Every morning throughout high school, Cary and I arrived just before eight a.m. in the band room. We became close friends in no time. We were in all the bands together. We practiced marching routines in a muddy football field. We wore suits and ties to perform in the symphonic band. In the pep band we played at every football and basketball game (except the night I called the coach a… well, never mind that). And in the Swing Band we played at dances. He played alto sax, I played tenor, and we both had Selmer Mark VIs. We were both in the pit orchestra for the school stage productions and both of us composed original tunes and scored them for our senior play. And we played for graduating seniors more than once, till finally others played “Pomp and Circumstance” for us. Half a century later, after Vietnam, the Air Force, careers, and raising families a thousand miles apart, Cary and I reconnected. And it’s if no more time has passed than it took us to walk from the band room to 2nd period.

Gifted