8/21/12

There's something in the air...and it takes me back.




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:

SanH said...

Cheers to you for a happy begining of the school year, is quite too soon to be an ending right?

Angela said...

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.

ChiTown Girl said...

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. :)

Expat mum said...

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!

Irish Gumbo said...

Huzzah! WootWootWoot! Boo-yahh! :)

Yes, I'm being goofy...but I dig the transformational aspects to this little slice of life. Yes, I do.

Brian Miller said...

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...

Unknown said...

You = adorable!
Happy Back to School!