Five Things I'm proud of - #2

[silveradept]

Here comes number two in this tagged series of entries. 2dlife‘s imposing prompt, “Write five things that you are proud of yourself for, without qualification or comparison” , continues to draw upon my resources to produce answers acceptable to me - which are often the hardest answers to produce. So here’s number 2.

#2: I’ve shaken the hand of one of this era’s finest composers, Mr. John Williams, and played under his direction.

This is my “I’ve met more famous people, and participated in a lot more really cool things in my life than I realize” statement. Going to anime conventions and meeting industry personalities, dub voice actors, some very famous celebrities (the creator of Love Hina and Negima, the character designer for Sailor Moon, Fred Gallagher (and his conscience), along with D.C. Simpson and Caroline Curtis. I’ve been in the same stadium as Patrick Stewart (this happened just last week). I’ve participated in the creation of a vocal student section in one of the women’s sports that was rather quiet (they’re all quiet, really. Even with our nuisance crowd, we’re still really the only noisemakers.) I’ve been on television, (local public TV for quiz bowl type shoes, and national television for the Rose Bowl Parade.) so I have some small part of fame myself. The crown jewel of these famous-people accomplishments, though, are the trips to Pasadena, California, to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl Game. The second had Mickey Mouse as the Grand Marshal, which was a bit of a bust. The first trip, however, had the composer of the Star Wars Trilogies, Harry Potter Movies, 1942, Jurrasic Park... the list goes on... John Williams.

We played his arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner. We heard rumors that during the rehearsal, he turned away from the USC band and focused his attentions on the MMB. He came very close to the trombone sectional, and said “I like what I’m hearing.” To which everyone in the bone section secretly pumped their fists. Outwardly, we waited until he was out of earshot. Then we all went “Whoooooooa.” We heard first that the television audience was going to hear a prerecorded version of the SSB while we played live in the Rose Bowl. During the rehearsal, however, he said that he was giving serious consideration to having us play it out live.

So, before the MMB goes out to do our pregame, while we’re getting loose, I spot John williams not fifteen feet from me. I’m still not sure about the live-recorded thing, so I do what any confused student would do. I went up to him, shook his hand and asked, “Maestro, are we doing this recorded or live?” He told me, “Live.” And I said, “Excellent.” and went back to my preparations. I also squeed just a tad that I had just shook John Williams’s hand. (EeeeeEEEEeeEEeEEeeeeEEEEEEE!) And then we went out on the field.

I’ve still got the gloves. Those gloves are going into the box that recounts my exploits at college / the marching band. The things you never thought you’d do, you know. So be proud of yourselves - you’ve probably met more famous people than you think. Or you’ve already met someone who’s going to become famous. Or maybe it’s you that’s going to be the famous one, and everyone is going to say “Hey, I knew that guy in high school/college/life!”

Comments

[annaonthemoon.livejournal.com]

I think you ought t omake some kind of shadow box of MMB with your hat, plume, gloves, and maybe a mouthpiece of you still have one. The back could be lined in Blue & Maize felt...and...uhm. yeah, i'm way too much of a crafter for my own good. Sorry.

[silveradept]

You're also about two to four years too late to that idea - it's already happening.

[annaonthemoon.livejournal.com]

hehe then make it! :p

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

Um... I shook hands with Jim West... *Gets out the hand sanitizer*

Have the best

-=TK

[azurelunatic]

Sweeeeeeeet.