240This year I am getting my first taste of being a freshman dad. Kathryn is in her first year at Duncanville High School and I am in my first year as a Band Parent.

Tonight is another first – parent chaparone on a band bus. This will be my first chance to see the Band march. All previous weeks I have worked in the concession stand. The way that the concession stands are built at the Duncanvill stadium you can’t hear – much less see – the performance.

So here I am in a high school stadium on a cool Friday night. Fortunately, the metroplex received a cool front earlier this week, so it is almost football weather in Texas.

Kathryn really enjoyes band – even though it is a lot of hard work. The Duncanville Band practices till almost 9:00 on Monday and Tuesday nights, then from right after school to after 5:00 on Thursday. Until recently it has been very hot. They have really liked the cooler weather.

Unfortunately, the football team appears to not be attending tonight’s game – there are people on the field but from the style of play they can’t be a real football team.

The band looks great. Oh well – as a ex-band member myself I can accept the attitude that the first two quarters of a high school football game are just the warm-up act for the Band, and the last two an opportunity to discuss the performance.

After the game it’s time for the ride home. I had forgotten how loud a large, confined group of teenagers can be. Added to that one thing I never had growing up – a traffic jam on the highway that makes the trip even longer. At least the “yellow dog” buses of today have air-conditioning.

Home at midnight – a long evening – but a fun one. It’s great to see Kathryn excited and happy with her friends.