First day on the job…

So have you ever had that experience were you think ‘Today is gonna be a great day, I’m ready for anything!’? Well, my friend, you’ve never had a first day like this:

So let’s travel in time…

Summer 2006, Memphis Sound Drum & Bugle Corps, being just a know-nothing mello. tech, stepping into my first day as brass caption head while ours was away with his personal business demands. Now, picture me; so excited to make “my mark” on the corps, so ready to show off that I can really meet the demand of brass caption, so unready for what was to come. Now picture this:

Your typical, after lunch horn arc, warming up, playing through your everyday lip slur patterns, it’s hotter than hell (literally and humid!!). The hornline is back under its favorite shady area hoping to avoid a few minutes of sun. I’m out front, of course, directing away (not that they need me, what a talented corps that year). Suddenly, my WHOLE trumpet section goes running—well correction—almost my whole trumpet section, in my mind I think “What in the world!?” I saw nothing wrong, heard some odd cracking noise, but saw nothing, until a rather large branch comes falling and pinning one of my female players, smashing her from standing  at attention to the ground & I knew she was hurt, bad.

--Okay, at this point total horror was flying through my mind! I knew I’d just witnessed the death of a member by a TREE , of all things, and a good player at that!? Why is it that it’s always the less talented that survives? Haha. (No hate mail, that was a joke…sorta J ) Alright, so I think:

" My lord, what do I do?!" I have a member down, others scratched and bruised, and the remainder of the hornline was in a state of crying, crowding, and complete amazement at what had just happened….not quite unlike their caption head!

This is where I say thank God for volunteers , Mrs. Pam Opie (now, corps director) comes driving up, jumps out of the truck, and between her and I calling 911 and barking orders we got those needing attention inside and taken care of, the rest back to practice with the brass staff, and Ms. Burgess and me were off to the Memphis Regional Hospital; her in the back of the ambulance on a stretcher, me in the front trying to unroll my shorts, digging through my bag for a shirt to wear, and completely in a state of shock.

Now, this story is JUST beginning…

Did I mention it’s only about 1pm? Remember that & make sure to read my next blog for the rest of the story.

Stay tuned—Ty.