959.67

What a great show. What a great competition. What a great principal and fan band we have. What a great feeling it was to give that speech. What great drum majors I get to work and be with. What a great night.

I got to say the drum major prayer. I got to call the band to attention. I got to accept the first place trophy. I got to help revive the clarinets' singing. I got to hug him. I got to hug and congratulate a lot of people. I got to be a part of this band.

That was honestly the best part. I don't get to march or spin or play, the scores have nothing to do with me, and I would never be devestated if we got second. But to see these beautiful people's faces light up, to be able to go up and shake their hand and say their name and call them a 959 babe, that's what I live for. I dream of making these kids be happy and helping them out in any way I can.

I keep hoping its not too late for me to make a difference, that there's still time for me to love them and for me to feel their love for band each other (and perhaps me.) St. George is next week though, and I'm scared. I'm scared for it to end. I'm scared to not slave away in the heat and get high cuz I have to paint the field over and over and to jam out in the shed with my DMs and to have those run throughs that just make me feel okay. I've gained so much from band, and I feel like I'm going to lose it all once we drive home in a week.

Though really, I don't think I could ever forget tonight. Mitch's pride and Natalie's questions and Cameron's love and Dave's speech and Camille's candy and Caitlin's generosity and and Sabrina's comments and Logan's humor and Tony's excitement and Bradan's hilarity and Brayden's acceptance and my brother's anticipation and Eli's presence and Abby's shout out and Janelle's return, they are the reason I adore being a human being. These are the people who waltz through my life and leave me the better for it.

This is the best beginning of the end I could've asked for.