Yesterday, Becky came into town! She was flying in from Houston, so I went and got her at the airport. We then went over to have her dress fitting. After that, we went to my place so I could show her all the wedding stuff. Wedding stuff has completely taken over the upstairs! She saw my dress, shoes, accessories, veil, etc. Then she saw the bouquets, the reception favors and centerpieces. Then we trekked downstairs and I showed her the wedding stationary. We had a fantabulous afternoon!

We then drove out to Frisco to pick up David. Since Becky's mom (who was taking her home) was in Ft. Worth, we decided to find a place that was around halfway for both of us. We decided on the Olive Garden in Grapevine. Dinner was wonderful! I enjoyed getting to visit with Becky's mom. Becky's parents run a bed and breakfast in Ranger, and invited us to have a bridesmaids' night out there. It was a nice offer, hopefully everyone's schedules will cooperate.

Now one thing that you should know about Becky and I, is when we get together, we tend to be rather goofy. That has been the case ever since middle school. Last night was no exception. She and I always seemed to be giggling about something, and that would get her mom started too. Poor David, sitting at a table with three very giggly women! Becky and her mom then had to leave and drive back to Ranger. Next time she comes, hopefully she can stay longer!

Band Nerd

I am a band nerd, and have been for many years, fifteen to be exact. I started percussion in the sixth grade, and continued all the way through high school. My friends were all in band. In fact, three of my best friends, Heather, Becky and Ian, I met in the band. My crushes and boyfriends were always in band. At my high school, it was simply unheard of for a band member to date a non band member. We would talk about band during lunch. Oh, we'd talk about other things too, but band was a predominant topic.

I went to band camp for four years. I absolutely loved it, because it was full of band people! The cliques that existed in school weren't there, because we were all one big clique.

We took a lot of trips to fun places with the band, such as San Antonio, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Corpus Christi and Disney World. We went to Austin and Houston for state marching contests. While we worked our tails off in rehearsals, it paid off, when they would announce our band as being in the finals. The drumline went to competitions, and we always did well in those too.

I remember someone telling me when I was in eighth grade about the feeling that you get when the band is on the field, and you look up in the stands and see all the people cheering, and you know they're cheering for you. I never forgot that feeling the entire time I was in marching band, I felt it every time we played a show. I loved marching season and was really sad when I played at my last game my senior year.

About a year after high school, I read an article in the paper about the Carrollton Community Band. They were looking for percussionists. I called up the director, and have been a member ever since. I loved the opportunity to play, and the challenges of working with a band again. There has been a core group of us that have been with the Carrollton Band (now the Carrollton Wind Symphony) for a long time. We've gotten to know each other over the years, people that I would have never met if not for the band.

Playing in the Carrollton group has been very exciting and rewarding for me. However, I do feel that it is time to make a change. Once David (a former band person) and I are married, I will no longer live in Carrollton. However, there is a Frisco Community Band. Since we didn't have a rehearsal Tuesday night, I went out to Frisco to check out their band. I really liked the sound of the group, and the music that they were playing. I know that I will miss the Carrollton group, but I feel that it is time to move on. My last concert with the Carrollton Wind Symphony will be in May. Then, in August I will join the Frisco group.

Okay, that was long and tangential, but it's what was on my mind. Go make it a great one!

And now for something completely different. Our church, Grace Avenue is an offshoot of St. Andrew United Methodist Church. (Yes, the same St. Andrew United Methodist Church where we are getting married.) St. Andrew is an offshoot of another church, Highland Park United Methodist Church. At Grace Avenue, we refer to Highland Park UMC as our grandfather church. Well, I took my exam out at SMU. Highland Park UMC is right on the campus of SMU, so I decided to stop by and check it out. It is a beautiful church, the old-fashioned cathedrals is what it made me think of. It's kind of cool that our church came from that. I wonder if someone will be walking down the halls of Grace Avenue one day, admiring it as their grandfather church!