As 6th grade - a part of elementary school back then - drew to a close I worked very hard to convince my parents to let me play in the band. This was no easy task. There was a great deal of concern that I would not stick with it. I can't fault them for their concern. I am sure my gnat-like attention span was firmly in place long before I realized it myself. I found an incredible love for music through learning to play the flute. To this day I can still remember being on stage surrounded by others as we worked together to play music. It was an amazing feeling. Being a band member not only gave me the opportunity to grow as a person it allowed me to belong. Band became my life and the place where I learned many important life lessons.
I learned that hard work leads to excellence; failure is a part of life; competition can make or break a friendship; working well with others is important and fun; and lastly, I learned that I am totally incapable of marching and playing a musical instrument at the same time. Sadly I have absolutely no sense of rhythm. I faked my way through a few Christmas parades but, being a part of a real marching band - not going to happen. Thus, my musical career ended with 9th grade in 1973.
I thought the friendships forged during these years were lost forever due to moving and life in general. Thanks to Facebook, this week I was reunited with four friends from those days. It is amazing to reconnect with people I thought I would never see again. In some ways those 38 years have melted away, then I look in the mirror. Oh, yeah, I really am 53.
Pictures to come this weekend. I'm going digging around to see what I can find that will stir some memories without humiliating anyone. If you were a part of my world at Coakley Jr. High in Harlingen Texas...stay tuned!
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