My family and I attended the Band Extravaganza on Nov. 10, 2002, at C.Y. Stephens. It was a wonderful performance by the ISU Bands.

After the show, the ushers were pushing our party to depart the auditorium. Included in our party were two elderly women who need special assistance to move at all. We delayed our departure from the seats on purpose to allow for the crowds to exit ahead of us. Our delay was maybe by four to five minutes.

Now I ask you, ushers of the event, what was the big hurry? Was there some other concert coming in right afterwards? Can you possibly understand that two elderly people cannot be caught up in throngs of people while walking with canes and an arm of another just to be able to walk?

That auditorium is marginal, at best, for anyone other than chipper young folks to enter, exit, use the restrooms, etc. How about showing a bit of tolerance for our seniors who want an afternoon of entertainment?

Patricia Swanson

Ames