| Color guard is spending 15 to 20 hours a week marching up and down a 50 by 70 foot area spinning a 3 � pound rifle, a 5 � foot flag, or a 2 � pound sabre. It's spending all of your free time, and more, practicing the same routines over and over again and hearing the ever familiar "One more time!". It is riding for many hours on cold bumpy buses and going to more fast food restaurants than you thought existed. Sometimes you march with blisters on your feet, splints on your fingers, when you're sick, or when every muscle in your body aches. It means being willing to try again even though you are sick of it and just want to go home and sleep. Then another Saturday night comes! Judges, instructors, other guards, and 500 or 600 spectators are waiting for your performance. For 10-15 minutes, every ounce of your strength and concentration is dedicated to making your family, friends, school, and judges impressed with your show. The demanding, endless hours of practice have been a prelude to this moment. There is the hope in your heart and tears in your eyes as you realize you no longer feel your body. But you're only thinking "1 2 3 UP (remember to smile!)5 6 7 8". With this image in your head your probably wondering what would posess a person to put themselves through this. It's the closeness you have with 100 other people. It's the new family you have and love�but sometimes fight with. It's your life from August to November. You put so much work into this, how can you not have fun with it? You have helped create something wonderful for other people to enjoy. So how can you not be in it? |
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