Adam’s First Half Time Show

   Adam started attending Detroit Catholic Central HighSchool last week, August 18. Wow, he’s a freshman! He is now 5’4″, as tall as me, but he has bigger feet, so I expect he’ll get taller still. 
   He joined the high school band and got on the drumline as a cymbal player. I was very happy about this, since I remember many good times from my high school band days and Friday night lights. I hope Adam enjoys it as much as I did, and builds great friends and memories.
   Last night, for the first time ever, I sat in the stands without my clarinet. I was now a band parent, and assumed the role my parents did for me over 25 years ago. The band sits on one end of the stands, but at this high school, there is a student section that sits right next to the band, all wearing white tshirts, led by their pep squad. So that part of the stands is pretty loud, with lots of spirit.
   We sat somewhere around the 50 yard line to get a good view. The band marched out before the game and played the school  fight song and then the Star Spangled Banner. The football game was a good one, pitting our school with a strong running game against another school with a strong passing game. The halftime show was pretty good, different than Texas style high school band, and there was a drumline feature song. Our team prevailed, winning 34 -14, with a last second 99 yard interception return that thrilled the crowd. I knew that this meant Adam got to play the touchdown song lots of times.
   One of the differences between his school and mine is that the stadium is built on school property. So after the game, we simply walked to the band hall to wait for Adam; again, I was thinking of my parents doing the same thing long ago, waiting for me to come out, so I called them to talk about it. Adam had a good time, and so did we. I am really looking forward to this new chapter in the book of parenthood.

   If you squint, like we had to do, you can just make out Adam in the drumline. That’s what I get for forgetting the camera; this is from my cell phone:

Adam with the cymbals at the parents’ presentation last week: