Band Camp

I cried. For the first time since Colorado, I cried. Why? Because I was hungover, sleep deprived, and my arms and core were KILLING me!

I attended band camp this summer. It's not as glorious as it sounds, just a 4-day day camp for auditioning members of the Notre Dame Marching Band. It was brutally fun. From the first day march out to the last day's final audition, I can truely say that it was fun. I don't think I've ever felt such a feeling; pain and fun simultaneously.

For the first time in a while, I actually felt like one of "them." I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. I have a number of friends that are in band and being able to attend band camp and audition with them was the first time I actually felt like I was one of them and not just a groupie-- a term that I use extremely lightly.

The last time I was apart of band camp was last year when I was "auditioning" to become a band manager. That was fun but NOTHING compared to actually being in the band. I must admit, based off of my high school experience and simply the look of it, I actually thought joining the band would be easy. One just had to show a general interest in being apart of it and know a few notes on a brass instrument and you're in, right? WRONG!! In all of my preparation for the big week I forgot to account one minor detail... this is THE BAND OF THE FIGHTING IRISH:  #1 Collegiate Marching Band in  the country; winner of the 2010 Sudler Trophy. This wasn't just ANY band. This was THE band. We all know, EVERYONE wants to be in THE band.

So despite mine learning brass, marching throughout the campus, and trotting with the rest of the members of the band--all 300 of them, I did not make the band. Maybe it was because I didn't practice enough. Maybe I was too focused on making friends. Maybe the fact  that I had to miss half a day to attend my brother's wedding had my mind all jumbled. Who knows? Not sure I'll be able to show my face around the baritones any time soon. Nor am I sure I want to audition again next year. Why put myself through that humiliation twice. I guess I'm back to sneaking into football games.