like. It furthers that education.” It’s that sense of responsibility — to each other and to the bees — that keeps the beekeeping community strong, Boatcallie said.

“This species doesn’t need us for existence, but we can coexist, and we can both benefit from a symbiotic relationship,” Boatcallie said. “If you’re going to get into this, this is something that you need to take time to educate yourself to do. And to apprentice with someone who’s done this in the past is probably the best way to learn beekeeping.” Promoting bee health Boatcallie said another major factor that makes the Brazos Valley a kind of hub for apiculture is Texas A&M University, which has institutional resources that benefit beekeepers both locally and across the state. Founded in 1910, the Texas Apiary Inspection Service is Texas’ sole state agency for mitigating pests and diseases in honey bee colonies, said chief apiary inspector Mary Reed. Focusing mainly on commercial operations, the agency can provide free testing for varroa mites, which Reed said are the main pest that beekeepers encounter. In addition to others — like hive beetles and wax moths — there is also a variety of diseases that can cause trouble in a hive, including one that regulatory agencies keep a close eye on. American foulbrood was once so devastating that it led to the creation of these agencies across the country, Reed said. By fighting threats like these, inspection services have protected an industry that plays a massive role in the nation’s agricultural sector, Reed said. The pollination bees provide is in high demand. So much so that more than a million honey bee hives — including some from the Brazos Valley — are loaded onto trucks and driven across the country every year to pollinate crops. “For the most part, commercial beekeepers make their money doing pollination contracts, and almond pollination is a great example,” Reed said. “Practically half of the colonies in the United States move out to California in January for almond pollination.” Safe removals Aside from hives managed for commercial purposes, the inspection service receives calls about wild or unmanaged hives — often from people who would prefer the bees set up shop somewhere else. For these cases, the agency maintains a list of beekeepers across the state who offer bee removal services. Barnes is one person in that network, as is his frequent collaborator Kyle Patterson. With suits, smokers and a host of other tools at their disposal, they can safely remove feral hives from local homes and properties, often vacuuming up the bees to start a new

Katherine Sherrod’s bees, including one carrying pollen, outside of her Bryan home.

managed hive in another location. At a removal in mid-July, Patterson joked that whenever it’s his turn to keep the bees, they seem to be aggressive and territorial. But when it’s Barnes’ turn to take them, the bees take on a much calmer, gentler demeanor. Sawing through a section of roof at a house in Bryan, Patterson braced for an attack that never came. “Yep,” he said. “These are Chris’ bees.” While bee removal typically isn’t free — Patterson usually charges around $300 — Reed said getting help from someone with experience is often worth it. And it’s far better than trying to kill the bees with wasp or hornet spray, Reed said. “The structure of a honey bee colony, with its series of combs parallel to each other, makes it nearly impossible to kill off a bee colony using a spray like that,” Reed said. “If the property owner used some kind of chemical to kill the bees and were successful with it, you still have all that comb that’s not being cared for by the

bees. … All that is going to melt and ferment and get disgusting, and it attracts other pests to that space.” In the lab In its core mission of monitoring bee health, the Inspection Service is joined by Texas A&M’s Honey Bee Lab, directed by associate professor of apiculture Juliana Rangel. In one of its several ongoing areas of study, the lab is currently exploring how some unmanaged bee colonies continue to thrive in the presence of pests and parasites like varroa mites. “Even with varroa presence, these wild populations have some natural traits that make them more tolerant to the parasite, and those traits allow them to thrive in the wild,” Rangel said. Another area of interest — one that Rangel has been researching for more than a decade — is the effect of pesticides on honey bees’ longevity and reproductive quality. Continued on Page 20

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Continued from Page 19

“If the queens are reared in wax that is exposed to these chemicals, they become less fit to do their job,” Rangel said. “They live less and they produce fewer eggs.” The honey bee that most in the U.S. are familiar with is actually not native to the Americas at all, Rangel said. But centuries after it was brought over by Europeans, it is the nation’s top pollinator of agricultural crops. That makes addressing population threats all the more important, she said. “Despite the increasing need of colonies to feed our growing population, the number of honey bees continues to decline or at least stay at a steady level instead of growing like we need, because of all the problems associated with bee health,” Rangel said. ‘Different walks of life’ Beekeepers have an important role to play in combating these problems, and amateurs should make sure they are informed enough to do more good than harm, Rangel said. To help spread the knowledge people need to be effective stewards of the species, Rangel and her lab remain active in the beekeeping community, speaking to organizations around the state. They partner with BVBeeks for its

