I drove slowly around the lane that loops around the high
school parking lot. I was a bit
early to pick up Golden Boy and a few of his fellow ninth graders from the grueling
morning football practice.
I was the head of the parent parking brigade, and I rolled
my window down before I turned off the car.
I turned my head slightly to the left so that I could watch
the high school band practice their halftime show in the parking lot below.
It took my breath away.
They were playing Anchors Away and each section marched with
purpose and determination as they zig zagged their way through each other.
My heart filled as I listened to the familiar song. My eyes searched
quickly for the percussion section as my mind returned to 1972. I spotted her; the smallest
member of the section balancing the oversized snare drum as her legs tried
desperately to keep pace with her fellow percussionists.
It wasn’t easy; and that I knew for a fact.
I was that girl; the last to get her drum and the shortest drummer
in the band. I worked hard, made sure I kept up, and laughed while others were convinced I would quit.
But I didn’t.
On this summer day I smiled because I knew that the
smallest drummer out in that parking lot wouldn’t quit, either.
Well, except when she becomes the cheerleader. Only THEN will she quit the band. She’ll do it on her own terms, and go
from the smallest drummer in the band to the happiest cheerleader on the squad. She’ll be perched proudly on the tippy top of
the pyramid, and then all of the
band will be cheering.
They most certainly all will be cheering.
(Some stories do
have a happy ending.)
7 comments:
Cheers to you for a happy begining of the school year, is quite too soon to be an ending right?
Perseverance and hard work will always build character and help you when times are tough, you obviously learned these amazing traits at a young age, it helped shape you into the wonderful person you are today.
I'm so glad you didn't let the negative people keep you away from writing and sharing your stories, I love reading your blog. Thank you.
awww....now you have me all melancholy, missing my marching band days.
Actually, thanks for bringing up memories of some of the happiest years of my life. :)
Marching bands and cheerleaders - As someone who didn't grow up here, this is yet another aspect of American life that I just don't get. (Which is not the same as saying I don't like them, don't agree with them or suchlike, BTW)
Fortunately my kids' school has neither so I don't have to fake enthusiasm!
Huzzah! WootWootWoot! Boo-yahh! :)
Yes, I'm being goofy...but I dig the transformational aspects to this little slice of life. Yes, I do.
why you did not warn me that being in the classroom would kick my a$$ is beyond me...smiles....rock on VM and here is to the great start...now i am going to go take a nap...
You = adorable!
Happy Back to School!
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