Seeing IWG again
Well, today I went out to lunch with a bunch of old members from Independence after their first audition weekend. It was nice to see everyone. I miss them all, and guard in general. From November through April those people were my family away from home. We spent hours and hours of rehearsal together... about 18+ hours per weekend, and then contests, and over-nighters either at someone's house or a school or hotel.... I mean, we all did everything together... and yes, I could have gone without sleeping on a floor of a high school... or the community showers... or 5 people getting ready for rehearsal that day in one bathroom, but the feeling that we had together and the close bond I am going to miss.
I'll miss the feeling of a strenuous, ass-kicking rehearsal that was so hard that you can hardly move the next morning, but you feel so proud because you have accomplished so much. And sad to say, but I will miss death camp (or love camp as Steph would say), too... the 30+ hours of practice in 3 days.... I'll actually be able to stay awake long past the new year this year. Being pushed to do just about anything in rehearsals... that's how I learned self-discipline. Just the feeling of performing out on the floor in front of a huge audience was amazing, and coming off the floor after a good show was even more amazing than that. The feeling of going out onto the floor, hearing the cheering, the music start, and then no matter what.... putting all of your energy and strangth into a 6 foot flag, rifle, or sabre... and performing your little heart out for everyone to see and enjoy.
I guess I was lucky enough to have my last performance in WGI World Championship finals in Dayton, which ended in 5th place (which was awesome).... and even being together and getting each other excited ready for the big performance as a group.... and one of the most sad and proud moments at the same time was when the staff talked to us and Caryn got us all in a circle and had us close our eyes, (all year we had been asking her to sing for us since she is in a choir) and we heard her sing "when a hero comes along, with the strength to carry on, and you cast your fears aside, and you know you can survive, so when you feel that hope is gone, look inside you and be strong, and you'll finally see the truth, that the hero lies in you," and she couldn't go on after that because by that time everyone was in tears. It was also great to have a last show with so much behind it and with so much emotion that the audience would cry from watching it.... everytime. I am definitely thankful for those two things.
But, for the past 8 years, guard was my thing, my way to get out of everyday reality... from school, stress, work... just about anything. It was my very own stress relief.... even those weekday nights at EIU that I would walk down to McAfee's gym no matter how cold it was with a flag, rifle, sabre, and radio in hand and just spin and dance the night away sometimes until midnight or 1am (too bad I usually had studying or homework that night to return home to).... and sometimes Bre would join me, and that would always be fun, even if sometimes we would work on leg exercises and then just end up laying on the floor talking and laughing about everything and anything, instead of spinning.
I am going to miss all of that.... what am I going to do without winter guard in my life? I do plan to continue instructing after chiropractic school, but it's not the same as being a performer.
"Winter Guard: to those who understand, no explanation needed - to those who don't, no explanation possible."
Anyway, it was nice to see everyone and I hope Independence has a great season. :)
I'll miss the feeling of a strenuous, ass-kicking rehearsal that was so hard that you can hardly move the next morning, but you feel so proud because you have accomplished so much. And sad to say, but I will miss death camp (or love camp as Steph would say), too... the 30+ hours of practice in 3 days.... I'll actually be able to stay awake long past the new year this year. Being pushed to do just about anything in rehearsals... that's how I learned self-discipline. Just the feeling of performing out on the floor in front of a huge audience was amazing, and coming off the floor after a good show was even more amazing than that. The feeling of going out onto the floor, hearing the cheering, the music start, and then no matter what.... putting all of your energy and strangth into a 6 foot flag, rifle, or sabre... and performing your little heart out for everyone to see and enjoy.
I guess I was lucky enough to have my last performance in WGI World Championship finals in Dayton, which ended in 5th place (which was awesome).... and even being together and getting each other excited ready for the big performance as a group.... and one of the most sad and proud moments at the same time was when the staff talked to us and Caryn got us all in a circle and had us close our eyes, (all year we had been asking her to sing for us since she is in a choir) and we heard her sing "when a hero comes along, with the strength to carry on, and you cast your fears aside, and you know you can survive, so when you feel that hope is gone, look inside you and be strong, and you'll finally see the truth, that the hero lies in you," and she couldn't go on after that because by that time everyone was in tears. It was also great to have a last show with so much behind it and with so much emotion that the audience would cry from watching it.... everytime. I am definitely thankful for those two things.
But, for the past 8 years, guard was my thing, my way to get out of everyday reality... from school, stress, work... just about anything. It was my very own stress relief.... even those weekday nights at EIU that I would walk down to McAfee's gym no matter how cold it was with a flag, rifle, sabre, and radio in hand and just spin and dance the night away sometimes until midnight or 1am (too bad I usually had studying or homework that night to return home to).... and sometimes Bre would join me, and that would always be fun, even if sometimes we would work on leg exercises and then just end up laying on the floor talking and laughing about everything and anything, instead of spinning.
I am going to miss all of that.... what am I going to do without winter guard in my life? I do plan to continue instructing after chiropractic school, but it's not the same as being a performer.
"Winter Guard: to those who understand, no explanation needed - to those who don't, no explanation possible."
Anyway, it was nice to see everyone and I hope Independence has a great season. :)