From the Road - Part II

Monday afternoon we arrived at the North East High School in North East PA where the Crossmen were rehearsing. They arrived at the school at 5:30 from Belding MI. Shortly after we arrived we were busy helping wash up the lunch dishes.

Several things have stuck me on the first day. One of the first was that the meals are basic. They have to be to be cooked out a portable kitchen that has a paid cook with volunteers to assist. Menu planning for 150 can be a challenge when the number of volunteers can fluctuate significantly over a few days.

Another was the discipline and drive of the members. They work hard during the day. Even after returning from the competition at 10:30, various members were gathered in clusters reviewing that evenings tape or working together on an aspect that they still needed to hone. Drum Corps is not for those who are undisciplined or who are out to have a good time.

Another which I already knew intellectually but struck me afresh in the afternoon when Evie and I were taking pictures, as you will notice from the pics Drum Corps is not for those who are prudes. They travel on buses by sections, they sleep together in a gymnasium, they shower and dress together (of course men and women in different shower rooms) and as they rehearse they dress to keep as cool as possible.

As you will see from the one picture of Josh, he is well tanned…and will only get darker as the summer goes along. His arms, chest and upper thighs are filling out due to all the exercise he is getting. By the end of the summer Josh will be in the best shape in his life.