Dear Friends,

In this latest letter, I am gonna get a bit serious. I know for some of you it is hard to believe that I can become serious but, there have been occasions. Anyway, I am gonna talk about an eye-opener that I recently had and hope that or those of you that aren't associated with what I am about to tell you, will be suprised as well. When I went to highschool there were many certantities. Always expect the princepal to wear his Mickey Mouse outfit the first day of school. Never assume that the taller, very good-looking girl is fanatically in love with you and not her football player boyfriend (I guess that one just relates to me) But, the most important rule in High School was, "When in Doubt, all Band People are Dorks!"

Now band and ex-band members, don't chastise me yet. I have learned the error of my ways. But, I have to admit if you had an
instrument you were geeky. I believed this tragedy up until my senior year. At that time I had become friends with most of the Band Members and realized they were not non-social as I put them out to be. But, still the Band. Something just did not sit with me. The stories that I had been told and situations I had witnessed had proved to me that Band was nothing for me to get mixed up in. Then it happened. A couple of my bestfriends talked me into going to a Band marching contest. I went expecting the worst and was
introduced to one of my biggest life regrets. See, it wasn't that they played music, or had to wear the goofy costumes and attire. It was the togetherness that each and every band member shared. It was that touch of magic that made graduated band members come back home and jump at the chance to go on just one more "Band trip." It was the love that was shown by each band member as they sat in silence together waiting for the label they had worked so hard to achieve. Excellence. I, in my life, had never experienced what each teenager experienced that day. Along with the Major "Foot in my mouth" feeling it caused an epiphany of my own to draw up. I'll never forget it. So to all you who deliver harsh words upon those who carry instruments, I beg you not. To all those who carry or have carried those instruments, I hope you accept my deepest apologies.

Love you guys,

Anthony Doria