I posted this today on the discussion group of the March Madness Marching Band and I thought I would just cross post it here because playing with this group of people has truly been a joy and a pleasure and I encourage you to come join us if you want to:
I’ve been thinking since yesterday after a couple/three people commented to me yesterday that I looked like I was having a lot of fun at rehearsal.
Here’s the thing: I was. I was loving every minute of it.
After a long week that ended with some news on Friday night that left me both emotionally and physically reeling I was overwhelmed by the positivity of yesterday’s practice. The energy of everyone there immediately cut through everything that had happened through the week and weekend. I have met many wonderful people and re-connected or
found a new way to hang out with a few others as well.
I cannot begin to express what having this group means to me. I’m not a type that finds it particularly easy to open up to the people, but I will say this group has helped to fill in a big hole of loneliness that has been growing inside of me for a while. I’m just very grateful for all that you people do and thankful I found you all as well. For one of the few times in my life I feel like I TRULY belong to something amazing. My friends and family are probably sick of me raving about March Madness and how they should totally drop whatever
they do on Sunday afternoons and come play with us.
No one is there because they don’t want to be. No one shows up with bad attitudes that spread through the group. Everyone is excited to be there when we all get together as everyone brings their own special brand of creativity and energy to the group. This reflects in the other members of the band and when we perform it shows on the audience
as well. The fact that we’re having so much fun doing what we do shows on the faces of everyone in the crowds and makes me want to keep going on no matter how tired I may be getting, how sore my arms and shoulders may be or whatever other excuse I may have to want to stop playing. In fact it makes me push myself that much harder to keep
going and keep having fun with it. Having such a positive impact on people in what can be such a negative world is such an amazing thing. I leave every performance and rehearsal glowing thinking about the wonderful music we’re making together and the positivity that we’re bringing to the people of this city by doing it.
I guess what I’m driving at in my own special, rambling way is that this group means the world to me right now, and I don’t know where I would be if I hadn’t found this band. There’s your thesis statement, horribly misplaced at the end of my e-mail.
I also thought I’d open this up so we could all take some time if you want, share some thoughts about what this group means to you and what makes it special for you and why you keep coming back.
Or just to make fun of my long winded attempt at simply saying “Hey, know what? I love you guys.”
Okay, I feel better now. We now return you to your regularly scheduled array of band announcements, event planning or just plain silliness.
-Your Friendly Neighborhood Benis
