I won't ever rehearse with the marching band again.  I'm sad.  I hugged my fellow senior piccolo marching band member because we've survived a lot together.  I'm sad.  I have one more run with my school.

My dad, who hasn't advocated for my membership in the band, gently reminded me to soak up today and the finality of today.

It feels like just yesterday that I was a freshman, feeling like I had all the time in the world. 

I don't think we'll place well because of our early time slot.  We compete first: a small crowd and sunny sky.  Oh well.  We had an hour practice to supplement our Friday practice instead of a long practice.  I'm glad, although we need practice.  No amount of practice would ever suffice.  We got fourth my first year, then sixth, then sixth.  I would love to get better than sixth, although I'm not optimistic. 

Oh well, I'll remember laughing with the piccolos, cheering with the band, yelling stupid sayings at the award ceremonies, talking to my close friend on the bus ride, untaping her sticks.  As par tradition, the guys did a shirtless last run through, although we wore our suspenders.  They looked ridiculous in the band pants without a shirt.  It made me laugh.  Placing well would just be icing on the cake.  
~
No more performances with my school ever, ever again.  It's so bittersweet.  I shared my lasting memory about that one blasted set I couldn't make freshman year and what our director said to me. 

When I say I fought, I mean I fought.  The wind blowing ferociously, I couldn't play part one.  Lovely.  During a hold in part five, I had to step out to catch my balance.  I had to stand there with my foot out for a very long time until we moved.  Oh well.  I couldn't help it. 

Some say that we did well, others didn't say so much.  We'll see.

So, I doubt I'll forget that someone got the pizza place employee to sing,"Can you feel the love tonight?" To the two young adult leaders who we've matched together.  It was really funny and memorable.  

~
We finished with a disappointing 11th out of 13th place.  Oh well. With odds stacked against us, we did the best we could.  It wasn't our fault that we went first and that the 20 mph winds whipped around us.  Every year, I'm not satisfied with our placing and then we rank worse.  From fourth to eleventh.  Oh well. 

I'll remember the cheering and friends and funny moments with the band.  I'll eventually forget our placings, although placing well is exciting.

My last season may not be particularly memorable for placings, but I made fun memories this year.  

Championships Weekend

In exactly two days, forty eight hours, I will be marching my very last show for my school ever.  The reality hasn't hit yet.  Never, ever again will I stress over balancing band rehearsal and school work.  I'll obviously have other worries.  The other last year marching band members and I will all deliver our speeches.  How am I here?  I can't believe it.  I haven't cried yet.

We perform first because our director didn't submit our fee on time, which really frustrates us.  We perform first, in the daylight and without much of an audience.  I don't know how well we'll do.  I would like to beat sixth place as we've gotten sixth for the past two years.  Oh well, whatever.  I've enjoyed this season.

I gave my senior speech just now.  Whenever I speak, I always have something that I want to add later.  I quickly paraphrased my selected blogposts because of the time limit.  Yeah, my senior speech was essentially about me.  Oh well, I wanted to share the ideas of never giving up and enjoying every minute. 

Although I haven't named people by name, people might know to whom I referred.  That's not a good idea.  Oh well.  Personal feelings.

I went to the last football game while I attend this school: ever.  I can't believe it.  No more required games or attendance.  

The Beginning of The End

In eight days, I will never suit up for my high school marching band ever again.  I will never put this uniform on again or march another show.  We marched our final show on our home football stadium last nigh.  Sigh.  I'll miss marching band. 

I don't have my countdowns for mean reasons: I have countdowns to remind myself that I don't have much time left at all.  I'll give my senior speech in 8 short days.  Four more practices. That's it.

We probably won't place well tonight.  This season hasn't been good at all for placings.  Oh well, I've enjoyed other aspects of band.  This year may not have been good for placings, but I've enjoyed it.

I'll remember untaping sticks on the way to competitions for one of my closest friends, yelling stupid things at award ceremonies, laughing with the piccolo section, making new friends through band.  This is what matters.  Soak.it.up.  

We performed.  Our directors kept reiterating that we raised our own standards and our bar, even from last week.  Although we didn't quite have the performance quality and feeling from this show.  My marching band mentor's mom personally told me that the show's music and forms were better than last week.

As tradition, our director did the piccolo cheer with us.  I was in the middle of telling a my first year story about that set in the opener I couldn't make.  We all told a MY first year story, even our director.  I'll miss marching band.  I wouldn't have thought so my first year.

I realized that, as I grow older, I make less and less major mistakes.  I just tend to go on autopilot more often. 

Post Awards:
Ahh!  We got second of five!  I'm so excited and so glad that we didn't get last.  Before they began to announce our division, I said that I'd be happy with fourth because I didn't want to get last.  As they announced fifth, then fourth, then third my sense of excitement and anticipation grew.  We placed well at this competition.  We haven't experienced the sense of anticipation as the announcers call the lower placings and work their way up for a long this feeling's amazing.  Wonderful. 

Our overall score has improved by 18 points.  Wow.  Perhaps we'll win most improved.

Sitting in front of us was our BIGGEST local rival band from the past two years.  It really got me that that band acted so rudely to us at championships last year.  We instigated a voluntary cheering war with that band.  "We've got spirit, yes we do.  We've got spirit, how 'bout you?" Back and forth a few times.  I'm SO GLAD that this band isn't in the same size division as us.  Even though we don't compete against them, I'm still frustrated with them.  Oh well.  A different local band that beat us twice because they don't move during more difficult musical passages wasn't at this competition, fortunately.  I'm tired of that band.  

SENIOR NIGHT

As tonight is senior night, a football game dedicated to the senior football players, cheerleaders, and band members, I thought about the changes in marching band.

We get home pretty early from home football games.  I used to think that home games were so late.  Geeze, everything was a late night for me.  Now, 11:00 really isn't that late.

I have just thought about all the upperclassmen who helped me in marching band.  Where has all the time gone?  We only have 8 short days left.  Forever: for those in my class.