Sandra Heska King

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Four Baton Lessons

March 20, 2010 By Sandra Heska King

I transferred from a small school (50 students K-12) to a big school (about 83 graduates) in my sophomore year. Gaylord had a band.

I loved football Fridays. I loved the half-time shows–the drums, the horns, the cymbals, the marching, 

I wanted to join that band!

Bad. Really bad.

But I couldn’t play an instrument. None. Zilch.

Dead dream.

But . . .

What if I learned to twirl?

But how?

My mom knew a little about twirling. She showed me with a broom. And then bought me a real baton.

I spent the whole summer learning to twirl in front of me, pass behind my back, pass under my leg, spin with one hand, throw and catch.

Practiced. Practiced. Practiced.

Alone.

I showed up for tryouts in my junior year. I thought I would throw up.

But I made the cut! Although now I can’t really remember if they cut anyone. But at least I didn’t stink enough for them to say, “Strut on out of here.”

Miss Majorette. Band member.

 That’s me with the glasses.

Lesson 1: If you want something bad enough, you can find a way.
I reached for a star and caught its tail. We majorettes practiced alone and then practiced with the band. I loved “strutting” on the field. I loved dodging horns and drums to take positions through the ranks. I loved freezing football nights when my baton turned to ice and strangers loaned me blankets. I loved throwing (and catching) my baton. I loved feeling like I had done my best, put on a good show.

I remember the band instructor had a saying that went something like this.

“Michigan State walks on the field. U of M marches. We march!”
Obvious what school he favored. But a call to excellence.
Lesson 2: Learning doesn’t stop once you realize a dream. Strive for excellence.

My senior year. Head majorette. I don’t remember how, and I think my only job was to schedule practices. But I got to wear a big furry hat! And I had to learn how to balance it while still dashing through the horns–who thought it was fun to try and run us over.
The majorettes led the band in parades. I loved marching to the drum cadence and then breaking into our routine when the band struck up the music. One day my hat crashed to the pavement. I hesitated in momentary horror. Then I did what any professional would do. I stepped over it and kept on going. I don’t know who rescued it and returned it to me unscathed at the end of the parade.

Lesson 3: Sometimes you just have to step over obstacles and keep going.
The summer after graduation, I ran for Alpine Queen (now Alpenfest Queen.) I chose to perform a routine with my baton, probably to a Sousa march or something. I don’t remember. Anyway, I threw the baton up. And missed the catch. The baton hit the stage and bounced on the large rubber end–right back into my hand! And I kept on going.
Some thought I recovered well. Some thought I intentionally incorporated that into my routine.
I knew I messed up.

But I WON the talent competition.

Lesson 4: We might experience failure, but winners always bounce back.

I still have that baton. I think I’ll dig it out and hang it here in my writing room.

How have you claimed a dream? What obstacles have you had to step over? Have you had to bounce back from “failure?”
NOTE: Thanks to Jody Hedlund whose posts on dreams this past week inspired these memories. If you haven’t checked out her blog, Author, Jody Hedlund, you should!
Copyright © 2010 by Sandra Heska King

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Filed Under: stories and reflections, writing

Comments

  1. lindayezak says

    March 20, 2010 at 2:27 pm

    I learned how to twirl the same way. I started with the figure eight and just kept at it until it got tighter and tighter. I practiced all the other moves I'd see the girls do, too, but I was already in the band and wasn't willing to give it up to become a twirler.

    Great lessons learned from that experience–for both of us! Thanks for the memories.

  2. Karen Lange says

    March 20, 2010 at 2:48 pm

    Great lessons! Thanks for sharing this, and for sharing your story.
    Happy weekend,
    Karen

  3. Sandra Heska King says

    March 20, 2010 at 4:12 pm

    Another lesson–sometimes ya gotta choose between two good things. Can't do it all!

    Have a great weekend, you two!

  4. The Lurker says

    March 20, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    Even brought back memories for me of that same phrase from what I believe was that same band director — many years later, of course. And then seeing the picture of the old (then new) house — and the PLANT! Nice job.

  5. Jody Hedlund says

    March 20, 2010 at 8:17 pm

    Aw, Sandra, what great pictures and I loved hearing your story about your baton twirling days! And each of your lessons is so applicable to anything we want to pursue. What a great post! I'm so glad I inspired you to write it! 🙂

  6. Sandra Heska King says

    March 20, 2010 at 9:56 pm

    @The Lurker: Yes, that same director was there a long time! That plant was around forever, wasn't it? Is that the checkerboard table?

    @Jody: You always inspire me. Aren't the pictures a hoot? Did you get a good look at that television?

  7. T. Anne says

    March 22, 2010 at 3:28 pm

    I love the encouragement here! Great analogy, and yes I believe the harder you try at something you will get invaluably better. I pray my writing gets much, much, better! Thanx for the encouraging post!

