"Blue Like Jazz" and Passing the Torch

I have finished my third book of the summer. I finished "Blue Like Jazz Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality" by Donald Miller. This was a fantastic book. It's exactly what it says it is - it's a book of thoughts. Each chapter follows a different thought that the author has about Christianity. Here's what Miller says in his note at the opening of the book:

"I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve. But I was outside teh Bagdad Theater in Portland one night when I saw a many playing the saxophone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he never opened his eyes.
After that I liked jazz music.
Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way.
I used to not like God becasue God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened."

I would recommend this book for anyone who would like some new thoughts on what can sometimes be considered a dull religion.

According to my original list, I have 17 left to go. A friend of mine gave me another book as a graduation present, so now that's been added to my list. It's "The Double" by Jose Saramago.

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Passing The Torch

Saturday was the Laurel Festival parade. It was the last parade of the season, which also means it was my last EHS Band event ever. I have always loved this parade. Sure, it may be our longest parade (2 mi) but it's the best. Simply because of the Nicholas Street judges. Or as we affectionally call them, the "Corning Crazies". Trust me, we don't say that in a negative way - we love these people. Why? Because they love us, and we can't understand why. They have all these signs to support us, and there was a huge crowd this year - more than I've ever seen. My favorite sign, which they have every year "Give us a Corning concert!" : ) They also have a tradition of giving 75 cents to their favorite group. We got it this year (again!). I have to say, I love it when they send a little girl out to give it to me (even though I accidentally knocked the money out of her hand because I didn't see her). They make the entire parade season so much better in the end. I will miss that so much!

We started a new tradition at the parade. Sort of a "changing of the guard" for the drum majors. For the last time running through the song, Jenna came up to the front and I saluted her and turned the band over to her and Jen and Spencer - next years drum majors. Katie C and I stood over to the side with their instruments. It was so cool. Seeing Jen and Spencer in action was great (especially since they've never conducted and walked backwards before) and it was good to have that moment of transition, to switch the leadership of the band, rather than just dropping everything and walking away.

When we got back to the school, I just wandered around between the bandrooms and the lobby. I was really tired and it was emotionally exhuasting. As I was standing in the lobby though, I just couldn't believe it. That was it. After 4 years, 1 on the field, 1 being an assitant, and the past 2 years having the band as my own, it was over. It's not my band anymore - it's Jenna's. It's a weird feeling. I feel a little sad, but not really sad. I know I've done my job. I poured myself into the job for 2 years, and now it's time to move on. I've gotten everything ready for Jenna to lead, and it's her turn. Now it's my turn to become a student again, to learn rather than to teach. It's exciting. Of course, I'll still come back to band camp, and then I'll be a staff member and I'll be there to help and teach when I need to, but it's all different. And all so exciting.