For the love of music...
As we talked on the phone for hours, I was so excited to learn of myDarlin’s deep rooted love for music. His exposure started much earlier than mine, as he was classically trained on piano at a very young age, and then began to build his repertoire. His Father felt it imperative to ensure Robert Kenui Popeembraced his Hawaiian culture and taught him to play the ukulele and sings traditional Hawaiian songs. I began in the 4th grade playing a mellophone, and then moved up to French horn in 6th grade continuing through my high school years. Robert played Sousaphone and brass instruments in his band, as well as the upright bass a little further into his musical ‘career’. As I understand, he and a few others used to hang out in the band room and also pick up other instruments to play too. You can imagine my surprise when a keyboard playing, string and brass playing man picked up a flute I purchased at a local antique store and began to play. Music truly ran through this wonderful man’s veins.
We talked of marching band…. My high school excelled in the concert band arena, and even though I had the pleasure of being an Assistant Drum Major my junior year, then Drum Major my senior year, we never entered competitions. From what I remember, his band was also more focused on the concert band and jazz band competitions/exhibitions as well. You can imagine both of our excitement going to my son Chris’s performances over the years with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corp, and how proud we were when he was chosen to be the Assistant Drum Major his final two years.
We traveled to many locations for Drum Corp International (DCI) Finals to see the Green Machine compete along with other elite corps. I would get green & black manicure/pedicures, and we both would wear Cavaliers attire and paint our hair green in support of our son Chris and The Cavaliers. We would talk about music during those trips even more so than usual, as if it became the very air we breathed.
As years passed by, Chris aged out but remained ever present by volunteering with the Cavaliers – helping the next generations of young men discover the meaning of music as it related to life. Precision, creativity, emotions, excellence, passion……
As I stepped onto the field this evening to photograph the corps with my son Chris, who is now the Director of Communications and Development for The Cavaliers, I could feel myDarlin’ watching from the stands in Heaven cheering us on. Tonight I am grateful for music, and the important role that it has played and continues to play in our lives.
#KeepLookingUp
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