Yet another post about Parades...

I'm deprived don't judge!
here's a little story I was thinking about a little while ago...

So when I was probably about six I went to a parade somewhere with my grandpa. It was just me and him and he had this camp chair with a little canopy thing on it and I was sitting on his lap. We were just minding our business watching the parade when a news anchor came up to us and asked how we were doing and how we were enjoying the parade. Me being the shy little girl I was my grandpa mostly answered until they directly asked me what my favorite part of the parade was. I think my initial reaction was I don't know, but I was six so I thought about it and I answered "All the pretty floats with princess' on them" as all little girls would probably answer. So that day I was on the news.
I'm no longer as cute and I don't fit on my grandpas lap anymore and my answer has definitely changed.
Many of the band people say that the bands were there favorite. That wasn't true for me apparently Its even caught on film somewhere. I hardly remember the bands. But if I was just as cute and a news anchor asked me again I'd say

BAND

because that's where my heart lies. and since I'm usually in the parades the rest bore me cause I'm not used to not being in it ya know? But loving band is just part of who I am. I know the work that goes into it and the pain from doing it. But the important part isn't the pain or the work its the satisfaction of knowing you accomplished something hard. and that you put yourself into it and gave something away that's greater than yourself. Band is truly amazing.

When I can't sleep I think about band... :) 

Kristen Bandie for life

The Timpview Band: Not Being in the Parade

Oh my goodness gosh golly goodness... Over the past four years I have done AT LEAST 20 parades. Not including Pearl Harbor, Moab, BYU Homecoming, and Disneyland. Do you know how crazy that is?! Wow... I miss doing parades. Yesterday was the first day in Four years that I was the one watching the parade. It was super weird you know that feeling when you're being yelled at and trying super hard not to smile? I don't get to feel that anymore instead I get to inflict that pain on my friends. Kayla did an amazing job not letting me get her. But I know she was trying SO SO SO hard! Haha It was amazing! She didn't break. I remember the feeling of the little devil on my shoulder telling me to give up to break down. I remember estimating how long the remainder of the parade was. I remember the feeling of burning shins during the parade and how incredibly satisfying that was and how proud I was to be a part of that amazing group of kids. I loved the challenge. The heat BRING IT. The cold BRING IT... HARDER. To me it didn't matter where we were and what we were doing when I dawned that uniform I changed and dug in harder than anyone could imagine. Sun, heat, rain, snow, miles or blocks I was going to finish and I was going to be proud. There is no way I was going to let down my toes, I wasn't going to drop my eyes because when I yelled "EYES WITH PRIDE" on the top of my lungs I sure as heck meant it. Never was I going through the motions because I WAS proud to be there. I was proud of what I stood for and I would never go back and not do marching band. Through everything I learned there I wouldn't change a thing. I am proud to have been a member of the Timpview High School Marching band. I always was, I cherished that uniform I was proud to wear it, to stand for something more than me, more than us. I was never the best but I worked through and pressed on because I strove to be better than my best. I didn't start off strong I was the last to pass off my music my freshman year I was an alternate for fall. The only thing I wanted was to be on that field to be making music with my friends to be the best I could I pushed and I pushed and I worked harder than most. To some it comes naturally, memorizing and playing, for me I had to work. But I told myself, "if you can't play the music perfectly make sure your eyes have pride and your never out of step your body is erect and you never be told to fix yourself. Always be with your left guide and never let anyone make you feel inferior. Just because you didn't catch on like some doesn't mean you don't belong. Be PROUD to be in the band" and I was. And I am proud of my band. I might not be in still but if I could I most definitely would. When I saw the band coming yesterday I was so excited I biffed it when I was trying to get up so I could cheer. And when I was yelling for them I was told "its good for them to have a cheering section" and the only thing I could think was "If I didn't cheer who would?" That's MY band. Those are the people that I love How could I not cheer them on. Give them hope for the end. Tell them to push through. Be proud of who they are and what they stand for. I'm happy I could cheer and even with me not marching my heart was with them and I had to let them know. My determination in band gave me a respect beyond anything I ever had. And band is where I belonged even though my journey through was hard. I had it worse than some but the important part is I NEVER quit. How could I? Band was my home. I remember how it was and not being there is different. Its slightly lonely but I was proud to see and hear my band coming down the road. It happens so fast but band is where I belonged. Bandies, its where you belong. Don't give up if you don't get it right away because you will never say "I worked so hard for nothing" and if there is anyone you should trust about that its me. I worked so hard and got everything, Dedication, Determination and most importantly the ability never to give up. So Work your tails off. Run for the roses ;) learn your peers names. Kick it in the butt. You will never regret what you do. Be Proud to be in the Band you are a Band Geek EMBRACE it. Never give up and try to persevere to the end because that's how it should be. Everything you do should symbolize that last block of the parade when you run; run with a goal, When you stretch; stretch with a purpose. Mean what you do and push because you will feel more satisfaction when you do. Never believe you are not good enough to continue because the band doesn't give up on anybody. Never be afraid to ask for extra help YOUR section leaders love you and want you to succeed. You ARE important to the band. That's what I learned my freshman year. No matter if you have a title or are the farthest behind. YOU matter to the band. YOU are important. No one is better than the other and don't stand for otherwise. The band is a symbol of love, don't take away from that because you NEED to love everyone, even when you don't learn to because "love is a choice" always will be decide what you will choose. How will you be when you graduate. I miss the opportunity you all have right now so please don't take it for granted. Not being in the parade is hard, but seeing the legacy you leave behind is endearing and I love the band more now because I know the work that goes into it. I Love the Timpview Band. I always will. Good job yesterday. My heart was with you. I love you and I miss you. Never be afraid to cross the finish line. Your biggest enemy is yourself. Trust me. I love you. Congratulations on your first parade, I'm proud of the freshmen. It only gets better. I promise. LOVE YOU GUYS!!

Special Shout Out:
FLUTES I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!! Kayla You rock Michaela You rock too! Cutie Flutie Patooties have hawt booties! AH YEAH!! ;) You know it :)
and the rest of the band are hawt too :D

Love Always,
              Kristen Santa Maria Bandie forever!

Summer

Man... SUMMER IS BORING!
You know you're a band geek when...
 You just graduated and in your summer you still wake up in time to be able to go to marching band.
 You'd rather be marching than sleeping
 You could honestly go to marching band and be able to play the music from memory
I miss band so much I have nothing better to do with my life...
So i sit at home and watch star trek :)... i'd still rather be marching

Good news is I am officially signed up to be in the USU Aggie Marching Band come this fall!! So excited. SO everyone watch Halftimes.
and... I signed up for an ROTC class. Its called leadership and something life... Idk but I'm excited I'm not officially in the army but its like an into or something. I just need to build up my running skills if i'm actually gonna join the army.
I got my USU ID yesterday... SO its official I'm an AGGIE... Kinda weird. Still don't know where I'm gonna live or how I'm gonna make money but I'll get there.

Summer a time that makes me wish i really had more friends that I could call and be like hey lets do something. One of the beauties of band you lucky ducks actually have something to do with your lives. I LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW IN A VERY CREEPY WAY :) I love band... i'm so lonely with out it.

And believe it or not... as glad as i am to be out of highschool i'm gonna miss all my friends. Cause thats really the only time i see any of them I'm a lonely little old fart. I'd sure love to hang out if anyone'd like. I love ya'll..

The term up to par makes me laugh.. cause most people are above and beyond par.. You want to be down to par. at least thats what Landers always told me haha... just a thought. don't judge..

Thoughts are weird. the end!

Live long and prosper. thats the treky in me