Thursday, April 28, 2011

X is for Xylophone

X is for xylophone which is one of the many percussive instruments that DoodleBug played while in high school and continues to play in college.  I may have mentioned before that her high school band took first place at state all four of her high school years.  And, they have continued this tradition for the two years since she graduated.  Yeah, that band is PHENOMENAL to put it mildly.  I have never heard another high school band produce such pure tones as I have this one-and only some college level bands.  They ALWAYS took first in the music category every time they competed---which was anywhere from 5 to 8 times each marching season.  DoodleBug was eXtremely serious about band.  As a matter of fact, state is always the first weekend in November and we had to plan her sister's wedding around the state competition in 2008- DoodleBug's senior year.

((I tried to put a picture up of her freshman year first BUT most of those are not on disk AND, the ones that are--well, Walmart did it and they are all upside-down and I can turn them but they won't save...thank you, Walmart, once again, for a job well botched.))   

That's DoodleBug on the left...at summer band camp sophomore year.  At the end of July-beginning of August...temps in the upper 90s- heat index around 105.  Band camp runs an entire week with an exhibition on Friday evening.  It starts every day at 8:00 am and ends when it's over...usually, she was home by 9:30 or 10:00 each night.


She's on the left again.  This is the warm-up before the exhibition.  They are in their summer uniforms.  That's Kim (read about her further down) on the bass drum in the background.
Band camp, junior year.  Now she's a cool band geek. The percussion kids put in at least two weeks more practice than the rest of the band every summer and that doesn't include the extra practices here and there. 


DoodleBug's last state performance- senior year.

There's a percussion concert Friday night at the high school.  All the percussion alum are going to attend and perform in memory of another student- a good friend of DoodleBug's, Kim, who passed away from cancer on January 14 of this year.  She was 21 years young.

Four of the percussion ladies at the Band Banquet in 2007. DoodleBug, Jordan, Kimmy, Kim. This was Kim's junior year.  My goodness she was one sweet cookie! We miss her. 
I tell you HONESTLY- if I owned a business that hired students (we have a lot of this down here as we are a tourist area) I would ask if they were band students and, if they were, I would hire them--ON. THE. SPOT.  These kids are polite, well-mannered and the hardest working young people I've ever been around in my life.

On a lighter note, according to DoodleBug, X is also for Xenophilius Lovegood...

"WTH?"  I asked her.
 "That's Luna Lovegood's dad in Harry Potter.  He's the editor of the Quibbler and wears the symbol of the Deathly Hallows in order to show he is on the quest to find the three Deathly Hallows which will make the possessor the master of death."

DoodleBug actually has a tattoo of the Deathly Hallows on her wrist but for an entirely different reason which she explained to me but I'd heard way more about Harry Potter than I ever wanted to know by that point, HOWEVER, it had something to do with something Dumbledore said about not forgetting what it is to be young or always seeing things through a child's eyes and being open and nonjudgmental...something along those lines.  Sound advice, I'd say.

Only two more letters to go on this A-Z Challenge- I certainly do appreciate all y'alls patience with this challenge and your kind, funny, generous, encouraging comments through it all!  

24 comments:

  1. You have done an outstanding job of the A-Z Challenge! And you had the perfect post for today's letter, with your very own Doodlebug as the star of the show! So sorry to hear about Kim. So young to have cancer, but of course I know it happens far more often than we'd like to think. It's super that her bandmates/friends are going to be honouring her memory in this way on Friday! How very hard it must be for her parents! I can't imagine one ever gets over losing a child so young.

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  2. I've enjoyed coming back every day and to see what you've come up with.
    What are your May plans?

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  3. Desiree- Thank you so much! It's been interesting and my head doesn't hurt to badly. LOL It is so sad about Kim and, even worse, she had one sibling and he passed away spring of 2010 so her parents have lost both of their children. No one should have to outlive their kids. No one.

    Cindy- Thank you! You are so sweet. I have no idea about May yet. The daily posts are getting to be habitual now, so...if you have any ideas, share!

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  4. Twenty one! It's just hard to wrap your mind around, for it seems like we're more accustomed to hearing cancer connected with older people. How difficult for her parents to bear.

    I've always thought the xylophone was magical. I love the sound. So nice that they are performing in her memory.

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  5. What great pictures and great captions too. It is obvious your Doodlebug is a talented and wonderful young woman!

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  6. You did a great job with your posts. Today's was one of the best...and a bit bittersweet, as was my own post today.

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  7. Judy-So young. And her only sibling, a brother, passed in the spring of 2010 so her parents have lost both of their children.

    Betty- She is talented and quite a joy!

    maddie- Thank you! I'll check yours out now!

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  8. That's a far cry from the little painted xylophone I had when I was a kid. You have such a talented family.

    This was the hardest letter but I can see the end. It's been fun to dig deep to find something creative, hasn't it? I think we all deserve a pat on the back :)

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  9. I came by to thank you for your wonderful compliment on my blog post...I feel like framing it :)

    I'm so sorry to hear Kim's parents lost both of their children! How absolutely awful is that!!!

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  10. Stephanie- Thank you so much! Yes, I agree, it has been hard but fun--challenge was a good title for it!

    Desiree-Well, it WAS just the CUTEST thing EVER! I know, I can't imagine losing even one much less all of my children. I think about them all the time. They are very, very sweet, kind, loving people.

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  11. Great pictures! I'm so glad I found your blog! I'm stopping by from the A to Z challenge and I look forward to visiting again.

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  12. Sounds like you like Harry Potter about as much as I do....NOT!

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  13. Your DoodleBug is a talented beauty. My heart broke when I read about her friend Kim...sooo sad.

    Great pics sweetie, I truly enjoyed 'em!

    God bless and have an awesome day!!! :o)

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  14. First of all, that is very sad about your daughter's fried. 21 is simply way too young.

    I think that participating in the arts tends to bring out the best in young people. Band. Choir. Drama. Art. All of these programs encourage kids to use the artistic side of their brain. They are already getting lots of academia. I have heard other people say that sports does the same. I wasn't much into sports, so I can't speak to that. However, I think that if it makes you feel better about yourself, others, and makes you kinder, it is a good thing.

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  15. I am totally impressed with your contributions to the A-Z challenge. Especially with this X post. Doodlebug looks like an adorable girl - you must be very proud!

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  16. Sylvia- Thank you so much!

    Nezzy-Thank you! We do have some talented girls! I know, Kim's parents have lost both of their children. It's quite sad.

    Robin-I completely agree with you on all counts!

    Annie- Thank you! She is a sweetheart! Only two more letters to go- thank goodness!

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  17. Betty-I just never did get into Harry Potter-even though all four of our girls did. They still love it!

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  18. Great word for letter x. It is fun to meet new people and blogs.

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  19. I think that is why you chose to do the challenge, because you had an ace X post up your sleeve!

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  20. Josh- Thanks! I agree, it is fun to meet new people and blogs!

    Clare- You found me out! Did Gary tell you? LOL

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  21. Impressive. I'm in love with Doodlebug. How proud you must be. My husband and I went to our granddaughters music program. It was hard to believe that our big boys were once that small. Same funny faces at the audience, adorable outfits...the clock just keeps ticking. :)

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  22. Pam- Isn't she sweet?! We are so proud of our lovelies--all four of them! And, YES! Time keeps moving forward quickly...too quickly.

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  23. So sad to think of one so young losing her life to cancer. I hate cancer.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! It makes me feel connected to everyone even though we may live far apart! Have a wonderful day!

 
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