My mother's part

As I said yesterday, my mother plays a large part in this story as well.

My mom was not in guard when she was in high school, she was a cheerleader and an adorable one at that. She was that girl in the front of all the pictures doing the splits. It wasn't till she married my father (a band director) that she started learning about color guard. Now, she was in band in high school and was a music major in college, so she knew what it was but she never spon on a guard before that.

She tells stories about how she and her friend Ann went to guard camps to learn things. Usually standing in the very back, surrounded by high schoolers and college students. Never the less, she learned what she needed to to help my father with his guards.

I was literally "spinning in the womb" because while my mother was pregnant with me she did not stop teaching guard. (I'm the little girl on the right and my big sister is on the left) Much like one of my "guard idols" Lindsay did while she was at Odessa.

It isn't because of my mom's guard/band knowledge that makes her such an important part in this. It is because my mom is my BIGGEST FAN in whatever I do.

In high school it was mostly softball along with guard and band. But when I decided to turn down (much larger) softball scholarships to go to MSU (SMSU at the time) to spin on their guard she supported me and did what she could to help me with my dream.

While most kids were able to come home time to time from college, I was constantly down at school because of guard. She came to every football game and every performance we had. Maybe it was because it was the only way she would see me, but I know it was also because she loved seeing what I LOVED to do.

When winter guard season started, she would follow the bus from state to state in her car so she could cheer me on at the shows. I was a better performer because I knew there was ONE person in the stands there for JUST ME and watching ME through out the entire show. I performed for HER every time I was on that floor.

The season I dislocated my shoulder and was told by the ER doctor that I would never spin again...I thought my life was over. Just like a pro pitcher being told he could never pitch again, a dancer who could never dance, a singer who lost their voice....I didn't know what I would do. My spirit was crushed in that moment. The pain in my shoulder was excruciating, but the pain in my heart was simply unbearable.

My mom told me we would find someone who could "fix" my shoulder and that everything would be ok. We went to the best in the area, I went though painful therapy, and I was able to spin again.

I could go on and on about my mother...but that is the beginning. Where I come from.

Now, throughout this blog I will be sharing with you the journey my 8th grade winter guard girls are taking. I hope to follow them all the way through their senior year, watching them grow and develop in their movement, equipment, and performance qualities. I hope to still be growing as well during this time.

The Beginning

Every great winter guard show has a great beginning.

Some start off simple, with the quiet elegance of dance, some hit the ground running, maybe with an ensemble moment that jumps out at you, and others find a place in the middle....all depending on the music, the meaning, the vision.....the show.

I am here at the beginning...the beginning of my blog that is solely devoted to my passion - Winter Guard.

To start out, I would like to give a little back ground about myself and tell you about my parents. They were the ones who started me out in life teaching me to love band, color guard, and just music in general. They are one of the reasons why I am where I am today.

First, my father was a band director...he was one of the greats. He worked at just a couple high schools before settling down and clocking in 21 years at the school where he eventually retired. He took a small street only band and transformed them into one of the most competitive bands (their size) in Missouri. His band often, and later in his career-always, competed up a class. He didn't think it was enough to win first place against the bands his size, he wanted to compete against an even higher class. This often put his band face to face with schools twice their size and units only marching 10-12 or 11-12 members. Never the less, he came out on top.

It was his drive, his competitiveness, his determination for excellence that I carry in my heart every day. He truly believed that if EVERY MEMBER contributed with their best (where other band would have "dead wood" as my father would call it) then they couldn't be beat. No one could be lazy, no one could take a break, no one could be weak in his band. Every day they would work hard and "work smart" to be the best and to beat the best.

If you were someone who made it through all 4 years of his marching band program then you came out saying "If I can make it through that, I can do anything" and it was true. My sister and I have heard countless former graduates come back to tell my father that it was marching band that prepared them for the real word...not any other class or experience they had in high school.

You see, my father was not just a band geek. He actually went to college and played basketball. He was a jock and a really good one as well. He has lived in both worlds, the athletic arena and the fine arts circle. I truly believe that is why he was so great. He was able to mold his aggressiveness and competitiveness from playing sports with his class and sensitivity from music to make who he was as a band director. He had traveled from both universes and taken the best from each.

I am a lot like my father. Those who knew him when they see me around a marching band or color guard don't even have to ask...they know I am his daughter and I take that as a complement every time.

My mother plays a big part in this story as well, but that will have to be my next post.

This blog is to tell my story about my love for this Sport of the Arts. I hope that if you share in this passion that you can follow along in my journey. Maybe be inspired, share in joy and defeat, or find new ideas.