A bee remains on honeycomb retrieved during a bee colony removal in Bryan.

annual Bee School on A&M’s campus. Held Sept. 7 this year, the daylong school featured classes for beekeepers of varying experience levels. It also serves as the primary fundraiser for BVBeeks’ youth program, generating money for equipment and scholarships. Barnes said the school is both an opportunity to share valuable information and a way to support BVBeeks’ young apiarists’ affection for the species — a love that Boatcallie said can take many forms.

“You can make a livelihood from it, you can enjoy a hobby, you can save a little bit on taxes or just enjoy the species as a whole,” Boatcallie said. “None of those are incorrect or more correct than the others. We’ve got all different walks of life here that enjoy bees for whatever reason.” For Reed and Rangel, that love took off in an academic setting. For Sherrod, it evolved from a need to keep her property productive. And for her curious kids, it could be starting right in their own backyard.

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Fall Programs AT THE GEORGE BUSH PRESIDENTIAL Library and Museum By David Anaya George Bush Presidential Library and Museum

he Bush Library and Museum presents a fun and interesting exhibit called Wit & Humor: American Political Cartoons. This exhibit features collections from the Bush Library and Museum, Library of Congress, and the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives at Texas A&M University. Wit & Humor shows how cartoons have changed since the early days of the Republic. Featuring artifacts, videos, and interactive kiosks, this exhibit highlights important cartoons from artists regarded as giants in their field, like Thomas Nast, Bill Mauldin, Herbert Block, Garry Trudeau and Patrick Oliphant. Wit and Humor will be on display from now through January 5, 2020, in the Ansary Gallery of American History. Join us on September 26 as constitutional law expert Thomas Borcher discusses the

specific roles of the three branches of the U.S. Government. He gives examples of how the Constitution establishes precedents and guidelines for the government to follow. This program is free and for children in grades 4-8. Copies of the U.S. Constitution will be given to those who attend in person only. To attend on-site call 979-691-4006 or email: bush.education@nara.gov. To view off-site register at www.connect2texas.net. Bring your lawn chairs and coolers to the Bush Library and Museum Plaza as we finish our summer film series with “The LEGO Movie” on September 27. This summer’s movies are being shown in conjunction with the newest exhibit at the Bush Library and Museum, “Wit and Humor: American Political Cartoons.” Games and free refreshments, while supplies last, will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the movie will start just after sundown. You may bring your coolers

and lawn chairs, but please no pets or glass containers. This event is free and open to the public. Special thanks to Blue Bell and Pepsi! Texas A&M Forest Service invites you to celebrate Smokey Bear›s 75th Birthday Bash on the Bush Library and Museum grounds on Saturday, October 19 at 10:00 a.m. Come wish Smokey Bear a happy birthday and see the official Friends of Smokey Bear Hot Air Balloon that›s nearly ten stories tall and 72 feet wide! We›ll also celebrate with children›s games, arts & crafts, bounce houses, local fire departments, a dunking booth, a photo booth, and - of course! - cupcakes. This come-and-go event will take place on the library grounds. All are invited to celebrate 75 years of Smokey Bear! For more information on these programs and events visit www.bush41.org .

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Brazos 360 | Fall 2019

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A&M stripe tee $54 Maroon pinstripe dress $96 Denim dress $96 Jade animal print tank $68 Olive utility jacket $96 Black & cream stripe v-neck sweater with raw hem $58 Brier bootie $68 also available in black grey zip with A&M embroidery is $68

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Bryan ISD Hall of Honor August 17 ď &#x2C6; Miramont Country Club

he Bryan ISD Education Foundation inducted four members into its Hall of Honor on Aug. 17 during an event at Miramont Country Club that raised tens of thousands of dollars for the district. The inductees were Dr. Guy Clifton, Chris Hanslik, Charles Mancuso and Connie Smotek. Photos Laura McKenzie

TOP LEFT: Bettina and Justin Smith. TOP RIGHT: John Ruffino, Richard Ruffino, Charles Mancuso and Doris Mancuso. MIDDLE RIGHT: Bless Stennis, John Cangelose and Pam Bryan. MIDDLE LEFT: John Bush, Stephanie Sale and Lindsey Guindi. LEFT: Cookie Mangine, Chris Hanslik and his daughter Hollyn. ABOVE: Jayce Wilder, Sy Snedeker and Spencer Wilder.

