Saturday Sky: Bunting Situation

Last fall Miss B decided that she wanted to take up the flute and join the school band. We thought this was a fine idea, although we weren't sure she would stick with it. She did: when her class of six fifth-grade flutists eventually dwindled to two, she was still there. Since we failed to pay sufficient attention to a notice that came home detailing all of the band gigs in which she would participate, we barely made it to her first concert, and realized that she was due to march in the Memorial Day parade only the day before. We recovered, however, and got her delivered to the starting point and ourselves ensconced along the route in the center of town.


It was a grand occasion, with Minutemen, Scouts of both sexes and various ages, the elementary band, and the high school band in full regalia. The Minutemen are the ones in period costume; the guy in front of the fire station looks quite anachronistic (you probably can't really tell, but he is using a metal crutch). They are historians and reenacters of the original Colonial Minutemen, unrelated to the right-wing fringe group.


There are five elementary schools in our town; this was the first time they had all played together, and they had maybe half an hour to practice before the parade. They acquitted themselves remarkably well. Miss B is the one waving instead of getting ready to play.


If she's still playing in four years, she'll have an opportunity to try out for the high-school band and march in splendor. I'm not sure wearing one of those hats on a warm day is such an honor, but they looked great.

Taz went to the parade with us; we weren't sure how he would feel about this, as he is often put out by crowds, noise, and unfamiliar places.


We needn't have worried: he had a great time.