...With pride

Start at the end, and work your way back. Sometimes people learn that way...but. That's not how you learn music, or drill, or any number of things. If the end isn't given, why create one? If the end isn't given, anything can happen. Don't we all say, "Life goes on." Even a death is just a blip in life; others take over where we leave off, if we're lucky. That's what kids are for...carrying out the traditions, changing to suit changing times and tunes. We remember the past fondly, but we shouldn't breathe it in too deeply, lest we forget the now.

.......

"Stay gold," she said.

"What?" I didn't understand. The quote was from The Outsiders, but I hadn't read that since middle school.

"Stay gold," she repeated it, like a mantra. "Think about it. The bad stuff is forgettable, or you'll learn from it. Never change anything if they give you the chance." Then she turned and walked away, confidence in jeans and a t-shirt. She was gone. 

.......

I thought about it a few years later. I was a tech, teaching the band kids a thing or two about marching. A sax asked me if I ever wished for one more season, one more shot to make state. I had to think about it, but only a moment.

"Let's just say, I had my time. I had my four years, and they were good. Do I miss it? Sure. But I couldn't be here now if I hadn't done it then. Get set."

The met starts, the drummers dut.

"Show me! Feet together, stomach in, shoulders back, chest out! Eyes...!" 

For the Indie Ink Writing Challenge this week, Becca challenged me with "If you could edit the story of your life, what would you change? How would it end up if you could finish the story?" and I challenged Supermaren with "Today, I feel fine."