This is one of my all time favorites. I was in Orlando with my youngest daughter who was then just 6 years old. I had been invited to speak at Print Image International's February conference. The year was 2002 (not that that matters, but I feel like celebrating whenever I remember a date). The plan was that I would speak on Sunday morning and then Maddy and I would hit the Magic Kingdom at noon. The day before we had gone to Animal Kingdom. When we arrived, it was 56 degrees and raining. The temperature went down from there to finally arrive at 49 degrees. We were completely unprepared and shivered back to the hotel. But the next day meant more Disney and Madeline was a wonderful traveler. She was up early and primed to go.

My presentation began at 7am and was to go until 9:30. Maddy sat in the last row and colored from the materials she had brought in her backpack.

As I have mentioned in other Road Story columns, simply standing in one place puts tremendous strain on one's back, much more so than walking great distances. That fact, coupled with the fact that I had spent an entire day in the damp, raw, cold wilds of Animal Kingdom combined to somehow cause my back to be thrown out. I felt it when I was standing there and knew I was in serious trouble. Never could I remember such pain, but I finished my presentation. When I was done, I called Steve Johnson (Print Image's Executive Director) over and told him what happened. All the time this was happening, my beautiful Madeline was standing in the back of the room, backpack at the ready, fully prepared for our day together. When she realized that I was in pain, she came up to the front of the room and said, "Daddy, if you are too sore to go, we don't have to. There will be other times." God, I love her for that. No, I said, we are going to Disney!

In the past I have hurt my back on many occasions including a number of times while on the road. Generally, I can rest and stretch it out. Once, in New Orleans, I got a massage to help. In every instance, the best coping method was Advil and a stiff drink. It provided just enough relief to get me through the day. Then, once home, I would go and see Dr. Paul Karr, my miracle-working chiropractor and he would straighten out my 6'6" body once again. Logically, then, I just needed to get to the park and find a bar. As much as I hated the sound of it, I needed a drink!

So, Madeline and I made our way to the Magic Kingdom, arriving at 11:30 or so. We stepped off of the monorail and walked down the ramp to the entrance. I looked around for the nearest Disney employee and set my eyes on a smiling young man whose name read, "Chip." "Chip," I said, "I have hurt my back very seriously." He offered to help and I replied, "Thank you, but the best thing for my back would be a cocktail. Alcohol, you see, will get me over the hump and make the pain tolerable.

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