Staff Writer
“We left South Portland on the bus at 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25 and arrived in New York City at 5:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Day,” said Carol McElwee. “We were taken straight to where all the costumes were handed out. And because the balloon we were handling was very close to the front of the parade, we really didn’t have to wait too long in line to get out costumes,” she added. After receiving their parade garb, they walked to the balloon area at 7 a.m. waiting for the parade to start at 9 a.m.
Contributed photo
Spiderman wandered the streets of New York City during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
McElwee was speaking in reference to her recent experience as a “ballon-a-tic” in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade during which she and John McElwee, their daughter Darcy and her spouse, Taylor Leighton along with his parents, Judy and Bill Leighton all trooped to the Big Apple and were responsible for Spiderman’s journey down the parade route.
“I’m just glad I was in shape,” said the Caribou resident adding, “the parade route was about two and one-half miles long and I know that we ran easily one and one-half of them.” McElwee is no stranger to distance running as she has participated in both the Boston and New York marathons.
“It was really exhilarating,” said McElwee. “Watching that big balloon turn the corners of the New York streets, seeing the thousands of spectators and hearing the kids just screaming as ‘Spidey’ came into their view. New Yorkers are very well organized and they support their city’s events,” she added.
Regarding the experience, McElwee said that of the six family members, although they all enjoyed the exciting chance to be in the famous parade, not all of them said they would come back, given the opportunity to be a ballon-a-tic again. “I’m glad I did it, I always try to find something different to do,” declared McElwee.
“This was a very special Thanksgiving,” said McElwee adding, “It is one that created a lot of memories for my family. Someday when I’m watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on television with my grandchildren I’ll be able to tell them that their Grammie once helped control the Spiderman balloon through the streets of New York City.”
As for McElwee’s next challenge? “Something will come up that will make me think — ‘Oh, gosh I’d really like to do that’.”
Contributed photo
Left, These eight individuals were all part of a much larger group of ‘balloon-a-tics’ who traveled the streets of New York City with Spiderman during the recent Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. In back from left are: John McElwee, formerly of Caribou, his son-in-law and daughter Taylor and Darcie Leighton and Carol McElwee of Caribou. In front, from left are two unidentified Mainers kneeling beside Taylor Leighton’s parents, Bill and Judy Leighton of Orrington.
