There are places I remember . . .

Well, this isn't exactly the picture I wanted but I guess it will have to do . . . went to a meeting at the local High School (not this one pictured as this was my home away from home in the late 70's) and as I arrived to park in the school parking lot, the marching band was making their way to the parking lot. Now, at 6:30 pm around here, that means it is already getting pretty dark. Nonetheless, here came the marching band, streaming from their band room exit, clothed in sweats, hats and the knit gloves with their fingers cut off to have their practice. They first learned a routine on their Parking Lot spot (all marked off with hash lines and . . . . what are those lines called at the 10, 20, 3o yard marks? Yard lines? Oh gosh, I have forgotten!) with the blarring megaphone and loud taps of drum sticks by the Drum majors. At the end of my meeting, I came out to find the band had taken the field for a last run through of the program. Pretty cool, brought back all sorts of memories when I used to be out there, in the freezing cold (50's seemed cold in October), dark, wondering what I was missing on the TV shows of the day - "Knots Landing" and "Soap". I remember back in my marching band days that night practices were the best - it was cool, it was dark and there was the fact that if I messed up, not as many kids would see it. Wonder what the kids of the marching bands of today miss while at practice. They don't need to worry about missing such things now, most kids have TiVo!

Anyone out there a Marching Band alumni from High School and College? Don't you wish there was some venue for us "seasoned" players? It might be good exercise! No, that would mean I might miss "ER" or "Gilmore Girls" as I don't know how to turn on the TV these days, less know how to tape or DVD something!