Day 10: Marching Band

I was a band-geek in high school. The funny thing is, I never saw myself as a band-geek. Nope! I thought we were pretty cool. And, indeed I still think we were. My experience in band started back in fifth grade when we picked out what band instrument we wanted to play. My choice? I wanted to play the trumpet. The band director's response? "Your lips are too big to play the trumpet -- how about the trombone?" Thus began my illustrious career as a trombonist. The summer after ninth grade I was able to join Marching Band. I loved Marching Band from the minute it began. It wasn't the polyester uniforms in the blazing heat that got me hooked -- no, it was the community that quickly formed as we worked together to be the best we could be.


Marching Band provided me an opportunity to travel to places I had never been. While I was still 14, our band traveled to Calgary, Canada with a jaunt to Banff for my first view of the beautiful rocky mountains. The following summer we headed to Traverse City and Mackinac Island in Michigan. And, my last summer in band we traveled to Washington DC and Philadelphia. Each of these trips hold significant memories from in inception of "Little Laura Whiner" to long bus trips where band-mates harmonized "No one is to Blame" by Howard Jones or the whole bus singing popular George Michael's songs at the top of their lungs to the true start of a friendship with Pee Wee in Michigan that continues nearly 25 years later.

Marching band also put me outside of my comfort zone. As a 14 year old I was the lone girl in the trombonist section which just happened to also include some of the cutest soon-to-be seniors in high school. They would tease me (in a good way) and challenge me to be a better musician. These summertime parades also gave me the opportunity to be a winner. Each parade gave us the opportunity to beat our arch-rival Osseo. And, we were a good marching band. I have clear recollections of first place wins at award ceremonies at the Cambridge parade, the coveted Alexandria parade, and our grand-champion win in DC.

The biggest influence of Marching Band in my life, however, was the good friends I made. Nothing bonds you like marching through neighborhoods as you practice night after night, wearing ridiculous uniforms, taking long bus trips, winning and traveling together. My best friend in high school were fellow marching pirates and I was blessed with good friends.

Now as I go to sleep tonight I'm sure the drum cadence will be running through my mind...