2017 Life Logs, Day 338: Sam’s 5th Grade Band Concert
Date: Monday, December 4, 2017
Weather: Mostly Sunny; High Temp 49, Low 32 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Studio, Falmouth, MA

For me today was a class at the gym, time catching up on emails, researching possible Christmas presents, a little shopping trip about town for various things, and some cooking. Then I got a call from Jed asking if I could do some emergency shopping for Sam. It was 5:30 pm at the time and Sam had to be at his school band concert at 6:30 pm wearing a pair of dark pants. He has outgrown all of his, so he and Heather had gone shopping and found a pair of 10 slim black pants that should have been perfect . . . so they didn’t try them on. But when it was time to get ready, Sam tried to put on the pants and he couldn’t button them. This is the first time ever that a pair of slim pants were too small for Sam. So, this is when I got the call from Jed asking if I could go back to Walmart, buy a pair of 10 regulars, and make a quick home delivery. I left immediately and found a dark blue pair of pants in the right size, but not a black pair. I found a black pair in a different brand, so I purchased both and took off. I delivered them and thankfully the blue pair did the trick. Then we were off for the concert.

In Falmouth, all 5th and 6th graders attend Morse Pond School. They have an auditorium, but it is not large enough to hold all the people attending a band concert. So the concert tonight was held at the middle school. Since we were there early, Ollie took the opportunity to read to Heather. I can’t believe he is old to read, but he is, indeed. The Auditorium was packed and the concert was delightful. Well done! Sam plays drums this year along with eight other 5th graders and they kept the beat perfectly throughout the two songs performed by 5th graders. Then the 6th graders performed, followed by the 5th and 6th grade jazz band. I was impressed with each presentation. It is obvious that the music director, Mr. Borning, not Boring as Oliver pointed out, does a great job with these kids. The songs they played were enjoyable. But the thing that struck me the most is that my oldest grandchild and his friends are growing up right in front of my eyes. As a drummer, Sam was in the back row right in the center. In front of him and to his left were two of his soccer friends, Gus and Sebastian, who play saxophone. Sam and Sebastian attended the Woods Hole Day Care together, so they have been together since they were two. In front of Gus and Sebastian was Talia. Heather and Talia’s mom were in a breast-feeding support group together, so Sam and Talia have been friends for ten years. I first met Talia when Mark and I came home for Sam’s first birthday in 2008. It was just a coincidence that from my camera vantage point, these friends were in the photos I took of Sam. But seeing how grown up they look was a stark reminder of just how quickly the years pass. It really does seem like it was just yesterday when they were toddlers. I think that big, gorgeous moon tonight was in celebration of these friendships.