I thought of the ironic nature of life, especially lately in marching band. I started and may end my marching band career by marching and not playing: my first year because I didn't know how to process all of the show's components and my last year because I physically can't play.
I held a piccolo to my lips because I can't march when I don't play as I process the show entirely by the music. I couldn't form my lips right. I then ran in during a drink break to try a flute because the bigger instrument doesn't require such tight, precise lips. In vain I tried to play a note: an easy note at that.
Our band director doesn't understand that I CAN"T play. He thinks I just need to use my facial muscles. Well, my teeth are essentially in a cast and my lips are still swollen. I could play just as well as I could after I got my braces on/off, my wisdom teeth out, any other dental procedure. Yes, my facial muscles didn't have as much endurance, but I could still play.
Because this is my last year, I wanted to go on Fall Retreat with my youthgroup. Surprisingly, our director let me out of the Friday game and rehearsal that Saturday for the competition. I'm shocked that he didn't say that I had to be at the game and rehearsal. He was surprisingly and fortunately (for me) gracious considering that I won't have this opportunity again.
I have a month left in marching band. In one month, I won't ever perform with my school's marching band again. I'll miss marching band because it gives me common ground to discuss with my friends whom I've met and gotten to know in band and also because I've invested so much time, energy, stress in marching band. My life will change next Summer and Fall when I won't have marching band. After four years of having marching band constantly during the Summer and Fall, I'll feel like I'm skipping.
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