Band Season

Way back in 1995, I was dragged, kicking and screaming to band...

My daughter tried out on an instrument without so much as discussing this with her parents.
(She always was strong willed and pretty certain of what she wanted!)
And for two years, we continued to do both pre-pro level ballet AND band, including a year of marching band. When you add two little boys who were playing soccer and were on swim team, it was a 'live in the car' kind of schedule.

Anyway, sometime in there, I, personally 'joined' the amazing team called band parents.
And for a LOT of years now, from July to November, marching band takes over our schedule, if not our lives. (I'm smiling here... it's not a bad thing!)

We have had some adventures. We've worked hard and laughed and cried, gotten up early and stayed up... well till it was early again. My children have had the privilege of some amazing band teachers and directors, a diversity of close friends and constructive activities. Their knowledge and skills have dumbstruck me at times. They've learned self discipline and leadership skills. The music has softened the edges for my hard hitting academic kids in the nicest of ways.
They've learned life lessons far beyond the scope that I would have ever imagined.

And for all of this, I've been on the sidelines.
Yes, I've worked...
But I've gained more than I have given.
I've watched ... my children, their friends, their instructors...
From flutes and piccolos, trumpets and now percussion,
the seasons have had a rhythm and a melody that have so enriched our lives.

And so we find ourselves a week out of our first competition.
The old familiar rhythm is there... practice (which never ends with a drummer), rehearsals, football game Friday's, competition Saturdays...
For me, fitting uniforms, scheduling chaperones, applying band-aids...
Late Friday nights at Waffle House...

To our old familiar rhythm comes a new director... young and full of energy and enthusiasm.
I wish him well and promise to stand alongside for support.
I wish him a long and rewarding career and will hope and pray that we're enough of a challenge for him without doing him in...

Another band season...

I know how short this time shall last.

I have watched two other children, along side hundreds of their friends, pass through this...
I know that one day, noone will drum on every level surface in my house...

I know how quiet it will be.

So, I will watch and take it in and save up these moments ...

Nothing else that I can do right now is more important than that.