High School Football

This is Part II of our visit to see the Bearden High School/ Maryville High School football game on Sept. 30. If you missed Part I, chick HERE to see my precious grandson playing drums in the Bearden High Band.

Today, I'll show you a few more pictures from that fun-evening. Above is Landon's Dad (My fabulous son, Jeff) and adorable daughter, Avery---who were with us at the game. I am so proud of my son since he is in the process of losing alot of weight --and is doing so well. He is doing it the RIGHT way (proper eating and lots of exercise). Below are more pictures from the game.

We had a fabulous Fall evening in Knoxville, TN that night. Bearden High School is one of Knoxville's best schools --and you can see a little more of their facilities including a fairly new athletic complex.

Bearden is known as the Bulldogs ---and their colors are maroon and white... Before the game, the team ran on the field to the CHEER of the crowd.

The band (including one of the bands from a neighboring elementary school) was on the field --and the cheerleaders held up the sign ---for the football players to run through.

Now you can see the team running through ---while the bands played their pre-game music.... SUCH excitement!!!!!

We were sitting near the top ---and the cheering section was right below us... You can see the cheerleaders in front leading the crowd in their cheers. Even the row of 9th graders (standing in front of the bands) are getting into the cheers!!!! Landon is 3rd from the left end.

The sun was setting behind us ---but we still saw some gorgeous skies while watching the game... I laughed and told my son that I was busy looking at the sky instead of the football game!!!!!! (Typical photographer, huh?)

Here's a picture of the night sky --with the lights of West Knoxville very obvious in the distance... All in all, it was a great evening (even though Bearden did lose the game)----and brought back alot of memories of all of the many years I was in the band and attending football games.

Being in the band is alot of hard work --as Landon will tell you! I remember that myself --since my band also participated in many festivals, competitions, etc. I remember practicing every afternoon after school and also most weekends...

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I hope you are enjoying Autumn. We have had some very cool weather the past few days... We even had a frost advisory on Sunday night --but luckily, no frost (since we still have beautiful roses blooming). BUT---we did have a roaring fire in the fireplace all day on Sunday and again last evening... LOVE it!!!!!! Think it's time for some good home-made Chili, don't you????

Hugs,

High School Band

I think I have mentioned that I grew up in a very musical family. I started piano lessons at age 7 and even got a high school diploma in Piano at a competition my Senior Year. I had all intentions of majoring in Piano in college --but when I got to college, I didn't care for my piano teacher there, but loved the voice teacher. SO--I changed majors immediately and majored in Voice and Education with a minor in Math.

BUT--I also joined the band in the 8th grade and started playing the Clarinet. I became good enough to make All-State Band a couple of years and was First Chair Clarinet for two years. Some of my happiest memories growing up were those in our award-winning band. We had a FABULOUS band director (Mrs. MacChesney)--and for a small school, we won many, many awards and trophies in both marching and concert band.

SO--as you can imagine, I was totally excited to go to Knoxville this past Thursday night to see my oldest grandson playing in their high school band. Landon is in the 9th grade--but has already had about 2-3 yrs. of drum instruction. He is a musician through-and-through ---and hopes to get a music scholarship to college. I was so happy to see him on that field --and to see that great high school band.

I have two sets of pictures to share, today and tomorrow. The picture above is of my band ---in 1959, at one of our concerts at the old Big Stone Gap High School auditorium. You will need to enlarge the old photo --but I am on the left outside end, third row from the back. Below are more pictures.

That is my Cutie Pie Drummer Grandson--in the middle... They are marching onto the field.

Now you can see a better picture of the best-looking young man in the world. (Grammy's can say that!!!! ha) He's the only one carrying his drumsticks.

This is the band's halftime show... You can see all of the percussion along the front... They have everything from timpani to xylophones to cymbols and drums. That's quite different from the marching bands of 'my' time!!!! ha

Isn't Landon just adorable playing with fire???????? Silly Me.... that's NOT Landon!!!!! ha ha ... (This little gal was good though!!!)

Here's another picture of the band doing their routine during halftime.... This is a very good band. They play alot of JAZZ --which is different from bands of my era.... Of course, my era was many moons ago!!! ha

Here's another picture of my grandson doing his 'thing' during the halftime show.

That band definitely showed the LOVE during their halftime show. We enjoyed seeing this band so much---and we'll hopefully get to see them many more times over the next few years!!!!!! I will share more pictures tomorrow!!!!

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Hope you had a great weekend... I am really struggling with Blogger --getting "Service Unavailable" most of the weekend --off and on. Any thoughts or ideas as to what is going on?????? Wonder why Blogger can't fix this????

Hugs,