The first time I was in this stadium was November 3, 2012. My son was a freshman in high school and a member of his school’s marching band. That day we waited with growing excitement as the results were called, band by band until thundering applause roared through the stadium and my son’s marching band was named state champions. It was a moment of sheer joy and I’ll never forget that day, in that stadium.
My son went on to march four years of high school marching band. He is now a freshman in college and a member of his university’s marching band. This stadium is now his home turf.
My daughter is a freshman in high school and a member of the marching band that my son was in for four years. Today my daughter marched for the first time in this stadium for the state championship, in this stadium. I, as the band’s nurse was one of the parents who escorted the band into the stadium and onto the field. Moments before I left the band to enter the stands, my daughter held out her hand and I gave it a squeeze, blew her a kiss and found my seat. Who appeared in the stands? My son because this is his stadium.
After the competing bands were finished, my son’s marching band played their exhibition performance and absolutely rocked the house. My son had a huge smile on his face because his high school band parents cheered him on. After eight weekends of two kids in marching band, I finally got to watch both of my children perform on the same day. In this stadium. For me this was huge.
Finally it was time for awards. My daughter’s band competed against twelve other bands. Band by band we waited, our hearts beating faster, our bodies tingling, and the tension growing more and more as each band was called. My daughter and her friends held hands. Again the stadium roared with thundering applause as my daughter’s band was announced as second place winners. More moments of shear joy for me.
My kids don’t read this blog, it’s ok. To see them perform on the same day, in the same stadium, my son’s stadium was huge for me. I dedicate this post to them, for their hard work and dedication to music and their schools. They can memorize music, play and march without missing a beat. I have the greatest admiration for them.
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