As I sat there, I tried hard not to cry by thinking of how far some of these kids had come. Colin is shy and it took a bucketload of self-esteem to even get this group together. He was a kid who reluctantly continued his trumpet-playing into high school, but has learned to love playing over the years. Although he is still quiet, I see him gaining momentum a bit as he nears graduation.
I think we have him actually considering playing in college, although not in the uber-competitive and time-consuming marching band field. Instead, I see him in a more intimate setting, perhaps a concert or jazz band where playing isn't a chore, but a more creative outlet. His favorite venues are those where he is playing in the pit for the school musical or backing up the show choir--where he doesn't have to have pressure to play, but to just feel the music and enjoy.
But it isn't just my son that has grown and changed in the last couple of years. Sean, the tuba player on the left, was extremely quiet and shy. He has blossomed from a boy who's chin was eternally buried into his chest and couldn't utter a sound, into a witty, self-assured young man who looks me in the eye and announces a grand "Hello, Mrs. Kautz!" when I see him. I almost had to do a double-take the first time that happened. It's wonderful to see him to happy, self-confident, and funny--it's a nice change.
The trombone player, Mark, is in a category all on his own. I didn't know Mark before he came to the high school, but just watching him makes me cry. Mark, you see, is deaf. I haven't asked how much hearing he has, but he does have a Cochlear Implant and he has a sign language interpreter with him most of the time. He does however, talk and joke with everyone, never letting his lack of hearing impede him on any level.
It is nothing less of a miracle to see Mark in marching band every year, with Mary, his interpreter, on the sidelines marking the beat or signing instructions to him. There isn't a day when I think of this as routine or normal--he is incredible, with no other words to describe it. And his parents? Amazing and wonderful. I can't even imagine how they felt to see him inducted into the Tri-M that night--and I sat next to them. I would have been poppin' had I been his mom, but Julie just smiled and cheered on all of the kids along with her son.
There are others that shone that night. Linnea, who was so very quiet until 3 years ago when she joined band. To see her bloom from a quiet, soft-spoken girl to a beautiful, out-going, down-right silly young woman, right before my very eyes has been wonderful. I knew Linnea years ago in ballet class with Em--this is not the Linnea I remember. And I find myself watching her having so much fun, smiling in my heart to see her so happy.
There were others that night that I knew from the grade school, that grew up in those 4 very short years. They went from silly pre-teens into young men and women who could stand confidently on a stage and perform the most incredible music. The memories flooded back into my heart as I sat there smiling, cheering them on, remembering who they were and how far they have come.
And I didn't cry.




