Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Flashback!
I was walking Chancho this morning and was hit with a total flashback. We live fairly close to one of the high schools. Not right next door, but the kids around here can totally walk and get there in 10 minutes. So, this morning I walked out of the parking lot and was hit by the sound of the marching band practising. First of all, I was surprised by how loud they are! I heard one trumpet playing doing his solo and it sounded like I was in the same room with him! Second, I had a million memories come flooding back....you know, early morning band practice (it was 7:30 this morning...man am I glad I don't live closer to the high school!), band trips, sluffing in the band room (and A'Cappella room as well) and having the teacher say you were his aid if the truancy officer came in (really, as a parent I think what kind of teacher does that, but as a student I loved both of them), band camp (and making fun of the townies as they made fun of the 'big city kids'. lol), marching in parades in the wickedly hot heat and those hideous band uniforms! Now, I know that a lot of you are thinking 'band geek'. I need to say that I think band players get a bad rap. Yes, indeed, some of every band members are geeks (sorry mom, I know you hate that title), but just because you wear the polyester uniform does not instantly make you a geek. I like to hope that I was not on the geeky side but just plain normal, but really, who cares now? It has been almost 20 years since I got out of high school and it has been 20 years since I got out of band (the teacher my junior/senior year disliked me almost as much as I disliked him....hard to believe that anyone could dislike me, huh?!). Who cares what happened back then. I am who I am now, ya know? I don't have a lot of fond memories of high school. I think that kids are too mean to each other and there is so much pressure to be thin, have the right hair, wear the right clothes, hang out with the right people, but when I was in band I didn't really feel that. We had a lot of fun and frankly were pretty good! So, I enjoyed my little flashback this morning, but I am still glad I don't live any closer to the sound!
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7 comments:
A new high school just opened up across the street from my back yard. I can watch football games from my back porch! Anyway, the marching band begins practicing at 6:20 a.m.!!! The drums feel like they are in my house they are sooo loud. It often wakes my kids up. It's not the funnest alarm clock let me tell you. Anyway, my neighbors are frankly sick of it. We've called the school and been told that there is no other place or time the band can practice. They are in direct violation of the city noise ordinance which doesn't allow noise until 7:00 am. Did I mention they turn the stadium lights on as well?!
I love the marching band, just not that early in the morning. Sorry about the soap box.
it's a good thing you were just a band geek and not an orchestra nerd. orchestra nerds are worse than band geeks. :)
Great memories - I was only in Colorguard for one year, but have both good and bad memories from that time. I work only a couple of blocks from WHS and love it in the summer when I leave the building and hear the percussion line practicing. It is strange to go to Subway and watch all the high school students walking down the street to catch the bus - did we really look that young back then? They look like they are only 10. Reading your blog took me back to those memories. Thanks for sharing!!!
GEEK!!!!
You are right...I hate that word! I hate 'labeling' words, except daughter of God. (How's that?! lol) Love you! (BTW, I'd rather listen to a band playing than the announcements over the PA system!!! Drives me crazy!)
Jules: 6:20 a.m.!!!???!!!! That is just wrong on so many levels! I am so sorry that you have to deal with that. I would so be complaining too! Good luck with that. :)
Katie, I tried to point out I was not a geek! lol
Janene, they are not only younger looking than we were (although as I look at peoples pics on Facebook from high school we did look kind of young...hehe) they also have a lot bigger attitudes! haha
Josh, you are such a dork and I don't mean just back in high school!
Mom, you are right about the labels. They are mean. One of the things I hated about high school! I think I would gladly take your label. :) I do think that your 'announcements' are so strange, especially that they do them in the summer!
We just went and saw my Derek perform last night with his marching band! He plays the melaphone. I never thought in a million years I would have a kid in marching band...but he loves it!
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