Shhhh.In the middle of our drum corps show tour in July and August, MP said if he marched one day, he would march with Carolina Crown or the Cadets. I say (to myself), "Yeah! Cool!" I say, "You could do something I never ..." --- shhhhh.
My field of dreams was to march. To play third cymbal for Santa Clara Vanguard. To wail like the first soprano of the Blue Devils. To wear the cape (Phantom Regiment or Crossmen!). Now I want to push you to ... shhhh.
I would love these to be your dreams, too, mind you, so I could teach you my mistakes and save you time and effort. But ... no matter what it seems ... and no matter how disappointed my face may look ... this is not what I expect from you.
Don't chase these dreams for me. Chase them for you.
But if it is your field of dreams, chase it. Chase it hard. You have within you the raw materials, but it takes a desire and work ethic that is beyond the ordinary. If it seems like I am pushing you, what I'm doing is trying to help you understand that. It is the only thing I can give you.
I can encourage you and support you, and sometimes that support seems to become more of a hard shove. I want to be that "helicopter parent" hovering over your life, swooping in to help you every time I sense failure coming (or I see you stopping short of success). Sorry about that but, unfortunately for you, you are the first 16 year old I have ever raised.
What I see is that I have to help you get the most of out these last two years of high school, because - selfishly - I want YOU and I together to make the most of the time we have left (because one day I will change the locks, no matter what your mother says!) .
Two years.
Don't let me forget, though - you are young, and have years ahead. You are still seeking your passion(s) in life, and those cannot be mine.
Maybe you will march drum corps, and maybe you won't. That's okay. Just make the most of what you have and are given. Learn, and teach. Teach your peers, your brothers, and your know-it-all parents.
I am very proud of you. I look forward to this marching season.
Happy birthday, and thank you for the gifts you give me.