Brazos 360 | Fall 2019

TOP LEFT: Leah Vernon, Trish Havel and Ashley Hildebrandt. TOP RIGHT: Joel Bryan, Shelley Nelson and Andrew Nelson. MIDDLE LEFT: Christie Whitbeck and Mike Wright. MIDDLE RIGHT: Amanda MancusoLaird, Cindy Mancuso and Joanne Bower. ABOVE: Lynette Ruffino and Molly and Jay Wilder. FAR RIGHT: Sharon and Spencer Clements. RIGHT: Sarah Wilkinson and Bill Moore.

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Sassy Shoe Social August 24  Brazos County Expo

he 10th annual Sassy Shoe Social drew about 400 attendees to the Brazos County Expo on Aug. 24. The show, a runway party that celebrates fashion accessories, was a fundraiser for Phoebe’s Home, a nonprofit that provides resources and assistance to victims of domestic violence. Photos Laura McKenzie

TOP LEFT: Ceanne Jones and Katie James. TOP MIDDLE: Hayley and J.D. Cochran. TOP RIGHT: Katina Osth and Amutha Selvamani. MIDDLE LEFT: Cathleen Watt, Cassie Watt and Hailey Pierce. LEFT: Rey Perez and Patrizia Tortora Perez. BOTTOM LEFT: Robin Donnelly and Amy Raines. ABOVE: Merrill Bonarrigo with her grandchildren Sophia and Paul Anthony.

Brazos 360 | Fall 2019

TOP LEFT: Alex Warner and John Humphries. TOP RIGHT: Oswaldo Diaz and Araceli Tristan. MIDDLE LEFT: Tiffany Vivaldi, Tara Dean and Laura Mooney. MIDDLE RIGHT: Mellanie Fish, Melissa Rodriguez, Shannon Krueger, Jennifer Cox, Lisa Fonville and Michelle Meeker. ABOVE: Ashlie Peters-Bowman, Lacey Peters, Hollie Gardner and Nicole Kroll. FAR RIGHT: Jaclyn Hallenbeck and Butch Ireland. RIGHT: Maggie Gray and Karla Castillo.

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Bryan ISD Community Pep Rally August 22  Merrill Green Stadium

he city of Bryan and the Bryan school district invited the community to a backto-school pep rally on Aug. 22 at Merrill Green Stadium. The event, which honored longtime elementary school teacher Ann Wilder, who died in 2016, included a fireworks show after a scrimmage between the Rudder High School and Bryan High School football teams. Photos Laura McKenzie

TOP LEFT: Brandi Luce, Sarah Holick and Marisa Goode. TOP MIDDLE LEFT: Armani Wheeler, Naj Payton, Makayla McClendon and Crys’Syia Barton. FAR LEFT: Alexis Rodriguez, Gracie Moore and Kylie Hernandez. LEFT: Jayla Whitley, Brianna Edwards, Nayeli Ramirez and Victoria Contreras. bottom Left: Marcus Mitchell, Jessica Randle and Tre’Marcus Taylor. Bottom Right: Laura Miller and Megan Montgomery.

Brazos 360 | Fall 2019

TOP LEFT: Dylan Glover, Pimptereus Henderson, Davon Castilleja, Deion Johnson, Umber Christian, Dominic Caldwell and Aleks Kalaouze. TOP RIGHT: Vaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Shon Wilson, Jada Collins, Raven Hutsen and Jadyn Smith. TOP MIDDLE LEFT: Jeff Clary, Jason Watson and Robin and John Tomchesson. MIDDLE LEFT: Alfred Scott and Andy Valadez. ABOVE MIDDLE: Megan Poth and Jillian Ezar. ABOVE MIDDLE RIGHT: Kimberly Marquez and Megan Martinez. LEFT: Julianna Perez, Kaedyn Filburn, Rosa Medrano, Amber Celian, Abigail Mendez, Thomas Ehrhardt, Joy Wells, Claire Crawford and Isabella Estrada. ABOVE: Chase Sanford, Stephanie Dillard, Kyle Kasper and his son Braxton.

