Well It Ain't ALL Daisies and Lollipops Here in The Pond Y'know....

We have been sitting on pins and needles all week waiting on the results of Squirrel's audition for the Royal Dukes Marching Band.

The way it works is everyone is welcome to join the band as long as they have the ability to play the music required of them.  Upon arrival at school they are all auditioned for their marching skills.  The best ones are picked to march on the field and the remainder sit in the stands and play back up.  The back ups still have to practice with the marchers and at anytime during the season any back up can challenge a marcher to a "duel" [for lack of a better word] and try to take their spot on the field.**

Now here is where it got weird this week:

Squirrel has been in concert band for 7 years and in marching band for 4 years.  She was a first chair flute in c/band and the section leader her senior year in the m/band.  So, I would like to assume my daughter can play the flute pretty darn well.  I would also like to think that she can march - well I know she can - her high school marching band won the Virginia State Band competition this past year.  Also, when all 60 flutes were asked this week if anyone would like to take a practice run at leading the flutes no one stepped up, until Squirrel asked if it was okay for a freshman to do it.  They said great and she did.  She also received added bonus points for enthusiasm.  If there is one thing [besides science] my kid is enthusiastic about it is marching band.

Imagine my surprise and crushing disappointment [and here I go again tearing up] when my daughter texted and said simply "I didn't make it."***

It just about broke my heart so I cannot even imagine how sad she is.  I swear Wallene and I just sat here and cried because we just know how much this means to her.  I understand that there are several hundred kids trying out for the coveted spots, but this is something that she is so passionate about that she is actually using part of her course credit to be in the marching band [2 credits per semester - meaning this is her elective].  And I know this isn't going to be the only disappointment in her life, but honestly?  I laughed every time she would say "Mom, I don't think I am going to make it."  I did.  I really laughed because it just seemed so impossible that she wouldn't make it.

I want a bumper sticker that says "My marching band student is better than your marching band student" or "My flutist can kick your Tuba playing ass" - At least it would make us all giggle.



**If you have seen the movie "Drumline" then you know what I am talking about.  If you haven't seen the movie "Drumline" you must go and rent it. Now.  And not for the story [sort of lame] but for the marching and the wicked scenes with the drumline.
***Before anyone thinks it is odd that she texted me - it is because she had a scant few seconds to let me know before practice began.