THE BEST NEWS EVER (well, so far...)

I have waited a really long time to tell you about this tidbit of news (yes, it's a tidbit, though a large one) and I'm not sure why. I suppose that's just how it worked itself into my blogging schedule.
     Now, as I'm sure you all know, I recently finished my marching season with the homecoming halftime show. This year's marching season was fun, but I'm already looking forward to next season- and not just because I like marching band! I'm excited because...
WE'RE GOING TO HAWAII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Digital Artist: me)

I guess that's a few too many exclamation points, but this is exciting. And we aren't just going to Hawaii for a band vacation. We're going for the PEARL HARBOR MEMORIAL PARADE!!! We were selected to be the official ambassadors for our state, as our invitation letter said. Would you like me to read it to you? Actually, since you can't really read over the Internet, I'll just write it out.
Note for context: Mr. Taylor and Hughes are our band directors.

Dear Mr. Taylor, Mr. Hughes, and the Band: 
2016 will mark the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, etc. etc. 
We want to take this opportunity to congratulate you and the band for being selected as the official ambassador from your state in the 75th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade. *Goes on about how the band was selected* As a high school band from your state, this takes on more significance. There were nine battleships moored in the harbor on December 7th, 1941; each of these will be represented by an outstanding high school band from the state that bears it's name. *YUS!* 
*thanks sponsors for their support* On behalf of the Pearl Harbor Parade Committee we congratulate you and look forward to having you be a part of the 75th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade. 
Mahalo and we look forward to working with you in 2016!
(signed by one of the parade committee members)

WE'RE AN OUTSTANDING BAND!!! YAY! YAY BAND!!!
I am proud of my band.

Us after finding out about the trip! (Pic by me.)
Note: We wear white gloves with our uniforms, that's why the hand is white.

By the way, I feel that our directors need some credit for this great honorable selection that we have garnered for them. So, many thanks to Mr. Taylor for catching all of the articulation mistakes in the horn line and Mr. Hughes for making sure the drum line stays on tempo. And overall, congrats to both of them for cultivating us into the OUTSTANDING high school band that we are! At the very last parade of the season, the thing that I will always remember is that Mr. Hughes called us in (meaning told us to gather around and listen) and said, "I have a letter to read to you guys, and I think now is a good time..." or something like that, and then he read it, and for some reason I totally forgot that Hawaii existed for a minute, 'cause when he said "Pearl Harbor," I thought that it was in Chicago or something. And, horrifyingly, my first thought was, "That's nice, but I probably won't go." I don't know what got into me. But then he said, and I quote, "So basically, the marching band's going to Honolulu."
We were SILENT, and it was around then that I finally processed the fact that Hawaii did actually exist. And then someone (it might have been me) started clapping and said, "YAY BAND!" And after that there was NO silence whatsoever. It was GREAT.

Hawaii! (Waikiki, that is.) We'll probably stay somewhere around here.
www.planetware.com

A week later, we had a relapse of all the excitement, because we found out that this trip is NOT just for the parade! We're staying in Waikiki Beach for a WEEK, and that WEEK includes but isn't limited to: a while (I haven't calculated how much time exactly) to spend on Waikiki Beach, a visit to the National Memorial Cemetery, a circle island tour where we'll se Diamond Head, Pali Lookout, Dole Plantation, North Shore Beaches, the Banzi Pipeline, Waimea Bay, and Sunset Beach; a visit to Pearl Harbor; time to explore the International Marketplace, another morning/afternoon on Waikiki Beach to snorkel, surf, or boogie board; then the parade, of course; a post-parade picnic (I like that!); a morning to hike Diamond Head Crater; a day or so at the Polynesian Cultural Center; and the day after that we go home (that schedule's not final, but I've got my fingers crossed that the travel agent can get us booked for all of it!). I've already made my packing list (I know, I'm obsessed with this trip) so that I won't have to worry about doing it next year, when things will be extra busy with Hawaii marching practices, practices for the homecoming field show, and probably several band meetings thrown in there.

Now the only hard part is fundraising. In the weeks that have passed since we found out about the trip, about 53 band students (including me!) have signed up for the trip. We have about 8 months for all of us to raise around 2 grand each just to pay travel expenses. Actually, I want to help my family raise three times that so that my parents can come as chaperones. They helped me get into the band, grow my musical talent, payed my band fees, and helped me with many other things that I'm thankful for; they even offered to pay for part of MY trip (I feel bad for my friends, whose parents refuse to pay for any part of their trips). So now I must organize fundraisers. And do homework so that I don't fail any classes.

Yay band. We're going to Hawaii!!!!!!!!!! :D
P.S. Want to know more about this parade? Go here: http://www.pearlharborparade.org

Yay band. This was the warm-up arc that morning. Thanks to my mom for taking this pic.