Labor Day has come and gone, and with the onset of crisp morning weather, it really does feel like back-to-school time now. Of course our bandos and guardos have technically been back in the routine for a while, having spent two grueling (yet exhilarating) weeks of 12-hour days in band camp before the official start of school. Is it possible that those brutally hot and humid days were only a couple of weeks ago?
The anticipation of a new school year and band season is rather bittersweet for those of us who are parents of seniors. Although we excitedly await the chance to see our kids perform their new show in their first competition of the season, we also want time to slow down a bit so that we can relish their final season as a Golden Eagle.
It seems just a short time ago that our sons and daughters took the field as newbies in their freshman year, performing “Minimally Speaking.” I can still hear the opening cadences of that show and visualize them marching the opener as if it were yesterday. I remember the thrill and surprise as they won their first-ever Class V championship that year and then, even more thrillingly, repeated the feat with “Continuum” the following year. And the beauty and energy that was 2008’s “Firebird” taught our kids even more important lessons about grace under pressure.
Our seniors are anxious to get on with the excitement of their long-awaited senior year. They long to take advantage of its special privileges—using the senior lounge at THS, for one thing. They also look forward to special activities in band, such as senior photos, the senior sleepover, receiving recognition at our home show, the “Classic”, and making special speeches about their memories of band on the night of championships.
As a senior parent, I find myself looking backwards and being so grateful. I’m grateful for a large, warm, and welcoming band “family” for our kids. I’m grateful for the lessons of hard work, discipline, and the rewards of a job well done. I’m grateful for the opportunity for our sons and daughters to give back to the community, as with the band’s participation in the Good Morning America coat drive. And I am grateful beyond words that being a Golden Eagle gave our kids the chance to march before the 44th President of the United States.
What a ride it has been, and still one season to make more memories before our seniors graduate.
To our freshman parents: hold on to your Golden Eagle hats! You and your students are in for the time of your lives!
Elena Tallian
I think it must be really tough to be the parent of a senior. I never thought much about it when I first read this article, but the more I let this article sink in the more I realize I will have many of the same feelings when and if my niece makes it 3 more years and I am lucky enough to keep going to these events. Take the first show of the year for you Eagle fans, I saw parents at the show yesterday whose kids had even graduated last year, and you are still going to these events! You don’t even have kids playing any more and you are still driving to far away towns for these shows, WOW! I think is is great to be so involved and make good friends, and I hope that someday I will be having the same melancholy feelings. I know my sister will be having them. Good luck Golden Eagle Band and good luck Golden Eagle parents.
Pat S.
Comment by Pat S — September 13th, 2009 @ 4:55 pm
I have to admit that this is my first ever blog comment and I am really pumped up, but I wanted the person who was the parent of a senior to know that more than the senior parents have been on a great ride. I know this was only the first show of the year and my experience has been that what we saw last weekend was the introduction of what the band can be and will be which will be better over time.
I can not even think now of how proud it must be to be a parent of one of those brave soles who are out there on the field with nothing to guard them with except maybe a flag or a flute. I could not do that, I don’t know how those kids can do that but I sure am glad that they are out there and not me. So brave, so focused, so young and confident at the same time. What we see may not be perfect yet, but it will only get better, week after week and year after year.
I get chills when I hear these bands and there is no denying that there are different levels of skill out there. Different commitments, different teachers, but every one of them comes off the field and walk by what must feel like a million parents and they all have their heads held high, their tubas held high, some smiles are pasted on and some smiles are genuine because they know that their band just pulled off something good. Or maybe they are smiling because they know the best part of their show hasn’t been introduced yet because it isn’t ready yet.
I think it is just the beginning of what did they call it before ‘a wild ride’ yes I am sure it will be wild for many of us. Anybody who has watched these events for more than a year now knows the shows evolve and the kids only get better and better. This past week may be their least organized week of the year because it is still early or maybe not, but what the kids showed the fans this past week was where they are now, not in November, not in October but the first show of their year.
Put it in perspective, this was like watching Mariano Riviera in April and not in October. Yes I said kids before and not students or teenagers which they also are, because that is exactly what they are, our kids, our future and they are facing it head on and smiling every one of them that I noticed. Maybe the best lessons learned are at school for some, but I can’t help thinking that these lessons after school and on weekends must be darn good ones too.
Wow,
Tony
Comment by Anthony Lucitania — September 16th, 2009 @ 11:30 pm