5.18 Favorite Memories - Marching Band

Bestest Friend and I are in the middle of a blog project. Each day of the month we will post a picture on a pre-determined theme and write a little something about it. The theme for the eighteenth day of each month is "Favorite Memories."
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Atten-hut.

Blistering hot days in the sun, pushing flags into a pitted practice field, glide stepping my way from one formation to another.  Endless practice of eight steps for every five yards on that same practice field, fingers moving to the fight song playing endlessly in my head. Blisters on my heel from the miles up and down parade routes. Ice crystals on my reed at those late season competitions where I was half convinced the flag girls were going to get hypothermia and possibly frostbite.  Waiting in line to return my uniform, only to be told the jacket was on the hanger the wrong way. 

Mark time-hut.  Horns up.

Hours sitting with my best friends on a bus, traveling across the state, laughing, reading, studying, and gossiping. Watching endless football games with no awareness of what happened on the field.  The thrill of learning those songs, the formations, and how to avoid getting hit when the trumpet players surround you during the company front. The satisfaction of that moment when it all comes together, you know you were an integral part of an amazing performance.

About face.  Parade rest.
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To see what Bestest Friend wrote about the theme of the day, check out her blog, Too Legit to Quit.