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What’s in your

OFFICE? LEISHA MULLINS Operating director, Museum of the American G.I.

eisha Mullins has a love for the history of women in the military, and several examples are on display in her office at the Museum of the American G.I. Colorful World War II-era posters adorn the walls, and instructional pamphlets on making the adjustment to military life are plentiful. A series of women’s uniforms are on display just outside of her office. “I decided that women were an underrepresented part of our military history,” she says, “so we wanted to make sure that women get their fair share.” Mullins, who retired as a biochemistry professor at Texas A&M in 2018, is the operating museum director, and the secretary/treasurer on the board of directors. Her husband, Brent, is president of the board, and “the original driving force behind the museum,” she says. The museum opened in 2014 on Texas 6 in south College Station, and built upon the Mullins’ interest in collecting military items, including vehicles. Both come from military families, and Brent served in the Marine Reserves. “He decided instead of just keeping [artifacts], where he was the only one that could enjoy it, we’d open a museum as a nonprofit,” she says. “We are a 501(c)(3), so people can donate things. The vehicles were our initial collection, and some of the uniforms and posters. ... It has really grown to be much more encompassing than what we had originally thought of.” The museum has eight restored tanks, and more that are in the works, she says. “Living History” weekends at the museum feature re-enactments of battles. It’s all part of the museum’s mission to “preserve, honor and educate,” Mullins said. “It’s like that repository for the knowledge, the stories, and passing that on to future generations,” she says.

Story ROB CLARK | Photos LAURA Mckenzie

This is a Japanese flag that [American soldiers] signed. We do get a lot of various flags, but the ones we normally display are ones that were signed by the various groups. … This one was in ‘45, so they were after the war was over, and they were in Japan during the occupation. These are ones that have come in that I haven’t had a chance to do the next step with, which is to measure and hang them up. So they’re here to remind me to do that.

Brazos 360 | Fall 2019

We have a lot of items from Robert Acklen. He was one of the most decorated Aggies. He was in Vietnam. He was a helicopter pilot, a Cobra pilot. His sister has donated most of his items, but they found this, so they brought it in. It’s here because I haven’t had a chance to get it in with the rest of his items.

These are all challenge coins that have been donated to the museum. To get a challenge coin you have to do something, it’s kind of an honor. You’ve done some type of service or this or that with a group. We’ve worked with a lot of different groups, so over time they gave us their coins. Here is Squadron 18. We’ve done a lot with Squadron 18 and helped them out.

This is Annie. We call her Tour Guide Annie. She is the official greeter of the museum. She normally is at the front door to greet people and make sure they’re welcomed to the museum. She goes around on the tours. She’s kind of my shadow. When we post things with Annie on it on our Facebook or Instagram, we get more likes.

I like the posters. [This is] my favorite poster. … That’s 1943, a government published poster. … It was bringing women into the industry, bringing them out of the home. I also like it because “I found a job where I fit best,” and I feel like that fits me, too. It’s kind of my thing. I’ve been fortunate to find things that I like to do, jobs that I like to do. Whether it was industry, agriculture or business, it was that first time women were really being brought out of the home.

We have the uniforms, but we also collect the background information. … “WAC life” was Women Army Corps. This one was published by the War Department in 1945. … It tells them about what the jobs will be, the organization. They needed to figure out how women were going to work or fit into the military. ... In World War II is when women were in every branch of service. There was a lot to figure out … to explain to the women what they were going to do, to get that information out, what the pay scale would be, what their jobs would be, what their housing would be, and everything like that.

