Towncrier
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 23, 1999
- Messages
- 10,335
The Marching Band season is winding down here in the Nordonia Hills School system. This is James' freshman year in high school and marching band has been, to say the least, quite a drain on his time and energy. And tonight was the culmination of those efforts: The Marching Band Concert. I had never heard of such a thing. The parents of the 124 marching band students sat on bleacher inside the gym while the students performed several numbers that they had played during the football season and in band competitions.
About halfway through the concert, the music stopped and the band directors passed out MANY awards. When it came time to present the sectional awards, they invited the section leaders down to do the honors. The percussion section leader (a college student named Adam) came down and proceeded with his announcement. He told the crowd that the award was going to, of all people, a freshman percusionist who had shown great improvement in his playing skills and a willingness to step up to the plate to play whatever part or drum needed to be played. When he announced our son's name, you could have knocked Sue and I over with a feather. It's one of those proud parent moments that lets you know that you've done something right. James accepted his award and gave Adam a big hug. I wanted to stand up and shout "That's my boy!!!", but I managed to control my emotions. At least until after the concert.
James is a typical 14yo high school freshman boy. His mind wanders to who-knows-where. He never seems to listen. He is truly in a world unto himself. But tonight we got a glimpse at the "real" James. And that was priceless.
About halfway through the concert, the music stopped and the band directors passed out MANY awards. When it came time to present the sectional awards, they invited the section leaders down to do the honors. The percussion section leader (a college student named Adam) came down and proceeded with his announcement. He told the crowd that the award was going to, of all people, a freshman percusionist who had shown great improvement in his playing skills and a willingness to step up to the plate to play whatever part or drum needed to be played. When he announced our son's name, you could have knocked Sue and I over with a feather. It's one of those proud parent moments that lets you know that you've done something right. James accepted his award and gave Adam a big hug. I wanted to stand up and shout "That's my boy!!!", but I managed to control my emotions. At least until after the concert.
James is a typical 14yo high school freshman boy. His mind wanders to who-knows-where. He never seems to listen. He is truly in a world unto himself. But tonight we got a glimpse at the "real" James. And that was priceless.
I would really like to see him stick with it. You have every reason to be proud parents. The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.
He didn't seem to mind "hanging" with the old folks that weekend at all! 
