Parade Day is "Dream Come True" for RTA Employee

August 15, 2016

 

My name is Felisha Walker-Barbee and I am the RTA’s Lead Mobility Outreach Coordinator.  On Saturday, I marched in the 87^th Annual Bud Billiken Parade.

When I got the invitation to march in the parade, I did not hesitate to participate. I have wanted to be a part of this event since I was a young child.  As a child, this was an annual event that my entire family attended and enjoyed before returning to school.

I remember it like it was yesterday, sitting on the curb or behind the fences watching as the floats, band, majorettes, and other dance groups would ride and march down the street.  Watching this parade was one of the most exciting times of my childhood. At times during the parade, I would imagine what my role would be if I were in the parade. In some of my daydreams, I was the leader of the marching band/dance group, a majorette, a baton twirler, or I simply road on the float, waving at the on lookers.

On August 13, 2016, I was able to live out my daydream. I was not an on looker at the Bud Billiken Parade, but a walker in the parade. Although, I was not a leader of a band/dance group or even a majorette or a baton twirler, I had an amazing time and I can finally cross this one off of my bucket list!