So it didn’t hit me until yesterday that today is my last day in the Spartan Marching Band. Something that was such an integral part of my life is about to end. Granted this year I haven’t had a lot of fun because in addition to band, I have been having one hellish semester. I wouldn’t say I have ever hated it, even though being an alternate freshman year REALLY sucked, but I have been ready for band to be over for a couple weeks now. And now the last rehearsal (this morning’s) is over. If I don’t march drum corps this summer, today could quite possibly be the last day I play my trumpet.
Can we talk about how I have only played trumpet for 3 years? How before Spartan Marching Band, I was not a brass player? And if it had not been for Dave Peters, I probably would never have had the balls to audition for drum corps? How I am a different and better person because of my time in the SMB?
At the senior toast yesterday, I wanted to say something but didn’t. I didn’t want to open my mouth and mention drum corps in front of those who dislike it and give them the opportunity to dislike me as well. But being in drum corps, I have marched in a lot of stadiums. Professional bowls, domes, high school stadiums, college stadiums, stadiums that probably can’t even be called stadiums. Hell, in Europe we marched on soccer fields. And in all of this traveling and stadium-going, I have never found a stadium I like more than Spartan Stadium. Never. There is nothing like kickstepping out of the tunnel and onto that field, experiencing the rush of playing State Fanfare surrounded by 78,000 people. The crowd is a lot bigger than a drum corps crowd and they aren’t all there to watch me, but I’m not sure where else I could ever experience anything quite like it.
57 – 46 – 18 – 26
If we win the game this afternoon, we will probably be going to a bowl game. I don’t want to get too excited or jinx anything, but I would love to see our team (and the band) at a bowl in December. Keep your fingers crossed.
When from these scenes we wander
And twilight shadows fade
Our memory still will linger
Where light and shadows played
In the evening oft we’ll gather
And pledge our faith anew
Sing our love for alma mater
And they praises M.S.U.
