The Band Years

Kelly: Maybe it's because it's Christmas. Or maybe it's the fact that I'm graduating college in almost four months. I'm not entirely sure why, but Holly and I have been thinking a lot about our marching band years. We strapped on ridiculously hideous and hot uniforms, piled onto a small school bus and traveled all across the state to football games and/or competitions. And we did this willingly. Every Friday and/or Saturday from the end of August until the beginning of November for 6 years. And we LOVED it.

I remember when I was a little girl, getting dragged to high school football games. I would only go to see the band play. "Mom, I want to be in the band!" I remember seeing the local college at their homecoming parade. "Mom, I want to be in the 110 someday." In 7th grade, Holly and I both had a choice to make. Prior to 7th grade, we had both done gymnastics for a few years. The choice was ours; either continue with gymnastics or quit and pursue marching band. When I look back on it now, I realize that the choice was obvious...since I didn't think I was that good at gymnastics. I was not meant to be a gymnast; I was meant to be a band geek! So many fond and wonderful memories of high school were usually associated with the time I did marching band. The places we traveled to, the conversations we had, the sometimes drama that occurred, the friends I made and the experiences I gathered. Nothing can even hold a candle to what I experienced for those number of years. It's sad to say though, now that I'm in college I don't think about band as often as I used to; I haven't picked up my clarinet in almost four years. I'm not even sure I'd remember how to play it. As I look it's still sitting in its case behind my bed. It's not that I've forgotten about band, but I'm sad to say that that part of my life is over and has been for quite some time now. But I have not nor will not forget all that I did and the wonderful fun times I had. When I graduate in May, I'm writing something very special on my hat that I have carried with me.

"DO IT!"

Holly: We managed to summarize six years of insanity into a navy blue three-inch binder, packed with programs from competitions, our show music, pictures, random fliers, etc.  We call it our band book.  It's in our pile of stuff that's going back with us to Berea.

We endured horrendously hot uniforms, unflattering polos that were at least two sizes too large, uncomfortable shoes that were at least a size too small; shoes that felt every crack, crevice, stone, and grass.  We waited on "the band guy" whenever there was a ding, scratch, or missing key in our instruments (I particularly relied on him after I literally fell on my flute.....THAT'S another story! lol).  We heard the Mountain Dew story about 15 times.  The crazy weeks at band camp, staying up way too late and doing stuff that need not leave the walls of the dorms.  Blistering sun, pouring rain, snow, hail, freezing cold...sometimes all in the same day (Riverview, anybody???).  A concession was deemed good if it had something other than hot dogs and burgers (Cowtails, large dill pickles, and Sour Skittles were our favorites).  If your throat wasn't sore and raw by the end of a competition night, be it from screaming or laughing, you weren't doing it right.  We bagged on Waterford all the time.  Our leadership meeting senior year wasn't much of a meeting...it was comprehending how in the world we were going to carry on our Fed Hock band legacy without our "Big Papa" and his tent.  It was at a football game in Belpre my junior year when I found out that one of my best guy friends liked me back.  We met our best friend through band; almost 10 years later, we're still friends.   The small door of the RCA Dome in Indianapolis opened for the first time as we stepped onto the field for our pre-show at Bands of America Grand Nationals, and all of us wondered how we ended up there.  That dang dog whistle will forever be the bane of my existence.

I don't really know how to close all of this, other than the fact that the stories we could tell would go on for years on end, and the memories will last even longer.

Teens these days...

Kelly: I found this video circulating around Facebook. You can read the description yourselves, but I just want to make something clear first; this dang girl has it MADE. I didn't even HAVE a cell phone, iPod OR laptop when I was that age. Point #1. Growing up, I had chores, on top of doing homework. I didn't even get my DRIVER'S LICENSE until I was 19. Got my first actual cell phone when I was also 19, first iPod at 16 and my first laptop till COLLEGE. But I EARNED every single one of those things! My brother had to get a job when he got his license.

Yeah, this girl does have it easy. Really. I never rebelled against my parents, because I knew I had to obey my parents. If I had said anything remotely close to what she wrote in that post, I'd been grounded till I was 60! RESPECT. It goes a long way!  When we were kids, we were never spanked. WHY? Because we knew not to hit each other!!! RESPECT...not only for parents but for siblings too. My mom often talks about the 5th graders she teaches; they're so whiny and expect everything to be handed to them. They don't have respect for ANYONE, especially themselves! It's sad. When I watch this, I'm proud that I was raised the way I was. I have no regrets!

Holly: As I have posted in several Facebook comments, I DO NOT condone the shooting of the laptop.  However, the video does raise several completely valid points.  The fact that a 15-year-old even had the nerve to post something like she did was completely uncalled for, not to mention immature and way disrespectful!! I mean, what was she trying to accomplish here? Whatever it was,  it was not very well thought through.  Of ALL the places to post a rant of any sort, DO NOT do it on Facebook! One way or another it will come back around!

I do have to agree with Kelly and say that she did have it easy as well.  Yeah, when I was a teenager, I had chores, and yes, I moaned and groaned all the time about doing them, but I did them.  But now that I'm in my 20's and about to live on my own, I realize that those few little things my parents asked me to do don't even compare to EVERYTHING that my parents have done for me!  To be honest, I think some contributions without being asked here and there are at the very least what we should be doing!  At least that's my mindset when I go home for breaks.  Because like I said earlier, my parents have done EVERYTHING for me!  I hope that that girl realizes this someday.  It's sad that she doesn't right now.

I can hear some of you saying "yeah, well, every teenager goes through a rebellious phase."  Well...I didn't.  Not even close.  I'm not trying to brag.  That's just how I was brought up.  Respect is a two-way street: you have to give it to get it.  I may not have always seen eye-to-eye with my parents, but I sure as hell respected them; I think I respect them more-so now. 

Teens: listen to your freaking parents.  Yeah, they'll drive you nuts, you'll argue with them, but when you get to be my age, you'll appreciate them and miss them more and more.  Trust me on this one. 

Here's the Video.