One Last Run

So this is it.

All of the hard work, the effort, the blood, sweat, and tears shed has finally come to a magnificent conclusion. Never has the taste of second tasted so sweet. At State, we were not the winners in the eyes of the judges, but we were winners in the eyes of everyone in the audience that night. It was said many times that as long as you emotionally impacted one person in the audience, we have achieved our goals this season. In this sense, I know that we have reached achievement many, many, many times. Such an amazing season with such an emotional impact, and with such an enormous public reaction.

And it all came to a close.

I still have not yet come to terms with realizing that marching band is no longer a part of my everyday life. The Tuesday night rehearsals are gone. No more Crimson Regiment dismissals. It just seems that it all came to an abrupt halt. Although we still have the enjoyment of a concert band environment...it just doesn't seem to sum up to what marching band did to every individual in the Crimson Regiment. It's very upsetting, to me anyways, to think that these are some of the last days I will spend with some of the amazing seniors I had the honor of marching alongside this year. This year, I really felt like I had an emotional connection between everybody in the band. When I mentioned that I loved everyone, I truly meant that I loved everybody. There was not one person who didn't mean something to me.

The fact that the Gates will never rise again is a thought that truly saddens everyone in the band. What we would all do for one last run of this amazing show. Even though Air Academy has the blue ribbons, we have something they don't have: one of the most incredible family bonds that any group of people could ever feel for each other.

I'll never forget any of you.