Final

July 2, 2017 – Along the Mill Brook Again

Well, I’m finally back in Vermont, sitting along the Mill Brook, where this blog began over 10 days ago. What a strange trip it’s been. Now that I am home and under the hypnotic sound of the Mill Brook, I have realized how perfect the entire adventure has been for me. It was like everything was planned, but then again, it was not. I bent to the spontaneous nature of it all, being flexible to stay on to do yeoman’s service as a volunteer beyond Ohio. I think about all the events that had to click for me before embarking so that I could be free to do so.

The story is not over because over the past day and a half of driving and visiting my sisters I have much more to reflect on. While in Ithaca, my sister and I took a nice long walk up to the Cornell campus. This extensive university was originally founded under the federal College Land Grant program established in 1865 by the US Congress under the stewardship of Justin Morrill, a Vermont Senator. Think of the many students who have played and marched there over the years wearing red. Ithaca is a Tree City and most of the homes have porches and very nice gardens of flowers and shrubs along the streetscape that compete for space with two pedestrians walking abreast. Beautiful. Our tour included a visit to the Cornell chapel and a few minutes on the Steinway within. Joy. I fell asleep on her couch following an awesome dinner out at Viva Taqueria, and ice cream at Purity Ice Cream, all within walking distance of her humble home.

My other sister lives in Clinton, NY, another college town – Hamilton College. They had torrential rains the day before and were cleaning up the mess on their farm from the flash flooding that occurred. I made my way there to help early in the morning. By lunchtime we moved most of debris around my sister’s farmyard and gardens that washed up from the flooding Oriskany Creek. Once again I fell asleep on a sister’s couch for a catnap and then drove the remaining few hours home to Vermont. It is a familiar route so Siri slept the whole way. While on the way, I again began to think about my brother, the trumpeter. He had been on my mind often these past few days. Tragically, he was lost 40 years ago. Motorcycle, speed, alcohol, and somewhat of a death wish were the causes. He raced snowmobiles. He lived on the edge. I remember him mastering Flight of the Bumblebee in high school. He was a bigger fan of drum corps than I was back then and would have stayed with the activity and taken in many of the shows over the past four decades, most of which I missed. Perhaps I made this trip for my brother, too.

So, I am happy to be part of this new family for me, the Boston Crusaders. During my 10-day touring experience I really connected with that great vibe that I felt back in June at the BAC community night in Castleton. I think the Corps is on it’s way to a remarkable season and I am very proud to have been able to play a small part in it. In 2012 when I began following drum corps again, I was very moved by programs such as the Bluecoats – Unmasked, which seemed to bend toward the more personal reflections of life. Cadets – Side x Side, captivated me with the compelling music of Samuel Barber. As a cancer survivor, the Blue Knights programs – That One Second, and Because really resonated with me. I really look forward to experiencing the BK 2017 show – i. The Boston Crusaders, Wicked Games, is having that same kind of connection with me, especially during the beautifully and powerful ballad. Now having established such a personal connection with them, it will have a lasting impression on me well beyond August.

I am home for now, but I start out for my end of season tour beginning with the Tour of Champions (TOC) in Chester, Pennsylvania on August 3. Then I meet up again for a run of three nights with the BAC – Allentown, PA; Rome, NY; and finishing in Massillon, OH (TOC), where we first began. I had purchased 50-yard line tickets for these three shows months ago, long before I decided to take this early tour as a volunteer with them. This is one of the many coincidences that led me on this journey. So, why did I do this? Why am I writing this? I have an interest in sharing exceptional things. Touring with a top world class drum corps this summer has been one of the most exceptional experiences that I have had so far. So, don’t be surprised if the story continues in August. Meanwhile, I will keep in touch along the Mill Brook.

Back to Along the Mill Brook

This personal reflection of my 10-day vacation as an intern-volunteer with the Boston Crusaders, a world class drum and bugle corps, started out as a daily blog. However, I have compiled my daily entries here into this diary-style essay.

The contra bass section rehearsing in Columbiana, Ohio.