My sister got married this past weekend.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful ceremony.  I’ve never been to a more meaningful, wedding ceremony.  The bride and groom couldn’t take their eyes off each other.

She is so lucky to have found him, and he is so lucky to have found her.  They are the links that they were missing in each other’s life.  Just a beautiful, beautiful day.

Pan is in the 5th grade.  In our part of the world, band starts in 5th grade.  Our school district is well known throughout the state for their band program – have been champions in several divisions for several years.  (at least the last 12 years that we’ve lived in town.)

Band is an elective, it’s not required, they only want the kids that want to be there, there.  I hated band – my parents made me take piano, made me take band, and I was miserable.  Why?  I’m not the talented one – my brother was.  So Pan brings home a note a few weeks ago, they will be testing the students during the school day and then they will have a parent meeting to let us know what instrument the student is “qualified” to play.   WTH?  You mean they have to qualify to be in band, and then qualify for an instrument?  The child doesn’t get to just play what they want?  Apparently not.

Pan wasn’t sure what he wanted play.  I didn’t encourage him one way or the other.  Frankly, I was hoping he would say he didn’t want to, because seriously – BAND? yeah…  He was excited – wanted to play the sax, wanted to play the trumpet… but he really, really, really wanted to play percussion – and the drums, yes, specifically the drums.

And drums/percussion won.

So off to the ‘big city’ to buy the sticks ($75 worth) and rent the practice set … and the kid has rhythm, he can read music, he has a talent.

So as his parent it’s my job to listen to him practice, to sign his permission form to miss sections of class each week for lessons,  and the kid is so excited.  The sparkle in his eye?  yeah it’s there, the fact that he speaks about his band teacher Mrs. L with a little bit of awe… as in I’m guessing he thinks she could move mountains.  It’s my job to support this dream, and not put my hatred of band on to him.   I have to remember, he may be my child, but he is his own person.

As a parent, it’s my job to nurture, to love and to help those dreams come true.  Not to mention, it’s important that he arrive early some days for practice with the older students, will it be a hassle?  You bet….but no matter, somehow it will all work out, because our number one priority as his parent is him.  (and in 3 years when it’s Tink’s turn, we’ll handle it the same way, because this is working for us.)

Yep, it’s official  I’m a  … *gulp* … a band parent.

Life continues, which is a good thing.  My Grandfather used to say – “Any day you wake up and are above ground is a good one.”  While there are times when I question that thought, truly it is better to be alive then dead.

Have a lot on my plate, I’m trying to find that balance between what the higher ups expect/demand in order to keep my job, and doing what is best for my family.  Sometimes I feel as if I’m not enough for any of it.  Just need another 8 or so hours in a day.  Just when I think I have a handle on it, I realize I don’t, and I never will.

How people do it all, I’ll never know.  I’m not perfect, and never will be.  I just hope that my imperfections aren’t so big that I end up losing it all.

But all the same… It’s a great day to be alive.

That about sums it up.  Doesn’t it?

Life Happens,

Crap Happens.

Joy Happens.

Cancer  Happens.

A Cure Happens.

Death Happens.

What about those things that you can see coming, and you are just not sure if you should do anything to make them stop?  Do you try to stop them?  Or do you just let them happen?

Do you tell the kid who is standing in a canoe, to sit down, or let them fall, perhaps into the water?

Because you telling them they are going to fall doesn’t mean anything at all – but spending the day in wet clothes, perhaps that is something they will remember.

Just so you know – if you stand straight up in the middle of a canoe, and try to walk to the other end, without having someone help balance the canoe – you will fall in the water.  And you will get wet, and have to walk around all afternoon in wet shoes and socks, and clothes.

Yes, you can tell a 5th grader that they need to sit, or that they need to walk “low” and use the sides to balance.  But some boys?  They don’t listen, and they’ll fall in, and they’ll get wet, soaked actually.

(Thankfully, Pan did listen, but some of his classmates, did not!)

Today is September 11th….

We haven’t forgotten…