The Parade by Maura Hawkins
Mardi Gras has always been my favorite holiday. I have always loved coming together every year with family to look at the parades, and I have always especially loved the Moon Pies. As a kid, I used to watch the band go by, playing the trumpets and beating on the drums. I grew up loving that scene.
Entering high school, I knew I wanted to join the band to become part of that parade. I tried out all different sorts of instruments– the flute, the clarinet. But none of them really fit me. I figured that I didn't want to be held down to just one instrument, so I joined percussion. I didn't expect to be playing the bass drum–especially the 3rd heaviest bass drum.
Out of all the parades, I can most clearly recall my first high school Mardi Gras Parade. I remember getting off of the band bus and unloading my drum. So many other bands–including our rival band–were there with us. I walked up to join the rest of the drum line, set my drum down, and started walking towards the rest of my friends. I look over towards the other bands to scoop out the competition, and I actually see some of my friends talking to the “rival” members. I especially noticed a tall, fluffy-haired guy, so of course, I had to see what they were talking about.
I invited myself over and started talking to everyone. Now keep in mind, I am a pretty awkward person, so when I met this new person, I stretched out my hand and quickly mumbled, “Hi I’m from Gulf Shores, I'm in the drum line! I actually play the bass drum, do you want to see it?"
This was probably one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. I don't think that anyone understood what I was saying, but that fluffy haired dude actually responded to me. He told me that he would be “honored” to see my bass drum, so I took him over to come and see it.
I heard my director calling me to come back over because the parade was about to begin. So I put on my drum and when I looked back, the guy was gone. The whole parade I was pondering who that guy was, or maybe if I should go back and stay in contact with him. I decided that I would ask around and see what people thought about him.
That night, I contacted many of my friends to see what they thought about this guy. I was surprised to see that so many people thought negative things. Many of my friends told me that I should just forget about him and move onto other things. Despite all of this, I ended up contacting him and he was completely different than what everyone else told me. In a good way. We ended up meeting at the next Mardi Gras Parade. And I somehow convinced him to join my band.
Time seemed to pass by so fast. The days turned into months which turned into years and here I am– about to be a junior. I have since learned that people can be so judgmental. It turns out that the people who were talking bad about him, didn’t even know him, and the words they told me were just assumptions. Sometimes I sit and wonder ‘What would have happened if I listened to those friends?
If I had listened to them, I would have never met my best friend. I would have judged someone I didn’t even know! Most importantly, if I had listened to those friends, then Mardi Gras never would have been my favorite holiday.
Entering high school, I knew I wanted to join the band to become part of that parade. I tried out all different sorts of instruments– the flute, the clarinet. But none of them really fit me. I figured that I didn't want to be held down to just one instrument, so I joined percussion. I didn't expect to be playing the bass drum–especially the 3rd heaviest bass drum.
Out of all the parades, I can most clearly recall my first high school Mardi Gras Parade. I remember getting off of the band bus and unloading my drum. So many other bands–including our rival band–were there with us. I walked up to join the rest of the drum line, set my drum down, and started walking towards the rest of my friends. I look over towards the other bands to scoop out the competition, and I actually see some of my friends talking to the “rival” members. I especially noticed a tall, fluffy-haired guy, so of course, I had to see what they were talking about.
I invited myself over and started talking to everyone. Now keep in mind, I am a pretty awkward person, so when I met this new person, I stretched out my hand and quickly mumbled, “Hi I’m from Gulf Shores, I'm in the drum line! I actually play the bass drum, do you want to see it?"
This was probably one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. I don't think that anyone understood what I was saying, but that fluffy haired dude actually responded to me. He told me that he would be “honored” to see my bass drum, so I took him over to come and see it.
I heard my director calling me to come back over because the parade was about to begin. So I put on my drum and when I looked back, the guy was gone. The whole parade I was pondering who that guy was, or maybe if I should go back and stay in contact with him. I decided that I would ask around and see what people thought about him.
That night, I contacted many of my friends to see what they thought about this guy. I was surprised to see that so many people thought negative things. Many of my friends told me that I should just forget about him and move onto other things. Despite all of this, I ended up contacting him and he was completely different than what everyone else told me. In a good way. We ended up meeting at the next Mardi Gras Parade. And I somehow convinced him to join my band.
Time seemed to pass by so fast. The days turned into months which turned into years and here I am– about to be a junior. I have since learned that people can be so judgmental. It turns out that the people who were talking bad about him, didn’t even know him, and the words they told me were just assumptions. Sometimes I sit and wonder ‘What would have happened if I listened to those friends?
If I had listened to them, I would have never met my best friend. I would have judged someone I didn’t even know! Most importantly, if I had listened to those friends, then Mardi Gras never would have been my favorite holiday.