YHS Marching Band Looks Good

Band camp was held at Camp Walden again this year. As Friday was parental unit day, we went to watch them demonstrate what they've been practicing. Mr. Kaz, the new director of bands, put them through all the marching scenarios: half time, parading, the national anthem, etc. Andrew tells me that they lost more than 20 musicians, so I wondered just how polished they would be.

Very polished, as it turns out. Musically they were pretty tight. I didn't notice any missteps, either, not that I have a trained eye or anything. It seems to me that they're further along this year than last. And I've heard nothing but enthusiastic praise for Mr. Kaz.

The weather was perfect, the camp full of gorgeous 60-foot trees -- the kind of scene that makes you say "sun dappled" without embarassment. Yes, sun dappled. It was that pretty.

We shopped a bit in Mackinaw City. I'm always amazed at how much that town has grown since my last visit. Fifteen years ago there were a couple of mega-motels on the water, but there are probably a dozen now. I mean, you can't see the water from the street unless you're looking over a ferry parking lot.

We drove across the Mighty Mac ("the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere," intoned the tour guide on the bridge radio station, settling a long-standing debate with Jackson) and had dinner with Andrew in St. Ignace. Then we returned him to camp and sped back home.

I reckon in that 30-hour period we spent 12 hours in the car. Andrew made it all worthwhile by actually smiling when we arrived. Still, I'm glad that band camp parental unit day comes only once a year.