When we talked about going to the UH football games, we figured on at least the first game of the season and then Homecoming, since it can get pretty expensive ($40 each for sideline tickets) and I was scheduled for work on two of the home games due to our system conversion. So out of the whole home game schedule, those were the only dates that really worked with my schedule anyhow. At the time, I really didn't know that Homecoming would be Ryan's last game in the band.
Because he transferred to KCC, he was no longer getting any credit for being in the marching band (either tuition credit or class credit). There are apparently several of band members who are doing it just for "love" and that was what Ryan was doing. Being in the marching band involves practices Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons and almost all day on home-game days. It also involves taking turns at being in the pep band at volleyball and basketball games. He probably would have continued but he wasn't enjoying it the way he did before. So he decided that Homecoming would be his last performance.
I felt sad watching the pre-game, knowing this was his last. We chose seats on the mauka side of the stadium because for Homecoming, the band faces that direction, where the students sit. The half-time was as fun as usual, following a kind of fairy tale theme. This is what the Asst Band Director emailed to the band for their program:
Halftime Music Order:Ease On Down the Road
reprise of Ease on Down measure 18 to first ending
Cinderfella
reprise of Ease on Down measure 18 to first ending
Starships (NOTE: remember to insert the 32 counts of perc between 25 - 29
reprise of Ease on Down measure 18 to first ending
Tuba Cracker Suite (witch's entrance): beginning to 17
Gangnam - with drumline insert for dance and cuts. (beginning to 42, drumbreak: 8 counts to put down instrument, 12 sets of 8, dance - then pick up instrument, play from measure 71 to end)
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The tubas were the Dwarfs, as in "Snow White and..." but there are way more tubas than seven!. The bottom picture is Ryan in purple shirt dancing to Gangnam style, sung by Mr. Joe Pacheco, who teaches middle school band at Kamehameha and is a friend of my cousin Derek's. Too cute! (Thanks to Jamiee again for the close-up Ryan and half-time pics!)
Hopefully he will be able to re-join if he wants to in the future. Band was such a big part of his life for a long time and I know he misses it.
And no more games for us this season...so sad the Warriors are 1-7 so far after yesterday's loss against Boise State. We've been trying to watch from home but it's so frustrating to see the team struggle so much. My Facebook comment from the Homecoming game was "Well I guess we really did just come to the game to watch the band perform."
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