I always hoped my kids would be in band. It was a selfish hope. I loved my high school experience and I wanted my girls to have it too. I would try to explain it to you but, honestly, if you weren’t a band nerd, the whole concept is just gonna seem ridiculous to you.

The high school band in MJ allows kids as young as 8th grade to march. When Savannah was finishing up her 7th grade year, I casually asked if she was interested in trying it. She was not enthusiastic about the idea. She said, “Mom, I will march when I am in high school band and I have no choice.” I didn’t press the issue. A few weeks later she breathlessly begged me to let her try out for color guard. A flag changed my kid’s whole perspective on marching band.

What followed is a blur of practice, band fees, football games and competitions. Those kids practiced twice as much as I ever did in high school. (And I thought we practiced a whole lot.) I (privately) questioned every decision made by her band director and was proved wrong each and every time. Basically, the guy knows what he is doing and I don’t know doodly-squat about marching band anymore.

But I realized over and over why I coveted this experience for my kids. Band teaches you to get over yourself. In band, you always put the group above yourself. You sacrifice your time, your sweat, and sometimes your mental health for a greater goal. The show…it’s all about the show. If you weren’t in band, you might watch this video and think – ‘Big whoop…a bunch of kids marching around to entertain during halftime’. But for us, this is a masterpiece. The culmination of months of blood, sweat and tears.

Savannah has worked so hard. Practice twice a week. Late games Friday nights. Early contests Saturday morning. She made it through her first season with straight A’s and just a few meltdowns. I could not be more proud.

There are a lot of kids in this family. Who knows what kind of activities the other ones may pursue? Whatever they do, I will support them 100%. I will go to the concerts, the play, the games, the practice, whatever. But the Band of Gold is my legacy. I can’t help how much I love it.

has been interrupted by marching band.

I had no idea how much driving would be involved. I got a lot to say about many things…as usual. Hoping I can get them posted sometime before Christmas.