Indescribable Feeling

Bands of America or BOA is a big deal for marching bands. In fact, because it’s regionals, it’s the biggest competition the PMK takes part in. This year’s was in Dayton. Ohio at the University of Dayton.
I thought back to the BOA of the previous year, and remember the feeling of disappointment when we didn’t even make finals. Not this year, I told myself. Because this year, we won our class, we won all the caption awards. We were already doing better.
Our Band Director, Mr. Barnum, even told us after our preliminary performance that this was already the best the PMK had ever done at regionals and we hadn’t even performed in finals yet.
Flash forward to after finals, we all stood in a line behind our band, our competitors on both sides. I remember hearing the chatter from the other guards as we all talked to each other.
I remember how long we stood in line, I remember talking to the guard next to us. They were from somewhere in Indiana and had gotten into Ohio the night before, had practically practiced for the performance since dawn, devoted so much of their time to this. I was shocked that every member of that guard was so dedicated. I remember being in awe over how much they prepared themselves for this.
Sure, the PMK practiced, we practiced a lot, but never to that extent. Honestly, to me, that felt like overkill. You could really only practice something so much before you start to overthink every little thing you do, every step, every smile, every toss and spin of the flag.
Soon enough, after many of the girls talked to us about who they were, where their band was from, what their show was about, gave us their Snapchats, I heard a voice yell to be quiet and get ready.
Now, as a hush fell over all of the bands, I couldn’t help but get jittery. I was bobbing my leg up and down, as I often do when I’m nervous.
The band had talked about how we thought we did super well, how we hoped we’d get second. We knew we wouldn’t win, Carmel, a band that was renowned for it’s excellence, was too good and that was okay. We anticipated that. We knew that second was the best we could do.
Suddenly a whistle blew and the PMK marched forward onto the field, my heart pounding in my ears. I could barely stand the anticipation. As a whole the band had poured their hearts out onto the field and I just really hoped it was worth it.
The stadium was packed with spectators, the bright green astroturf soft under our feet. It was late, nearing midnight, so the stadium lights were the only things illuminating us. It’s strange, but football fields all smell the same to me, like the crisp winds of fall. Football fields never cease to bring back memories of band practices and competitions.
Soon, the bands had formed ranks, the guard in staggered lines of four or five. I vaguely remember the man talking on a microphone, feeling the cool breeze through my uniform. I remember an instructor putting a medal over my head (each member of the band that won their class received a medal).
Each time the announcer rattled off a band that wasn’t us, I stood a little taller, and as he crept closer to the top three without saying Prospect’s name, I exchanged a smile with one of the captains. Next the man said our name, we placed in second, and a huge smile broke out over my face. Then they announced the winner.
But none of that even mattered.
As soon as they gave the call to break ranks, I didn’t think, my feet just carried me as I ran to my friend Evie and hugged her, tears of joy streaming down my face.
Now, I had never cried happy tears before, and I haven’t since. I don’t cry much in general really, but something about that moment, all of the stress and anticipation and. “what if’s” bubbled up until they reached the surface; I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
I’ve never been that happy in my life.
That whole experience was so surreal and insane. I’ve never felt that level of elation since that day, but I’m weirdly okay with that. That just allows that memory to stand out that much more in my mind.
Even though I’m not in band anymore, and I do miss it terribly sometimes, that moment is something that will always stick with me. Something that I’ll always remember made me happier than I could ever imagine.
And it was incredible.
