The Marching Band

Tonight I will be stepping back in time. Twelve years back, I believe. I'm taking my daughter to a high school football game. We're picking up my brother and meeting my old high school friend Rachael at Arby's before heading over to the game.

I'm pretty sure I've never actually paid to enter a Godwin football game before. I always went in with the band. In uniform, of course. I played clarinet all four years of high school and by my senior year I was the woodwind coordinator. A position I created and then talked the director into giving to me. Smooth talker I was. Actually my friend Alison and I both wanted to be clarinet section leader. The new position solved our problem. I could be the woodwind coordinator and she could be the clarinet section leader.

So while we're paying to go to a high school football game, I'll be there to see the bands. I'll probably mark time to the drum cadence and get excited when they enter the field. It'll take all the self control I possess not to salute when the drum majors do. I'm sure I'll shout EAGLES when the band does. I'll notice when people are off step and when there are spacing issues. I'll be more critical of Freeman's band than Godwin's. I'll probably take a few trips down memory lane, too. Some things you just can't forget. Like 8 to 5! I bet I could still do that on the first try. (That's 8 steps in 5 yards with the middle of your foot hitting the yard line for those of you who aren't band people.)

Daniel is spending the night with Grandma and Papa tonight. It's his turn, really. Brenna had a whole week in Disney with them, so he should be entitled to at least one night by himself. He's probably safer over there anyway. He and Brenna were playing so hard last night that they clonked heads and he got a pretty sad looking black eye. Ouch!!

(If I have time later tonight when we get home, I'll post the picture.)