  8. Sandra Heska King says

    March 22, 2010 at 4:08 pm

    Thanks for stopping in, T. Anne, and for following. I just took a stroll over to your blog. Good stuff.

  9. katicaburns says

    May 3, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    Hello. I stumbled upon your blog and I am from Gaylord, too! I am interested in blogging reading all that is out there!

    Kate (Prendergast) Burns
    Gaylord Graduate 1995

  10. Sandra Heska King says

    May 3, 2010 at 4:54 pm

    Hi Kate! How cool. Are you related to Carrie? I graduated with her. 🙂

  11. katicaburns says

    May 8, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    I sure am! Her first born! 🙂
    I am introducing her to blogging.

  12. Sandra Heska King says

    May 9, 2010 at 11:10 pm

    Small world! Well, maybe not so much when you splatter yourself all over the Internet. 😉 Come back and visit again. 😀

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“Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous to “Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous to be understood. . . Let me keep company always with those who say “Look!” and laugh in astonishment and bow their heads.” ~ Mary Oliver in “Mysteries, Yes”
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No way could anyone ever convince me that this world in all its beauty and creativity and mysteries is here by accident.
Food truck night with a newcomer—@crepstick. So Food truck night with a newcomer—@crepstick. So yummy! I hope they come back.  But maybe not too often or I’ll have to do double time on the exercise.
“Embrace this day knowing and showing the world “Embrace this day knowing and showing the world that your God is more than enough for you.”
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@tamiheim @tonibirdsong 
In @stickyJesus: How to Live Out Your Faith Online
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the str My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion.” Psalm 73:26 (ESV)
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So yesterday I saw my cardiologist. It was the fir So yesterday I saw my cardiologist. It was the first time he wanted to see me in 6 months instead of a year. He said my aortic stenosis had gotten worse. Like on the cusp of moderate to severe. 😬

So the first thing he asks me is, "How's you daughter?" Wait. Isn't this supposed to be about ME?

Then he asks if I've had any symptoms. "Well, I don't know. Maybe. I felt a little dizzy out of the blue a couple times. And felt like I couldn't catch my breath. I wouldn't have paid any attention if I didn't know I was supposed to be watching for symptoms. I DID walk all over Israel and up a bunch of steep hills, even all the way up to the Golan Heights--against the wind--without anything but normal fatigue.

He laughs. "I created a monster." Ummm, yeah.

"Have you been exercising?" 

"Well, yeah. We walk a couple miles a day. I'm back on my Nordictrack Strider." I didn't tell him I'd been lifting some light weights and some very heavy boxes and other items during this renovation, though I was told in December not to.

So he listens to the beating of my heart. Then he says, "Well, I don't think the valve is ripe yet. I don't expect you to have symptoms for three or four years. You don't need to come back for a year."

Wait! So you ask if I have symptoms. But you don't expect symptoms--yet. And when I do have symptoms, someone is gonna do something. And then I'll be older and maybe weaker. Or what if I have some sudden and silent symptom and boom! And now I have to worry about that. 

(In other news, my oldest grand texts me the other day, and our conversation runs like this...
Last weekend we were in northern Michigan. And the Last weekend we were in northern Michigan. And there were lilacs. They even shook their heads over tornado-induced devastation. Look for the beauty and sweet scents in the midst of the mess. I miss the lilacs.
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When the folks in my hometown of Gaylord, Michigan When the folks in my hometown of Gaylord, Michigan ate their breakfast Friday morning, they had no idea what terror and devastation they'd face before dinner. Everyone has a story. You've probably seen pictures.

If not, take a peek at @mlivenews .

My great-nephew, not quite 12, had just gotten home from school when the EF-3 came down the street and left its mark on every home. My niece frantically tried to find her way from work through debris and blocked roads. My sister was 30 miles away visiting my dad in rehab. I don't want to know how fast my brother-in-law drove. 

The house and yard took a hit, worse than some, not as bad as others. A mobile home park was demolished--two deaths there. I heard one person is still missing. So many injured. So much awful. But the town is coming together for each other. Pray for them.

We plan to fly up Thursday--already planned to celebrate my dad's 95th birthday. 

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The world’s a mess, but His mercies are new. The world’s a mess, but His mercies are new.
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"It happened, therefore it can happen again: this is the core of what we have to say. It can happen, and it can happen everywhere.” ~ Primo Levi

From a post I wrote for @tspoetry after a visit to the @holocaustcenter.

https://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2016/07/27/regional-tour-holocaust-memorial-center-farmington-hills-michigan/
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in happiness, in kindness." ~ Mary Oliver in "Why I Wake Early"
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