I Am Not a Gleek.

Yes, let me repeat for those of you who may have known me back in the day: I am not a Gleek. I have not seen the show Glee and it seems like the kind of thing that would be right up my alley. I was a Band Nerd in high school; when not in school or at a band activity I spent lots of time working. I was such a Band Nerd in high school that I continued after HS by teaching color guard and twirling in college. Yes, flag girls. Yes, I twirl...flag, not baton. There's a difference. It set the foundation for who I am. That sounds melodramatic, but it is true. When I was trying to decide during college if I would keep teaching or go try out for a group I would think "What good is all this flag twirling going to do? Is this really teaching me anything? "
I didn't know then what I know now.

That it was teaching me a great deal about teaching for when I would later teach Kindergarten. About how to work with students and how NOT to work with students. About how you have to be ready as a teacher to approach teaching one item in 3 different ways because not everyone learns in the same way. And how to organize rehearsals (in the classroom lessons).
It was teaching me determination. I wanted to keep performing so I had to step outside my comfort zone and find groups to perform with and go into big groups of people I didn't know and try my hardest and make friends. And usually it meant crazy hours of driving each way each week to teach, rehearse or perform. And during rehearsals when the instructor said it will never be right, it was time to pull out that determination and show them how its done.
It was teaching me about friends who will be friends forever. I have said it before, that there are friends that when you see them again- even after a long absence or disconnection- you pick up right where you left off. People I performed with are those friends because we hold that formative experience and those formative years as a bond between us.
I think many people have that activity they find when they are young that they work on and build and grow in so many ways while honing their skills. I think it is valuable for every child to find that group at some point and sometimes worry that my boys might not find their 'thing'. What happens to the kids who drift without that one thing that gets them inspired and keeps them growing?
So I don't know why I can't watch Glee. I can't even think about it. And I should be pushing to the front of the line to be a fan of the "HS nerd underdogs rule the world" thing. Definitely a fan of the everyone finding their place to be accepted theme, but still not a Gleek.
love and hugs, B
footnote: Initial feedback from my editor is that this post seems like I am longing for the good old days. I would have to say no. While this is a part of my life that formed the foundation for who I turned out to be, I would not wish to return to it. What brought this on was not pangs of nostalgia, but reconnecting with old friends through Facebook and thinking about what makes that connection so strong that when we get in touch again it is like we just talked yesterday. I am rambling at this point.