It is 10/16/21 and the band is heading off to Chesterton Regionals today. Of course, I am not with them as I retired….but the day brings back memories of three times I was involved in the Chesterton Regionals. For us, a Class A Band, Regionals alternated between Lafayette and Chesterton. Here are my three memorable years at Chesterton.
2009 – 1st Gold in a Decade
The show title was “TIME 20:09”. It was Thaine Campbell’s last marching band performance. The band had not received a Regional Gold rating since 2001. I was standing next to Mr. Campbell when they read the result and heard his noticeable sigh of relief. It would be another two months before he announced his retirement. This picture was taken by a parent from another band at the moment the rating was announced and sent to me with a note about how “real” that moment was for these drum majors and guard captains.
2011 – Death of My Mother
It was October 15. For this particular trip, I was driving a white bus, probably transporting some staff and/or parents.
Just prior to the band’s warm-up transit, I got a call from my brother Jeff — telling me that the nursing home called to say they didn’t expect our mother to make it through the night.
I was not only 120 miles on the wrong side of Huntington plus 200 on the other side.The band was about to perform for final competition and would still be in Chesterton for another couple hours waiting for results. What do I do?
One of the parents offered to leave the competition (missing the band’s performance) to drive me back to Huntington, but would then have driven 240 miles to miss the performance.
Mom had not been very conscious for a few months, and was not conscious at this time. I knew, however, that if she had been, her strong words to me would have been to…
“stay with the band”.
It was about 1:30 AM when we arrived back to Huntington. It was about 2:00 AM when brother called again to say, “She’s gone.” I wouldn’t have made it even if I had kept driving — and probably not even if I had immediately left the competition. I am at peace with my decision.
She was buried on my birthday three days later.
2018 – I Couldn’t Go
Between 2011 and this year the band had changed from Class A to Scholastic Class to Open Class B. 2018 would be our first trip back to Chesterton since 2011. I had been stressing about the memories I was sure the trip would invoke, but that became a side note when my doctor started me on a treatment the day before and forbid me to travel.
I was in fairly regular communication and was thrilled that this show; “Look Upon My Works” received a GOLD rating with the highest score since at least 2001.