The Concert

I went to the junior high band concert tonight to go support my little ninth graders. The night was chugging along, full of out of tune Christmas classics and stolen conversations with high schoolers. As the top band got ready to play, Jacob Baldwin and I finally went and sat down in the actual audience. I was enjoying their simple, though thankfully in tune, medley like any kindhearted band enthusiast would. And then the played a slow piece, and I started crying.

On the stage, I saw my freshmen, my babies I had met and encouraged and loved. They were playing a beautiful piece of music, and I proudly remembered their struggles to pass off music on time and the journey they've made since then. They weren't sweaty, they weren't tired, they were smiling like I had seen them smile at the end of competitions and successful practices.

They looked so nice in their tuxes and dresses, and in them, I saw both the future and the past. I saw their bright hopes and dreams and aspirations. They are the future drum majors and section leaders and marchers of the week. Magna erunt; magna sunt. But then I saw myself. I remembered the swing of Mr. Piwetz's mustache, I heard the great pieces "Summer Dances" and "Loch Lomond" in my head, I felt the satisfaction of hitting a high G for the first time. When their French horns soared, I remembered Shanti, and Hans was brought back with a single clarinet run. I tried to see myself as an eighth grader, so small and delicate and adorable as they were, conducting my own band. I was a mere child! And yet, if I could do it, so could they. Again, it all went back to their futures. Going further down the road, I saw them becoming band directors and leading my children through their first concert, the steamy stage lights and countless eyes and adrenaline weighing them down with such ironic joy.

Afterwards, I got to see them. Summer smiled wide and questioned incredulously, "you came like you said you would." Cam's adorable Spencer ran up to, smiling and jumping up and down and repeating my name. I thanked Dallin for their performance, and I told Eric, Michael, and Stephanie of how they made me cry. They were so happy and loving and immediately accepting, I was just overcome with feelings of true love.

They are beautiful souls. Truly.