The quest for humility

when I first joined band, I was shocked at how bad I was. though I didn't even know the extend of it
I was in awe of the trumpet player who had to wear heating pads and would cry in pain from just standing at attention, but would do it anyway
there was a girl in my section who would always yell at me for not making my dot and being out of step and such
that would make me mad
Mr. Jazz impressed many things on me, the main thing was that band was not about beating other bands. it was nice to win, but you always win if you did your best and got a better score than the last time you performed.
and we were always last or close to it, but we didn't care because we tried and got better than we were before
then the next year, everything clicked for me. marching was second nature. I could shut my eyes and hit my dot I bet
(perhaps not)
but I knew I was poised for greatness
Mr. Jazz said I was a marching monster. he gave me some of the toughest drill (along with everyone else)
I looked like a pinball, and it was awesome
our show was great. our sound was quality
and we had no drum major, yet we were synced as if we were one
I remember the feeling of them reading the scores, and not saying our name 1st (cuz they read the names from last to first)
and the shock and awe of us winning
we loved it as we hudded around our first 1st place trophy
it was worth not having fun or friends in the band. the hot sun. the dehydration. everything
then of course, though we were poised to be the best, the kids decided to have no band
and it was agony for me
I think I aged alot that year, the one with no band.
I vowed to do anything to march again
and then we managed to pull one together
but I wanted what was, and this is not it
I forgot the greatest lesson:
that band is about you doing your best
and now I feel awful that we did not win
we did okay, in fact great considering everything
we did our best
it's just now every other band copied our old greatness and are way better
I have to learn that all the new rookies will grasp things next year
and I won't be around for the greatness
it's like a veteran who gets hurt and must train a rookie to take his place, and retires a year before they go to the Super Bowl
I'm proud. I don't want to have to back down
I could march with the best of them
fly at 212
roll smoothly in 7/8 time
yet
the majority of the band does not care the way I do
and they won't until I'm gone