Smyrna High Homecoming 2010

This year is an important year for me. I'm 45 and when the fall temps started to tease us here in Delaware Mid-Sept., I was completely ready for fall. In fact, I think I started changing colors myself. I'm more positive and ready for adventure, almost as if I'm ready to peak? Probably a little too early, but I feel my love for life getting better each and every day.

When school began I was already for homecoming because, I wanted to twirl my flag. All the other years, I felt as if I wanted to hide behind it. However, I couldn't wait. My good friend Jamie, the high school theatre/drama teacher, SOH thespian, and newlywed which moved to PA this summer. She will no longer be at Smyrna High, but has finally graduated from divorce' and single mother to wife/step parent/spouse. She is a new stepmother to two terrific twin teenage boys, and an exchange student from China. I couldn't imagine starting off the year with these kids without Jamie. I asked her to come down and twirl with me. After all, she was the former SHS Regiment of Red's bandfront leader and choreographer as well.

We practiced our school's Alma Mater-theme song. Even though we were warned that the song is no longer played with a slow tempo, we did our best. I was amazed that the "silks" no longer include some of the moves because they are too elementary and boring. It wasn't as easy to manipulate the flag around my body. However, we asked four other bandfront alumni at the game to join us. We were positioned between all of the present marchers. We marched onto the field and hit our field lines and were positioned as an arch at the top of the band. As the music began, I starting counting 1 and 2 and 3 and 4.

Wow, after my sixth spin, I realized that they doubled the time on the song.....and I had missed my stop. So I stopped my pole and went the other direction for another sixth spin. I completely missed my stop but not on purpose. I was trying to keep up as the music was faster and faster. Next my broom sweeps from above my head to below...forget it. Two more beats and the music stopped, and so did my flagpole. I was out of breath, and complete red from trying to keep up.

As soon as we faced right to march off the field, I started giggling and couldn't stop. Who cares, I thought! That was amazing....so much fun. Jamie and I gathered the other flags from the others and put them in the shed. We continued our grownup discussion on her return plans, and said goodbye. However, the next day, I was surprised to get the fun photos.

I felt like a Senior ~ all over again!

The fun part about homecoming for me isn't that I see several folks from my class. No, actually, it is watching the present classmates in their new position from Freshmen up to the Seniors. Every year, I'm introduced to the new Freshmen in the band. I sneak into their marching band practices. Go to their chorus, and jazz band concerts. I get to see a preview of the kids that will be in the Spring musical. I see them when I'm shopping or at a school function. Either way, I love to watch them grow and become adults. My first student came to the football game with her 6 mo. old baby girl. I'd seen her on facebook, but it was nice to tell her how proud I am to know her.

It certainly is a blessing to live in a small hometown community where everybody knows your name.