Another contest entry from my favorite tagboard contributor, seashell:
Guest Post:
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Seashell's (Belated) List of Band Memories
Again, Jeff needs to figure out how to work time. If he knew what he was doing, this would be hitting the scene back when the band memories craze was sweeping the convogi-nation...
9th Grade--Drum Major: Jeff C., Show: The Beatles Revisited, My Goal: To be a "cool" band kid. This was back when being in band wasn't the dorkiest thing one could do, but it was still pretty darn close. It was the year we got new uniforms, did the chicken strut, and pretended to be Nazis. I was probably the only person in the entire band that liked the uniforms but felt deprived because I never got to wear the old, long coats. You could truthfully call me a "stupid freshman" because I went to homecoming with Guy just because he was my squad leader and I didn't want to make him mad. We went to band camp out in the woods, but the food was great (thanks, eRIc's mom). eRIc and P did that gay switching hands while playing each other's trumpet thing, and I was introduced to band director wrath. "Oh dang" was indeed popular, but not with Dr. Hamilton. Jazz band was cool because I was one of only three freshmen, and I got to hang with all the cool, older kids. In concert band I beat the sax section with a stick and took first chair. Then Guy tried to challenge me...poor guy (pun intended). We got no shirt in jazz band...
10th Grade--Drum Majors: I liked to call them Raven Crow, Show: Some Stuff, My Goal: To stay as far away from the freshmen as possible. That was the year drama became synonymous with band, and the guard looked like traffic cops. I played a trio with Karen and eRIc in Birdland, but a trumpet is much louder than a flute or sax, so I looked like an idiot every show. We got the big, stupid, new podium, and Brandon Kelly (aka Kirk Franklin) almost had a heart attack when some dorks dropped the vibes. I hated Madlock (hate is such a strong word...) because he gave the MacArthur Park solo to Lockard instead of Farsheshe. I experienced my first full year on uniform crew and thought for the first time about ending my life (I exaggerate). We got a new drummer in jazz band who I called Basket Weaver. Tim Pote called Madlock "fat," and I thought he was gonna get killed. Still no jazz band shirt...
11th Grade--Drum Major: Myself, Show: Some Stuff w/Electronics, My Goal: To show the Seniors who's boss. Giving orders to people who were older than me was fun for about a week, and then I just got bored. We used lots of electronics, and the guard actually had decent uniforms for once. The podium fell on my head and broke, and I was forced to use the old one with the busted steps. I almost lost my pants trying to get on that thing at homecoming. I tried to take Jeff's old office, but they put old uniforms in there and there was no room. Jazz band sucked because they wouldn't fix the damn schedule and Josh, Cara, Farsheshe, and I couldn't be in the class. We still got to play, but it just wasn't the same without the strange goings-on of 3rd period. I think I ate more in AP Music Theory than I have in my entire life. We finally got a jazz band t-shirt, and I was so happy I almost wet myself. It was cool...
12th Grade--Drum Major: Me...again, Show: Piano Men, My Goal: To get through the year as quickly as possible. I had senioritis somethin' fierce. This was the year Farsheshe left. It was very sad. I had to be in charge of the uniforms all by myself, and I wanted to kill people more than ever (again, I exaggerate). We had way too many guard girls, and one carried on the family tradition of messing up the whole show. The music was awesome, and for months I couldn't get "Benny and the Jets" out of my head. Being on the podium all the time, I got to hear all the rude remarks about the peons; it was great. It was the year the Madlocks got mad because none of the band girls made the homecoming court, and they gave all of us flowers (thanks, yo). I didn't get to be in concert band because I had to take P.E. to graduate. I'm sure they all missed me...On the way back from SAYWE, I got pulled over in Mrs. Madlock's car because she had a light out and her plates were six months overdue. Jazz band was fun, and we played "The Puffy Taco," which became my soccer theme song. Again we had no t-shirt...
There you have it. The crux of my life.
seashell
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I'm sorry about the whole time thing, I'm still working on it, and yes I know it's all my fault.
Jeff C.
