Pushing on a Rope
Marching band
Making the music — and memories — last
What a weekend as Catherine’s prom and the 70th anniversary of Port Chester, NY’s Band Night/Blue Key Celebration collided. It was great — if exhausting — fun. I may need a few more days to recover. Friday night and Saturday found me much as I might have been 30+ years ago, practicing music and revisiting … Continue reading
Something old, something new
A quick post amid the Saturday morning silence … before the chaos begins. We Vanech girls are each ready for our busy day. (Well, at least I’m out of bed!) Had a blast last night at practice for today’s 70th annual Blue Key/Band Night Celebration in Port Chester, NY, last night. What fun to play again and see so many … Continue reading
Flashback Friday — On the March Again
Flashback to June 2009, the 65th anniversary of Port Chester, NY’s annual band night celebration. That’s me in the crowd, playing clarinet in public for what then was the first time in a long time. A whole lot has changed in the five years since — new career, new family members, new perspectives for me. (But … Continue reading
Flashback Friday — Letting My (Band) Geek Flag Fly
May 1984, band competition in Montreal where we won a first-place trophy. Sharing this today because all week, excitement has been gearing up for Port Chester, NY’s 70th Band Night/Blue Key Celebration on June 7. People have been posting photos, videos and reminiscences of years past, so of course I went hunting for some photos of … Continue reading
The Staff of Life
It’s Band Night in Port Chester. I’m here in Old Greenwich, fresh from a killer body sculpting workout I’m sure to feel tomorrow, but my heart is on that football field. The field where I spent too many frosty early mornings to count practicing with numb fingers and sneakers soaked with the morning dew. Where … Continue reading
The beat still goes on
I wrote some time back about how all these years later, I’m still a band geek. Yup — play me some John Philip Sousa and I stand a little taller, secretly check to see if I can still slow march (yes, I can). The years I played with the Port Chester High School Marching Band … Continue reading
The beat goes on
My niece posted a video on Facebook of her recent half-time show with the Temple University marching band that has me grinning from ear to ear. The band sounds great, looks sharp and must be practicing day and night — they dress their lines perfectly. It was a show to behold and I can’t wait to see her … Continue reading
Pushing on a Rope 