1] The Fighting Irish were in the Championship!!!!!
2] I'M GOING TO CALIFORNIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Landing in California, we were immediately dropped off at the beach where it indefinitely sunk in that we were indeed in California on tour for the week. It was the same night as the Championship Game. Unfortunately, we had a concert that night. However, the hosts of church we were performing at were nice enough to throw us a game watch party! In the words of Dan Stowe, "We watched the first half, and that was enough." Great concert, horrible loss. The next day, we met up with our good friends, THE UNDERTONES, who were also touring in California and set out on a whale watch exhibition while the tour bus went and fetched our the rest of our orchestra that were either in the marching band or had the privilege of winning tickets to the game.
I don't know about everyone else, but I for one definitely felt incomplete with half of the orchestra being gone even if they were having the time of their life Miami. Coming in from the whale watch to the sight of our other halves waving in excitement to reunite with us might have been one of the best parts of tour. It's a great feeling to know someone is just as happy to see you as you are to see them! We pulled up to the dock, and ran out to greet everyone. However, one person in particular is the one person I wanted to literally jump on (that didn't happen). When he hugged me, I wanted to melt. It was such a giant bear squeeze that just screamed, "I'm happy to see you." Doesn't seem like a big deal right now, but at the time it meant everything. It wasn't exactly the way I pictured, but keep in mind that I have a vivid imagination so this came very close.
So we set off that night with the full orchestra, ready to play our fall concert and wow the unsuspecting audience members. Our concert that night was not exactly flawless but it was indeed great to be playing with everyone, despite the fact we struggled to stay together during rehearsal that evening. We played in San Juan's Basilica, which was absolutely beautiful but the acoustics sucked. All the sound was sucked up into that great dome of a ceiling, so by the time sound from the brass reached the strings it was at lease 2 beats behind. Solution? Play 2 beats ahead of course! Easier said than done! However, based off of the standing ovation we received from the audience, maybe it didn't sound as bad as we thought.
That night after the concert, we had our first orchestra party of 2013 in President Nathan Lin's hotel room. Imagine this, a random guy walks in and says, "Management says no partying in the hotel rooms... FUCK THAT!!" Take a wild guess who that guy was, yep DAN STOWE! I've said it a million times, and I'll say it again he embodies that spirit of the orchestra. A different director would bring a completely different vibe to the orchestra. Over the next days and finishing out the week, we endured adventurous days and amazing nights filled with awesome food. From kayaking to hiking to biking, we drove coast to coast in excitement for what was in store. There were picnics and museum visits (the Getty Villa=AMAZING), just as there was chill time on the beach and drunken nights in the hotel (a party that was busted.... oops!). It was going to be a tour to remember.
The last day of the tour was a free day. We set out on a biking trip to Golden Gate Bridge. Just as we were pulling up to our stop to collect our bikes, Nathan stepped up to the mike to announce orchestra tour award recipients. It brought back memories of the awards from my
freshman year. Deep down inside, I know how much I wanted that award but that I'd never get it. So I thought myself, "It's not gonna be you," as he announced the male recipient who turned out to be my good friend Tony (as seen in picture below). The he came to the female recipient and the hushed thoughts of it being someone else became louder almost unbearable until... he said my name. I was shocked. I no clue what to say, so I just said the first thing that came to my mind. I was truly touched. It was the perfect gift, to be acknowledged for your work. We set out on our biking trip and then the rest of the day was ours. I can truly say I've never been challenged physically as I was that week and I loved every minute of it.
The night before the day we were set to fly back to Chicago and bus to South Bend, the group met in the parking lot of the hotel and took a 15 minute hike up to Coit Tower, with coffee cups full of beer in hand. At the top of the hike just under the tower, we peered over what might have been the most amazing view I've ever seen. To quote a friend of mine, "As we stood on Coit Tower overlooking the city we were all hit with the sudden nostalgic realization that tour was over" San Francisco at night was sight for sore eyes as mine. It was very chill. There was distant conversation and some left early and headed back to the hotel. But me I wanted to savor the moment for no one could forsee the disappointment and grief that would await me back in South Bend-- a letter from Saint Mary's College addressed to me that could possible contain good news but would more than likely contain the latter.
However, there was one (well two...) who knew my possible fate. Overlooking the view, he looked into my eyes was an unfathomably calm and I just knew that somehow, someway, everything would be ok.
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