Flashback Friday

October 1983
Marching Band competition was upon us, and two things happened.  1) I was told to be at the Band Booster meeting one evening; myself and three others received our letters.  I could now proudly wear a 'J' on my band jacket, for lettering in Band.  2) We took top honors at Marching Bands of America at Joliet, IL.

We'd made the finals, and naturally took top honors in Inspection, Drum Line, General Effect, Brass and Woodwinds, and I think even Drum Majors.  I stood at attention with my other fellow Color Guardsmen, listening as they announced 10th place.....5th place....4th.....3rd...2nd.....We then heard them announce 'The Jefferson Band'....and we whispered to each other, "Is that us?  For Real?"  For there was another Lafayette band, from Lafayette, Louisiana.  As reality sank in, we held our pose, but were screaming with joy.  Finally we heard 'Band!  Drop rank!'  I dropped my flag and we all attacked our guard instructor.  Later, we all received our 1st place medals, and several of us decided to wear them Monday to school, since it was the 1st time in history we'd ever placed that high in a marching band competition.

Later, we learned that the brass section had completely broken rank as soon as we'd won.  They were jumping up and down, waving their instruments in glee, while those of us at the front maintained our dignified pose!

The trip home was filled with excitement, and we were met with a police escort with lights and sirens.  Several people turned out at the school to welcome us home, and even the TV and newspaper reporters were there.  I ended up in the back with friend R, while other friends were in the front, and in the morning, we made the front page of the paper.  You can't see me, but I know who I'm standing behind!

I woke up Monday morning and put on my blue and white MBA shirt, and placed my medal over my head.  Once at school, I headed to B's locker, where he told me to 'take that thing off your neck."

I was incensed.  "Why?  I earned it."

"You don't see me flaunting my medals in school, do you?"

I looked him up and down.  "I wasn't aware you had any."  I walked off and didn't speak to him the rest of the day.

That evening at band practice, he showed up and admitted he'd been jealous.

"This is our senior year, B.  Why are we fighting?"

"I don't know."

For Halloween, since the 3rd installment of Star Wars had been released, and my Official Fan Club patch arrived, I dressed in black pants, white shirt, and my black velour jacket.  I carried my original Light Saber, pinned my red and black patch to my lapel, and went as a Jedi Knight.  My sister was a little embarrassed when I told everyone at the end, 'May the force be with you', and refused to walk around with me after three houses.

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Present Day:
I've been put in charge of the Choir booth at our 2nd annual Feast of Booths.  Today I'm decorating my display and baking brownies and/or cookies for the bake sale.

Tomorrow's Karaoke Songs:
Since it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I've got a Melissa Etheridge song in my lineup, I decided to do something a little different and sing 3 ME songs:
Come To My Window
Enough Of Me
I'm The Only One
Blaze of Glory-Jon Bon Jovi (for my 'redemption' song)