Category Archives: Band

Even though …

my daughter followed her own path and is no longer affiliated with a marching band, I find I’m still hooked.

I find it a shame that, to my knowledge, anyway, college marching bands do not compete.

I’m forced, because of this limitation, to go to High School Marching Band competitions.

I’m still looking for one to rival Twin Spring’s “Superman” Season, which occurred in or around 2006-7.

My Taylor nailed the trumpet.

I could say that because I’m biased (which, of course I am), but I say it because she nailed it.

I didn’t mean to look forward to it this year.

Band competition season, that is.

I told myself I wasn’t going to make the circuit this time around, but I knew I was kidding myself when I said it.

It seems that unwittingly and without regret, I became a band geek.

I’m ok with that.

Some of the people I admire most call themselves by the same name and so I find myself in good company.

image

UVAWise Tubas. Love the reflections.

image

Very fond memories. UVAWise Marching Cavaliers.

Robert Frost …

has always been, since the very first time I read his work, my favorite poet.

He writes of nature and God and love and beauty in a way that I can relate to through photography of the creation he wrote of.

I especially like “Good-bye and Keep Cold” as I do love my mountain orchard …  feel free to visit this post regarding just that – https://ginamintonkearns.com/2014/02/05/my-orchard-awaits/ .

And “Stopping by the Woods”, well really.

When my daughter was young, I did not spank her or put her in time-out.

Instead, when she had committed an infraction, she wrote.

Robert Frost’s works.

At the time, it ticked her off to have to write this poet’s verse, but, because she hated to write anything, it had the desired effect in making her work harder in school in order to avoid writing; which she hated worse than any kind of poison.

She now attends college at UVa Wise and is majoring in music.

She wants to be a band director and I couldn’t possibly be more proud of her.

At this year’s commencement excercise, a reference to Robert Frost was made. Not only did she recognize it, but relayed it to her friends.

It was, whether it was meant to be or not, a proud moment for me.

There will be many things she will forget as she forges her path in life, but Robert Frost will not be one of them.

She is my crowning achievement, and I am astutely proud of her.

I have, along the way, lost many wonderful, intriguing friends because I was too much, too crazy, too something and they couldn’t handle it.

I certainly don’t hold it against them because sometimes “my crazy” befuddles me and I wish I could “unfriend” or “unfollow” myself.

I have a greater hope for my girl and pray the “crazy gene” has passed her over.

My brain is a mystery to me and it is too much to ask anyone, even the diligent, mystery solving, “I can figure it out because I’m brilliant that way” type to fathom.

Jesus knows it, sees it as it is, and loves me despite it.

Or mayhaps, because of it.

As I said, I’m good either way.

That, for me, is enough.

image