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Brazos 360 | Fall 2019

ExpEriEncE thE tradition

MOUSE TRAP

Resistance is futile from Disney’s family appeal

here are generally three reactions when you tell someone you’re taking a family vacation to Disney World: • Excitement/jealousy: “How fun, you’ll have a blast!” • Financial concern: “Man, that costs an arm and a leg.” • Outright disdain: “Yeesh. Why?” The “happiest place on Earth” isn’t for everyone, especially in Orlando’s summer swelter. As comedian Jim Gaffigan once said, “How can I spend an enormous amount of money, be uncomfortable and listen to my children complain and whine? Rob Clark Disney!” rob.clark@ theeagle.com But my household is smack dab in Disney’s strike zone. There’s no denying it. We are suckers for Mickey Mouse and his minions. In explaining to my children the massive scope of Disney’s entertainment reach — including owning family favorites Star Wars, Fox (and therefore The Simpsons), ESPN and Marvel — I went ahead and added “us” into that list. So the Magic Kingdom is indeed magical for my crew. You have to hand it to Disney — no one presents family entertainment any better. For all the hand-wringing about saving enough money to make the trip, that all floats away as the old-timey music plays on Main Street, while the sweet confection smell wafts out of the candy stores and dessert parlors and Cinderella’s castle comes into view. For those who have visited multiple times, it’s hard to not get swept up in the nostalgia, even if it’s memories like, “How did I ever think It’s a Small World was entertaining?” A family tug-of-war came to mind at Space Mountain. On a trip to Disneyland in California when I was 7, my dear mother didn’t think I was ready for such a ride. My Dad differed, and thought I’d love it. He won, and he was right, though Mom’s points were perfectly reasonable. That came rushing back this summer. Our youngest, age 6, was tall enough to ride Space

Mountain, but I had Mom’s old worries. After the first dip, my daughter squealed, “This is awesome!” She even did the arms-in-the-air bit and continued that on almost every ride, though I advised her it wasn’t really needed on the carousel. Or the Monorail. Or the car ride home. Random entertainment is at every turn, including homemade T-shirts, which are often matching among big groups. There’s a Little Mermaid deep cut here (“Dinglehopper hair, don’t care”), a “This place is pricey” reference there (“Most expensive day ever”). Alas, editing is needed everywhere: A couple wore matching shirts that showed affection for Mickey, and riffed on Toni Basil’s 1982 pop hit Mickey. The execution in grammar fell short, unfortunately, and it read “Oh Mickey, Your So Fine.” A puzzling part of the Magic Kingdom is the log-flume ride Splash Mountain. It’s the lone acknowledgement of Song of the South, the 1946 film that brought the Uncle Remus stories of Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox and Brer Bear to the big screen in a blend of live action and animation. It won an Oscar for the chipper Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah — perhaps the Disney-ist song of all Disney songs — and an honorary Oscar for James Baskett, who played Uncle Remus. But the film was criticized for its plantation portrayal of black people during Reconstruction, along with the

cartoon characters’ stereotypical voices and some of the storylines. It was problematic then and more problematic now. That has kept Song of the South under wraps since a 1986 theatrical re-release, and out of home video releases. Yet there is animatronic Brer Rabbit on Splash Mountain, trying to outsmart his bumbling fox and bear captors. Kids see the appealing characters but have no frame of reference. Even the Winnie-the-Pooh ride plainly spells out the bear’s adventures with oversized book-page explanations. On Splash Mountain, children probably think, “Brer who? What’s a briar patch? What exactly is going on here?” But the ride itself is pleasant, the songs are infectious, and there’s a big plunge and splash toward the end. Questions of context are mostly forgotten as riders compare who is the most soaked. Then again, overthinking things can put a damper on Disney. There is plenty of fun to be had, including people-watching. Take a break, get a ridiculous dessert concoction and take it all in: parents shuffling strollers, all kinds of international tourists, friendly and helpful staff, costumed characters, kids that are having the time of their lives and kids that are throwing epic tantrums. Something that is in short supply in such settings is spatial awareness. “There are 11 of us in this group, so let’s all lock arms and mosey to the next ride, blocking everyone around us.” They’re all wearing matching shirts, but you can’t get around them to see, so you assume the shirts say “We’re Obnoxious,” with Mickey ears on the “o”s. But these are pet peeves, and you do have to let go a bit. Accept the long lines (which are often manageable thanks to Disney’s “Fast Pass” system), embrace the inconveniences and don’t sweat the inconsiderate. Anticipate the weariness that sets in as the sun goes down, but hang in there or you’ll miss the fireworks and hate yourself in the morning. The smiles on the kids’ faces and the memories made are more than worth it. You may even get wistful as you drive away and see the big sign that says “See you real soon!” My wallet says no, but my brain knows better: That varmint Mickey is probably right.

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