A Trio of Lasts

Friday

Monday was the beginning of the “lasts” – last Monday, last Tuesday, last Hotel; those kinds of lasts. Friday began the “last of the lasts” with the Last Program B.

Since Max was unable to carpool, and my son had plans with friends, John decided to drive me to Smyrna and attend the concert. We hit some back-up at the Bay Bridge, not unusual for a Friday. The view from the bridge is always beautiful; behind us the setting sun was reflecting off the main towers and the trusses, making the bridge glow in the early dusk.

While I was passing out folders and preparing for the concert, John was busy unloading my bus “stuff”; the containers of food, extra winter clothing, tour purchases, and the accumulated detritus of Tour.

Our last Program B; last Canzona, last Scherzo Capriccioso, last On the Town, last Escapades, last Ives. Soloists approach the last performance with a mixture of relief and pressure. There is relief that the stress of performing a solo is over, but there is pressure that accompanies the last chance to play it better than each previous performance.

As good as it felt to climb in a car headed for home instead of a bus headed for an hotel, I couldn’t help but feel bad (and a little guilty) for those still tethered to the bus. I was glad many had family visiting or living in the area. Karen’s husband was meeting her after the concert, Liz’s husband and son arrived while the Band was in Bensalem, and one of Leslye’s sisters lives in Dover.

Saturday

It felt like the beginning of a school break when I woke Saturday morning. No alarm telling me when to get up, no need to pack a suitcase or a lunch. We had a leisurely breakfast and planned the free hours before Tour beckoned. Jamey and I decided we needed to make a quick trip to the Amish Market. Lucky to find a parking space, we abandoned the idea of pushing a cart through the crowds in the Market. Whoopie Pies topped the list, along with some Wilbur Buds from the candy vendor and some items for holiday baking.

John joined us for lunch at Bella Italia, followed by a much needed trip to the grocery store. While I shopped for groceries, Jamey headed for the barber shop for a haircut, and John filled the kerosene containers for our Toyo heater. I’ve only been gone seven weeks, but the grocery store has rearranged the food aisles and started construction on some interior renovations.

I drove myself to the concert in Felton, armed with written directions and the GPS in John’s car. The GPS wanted to take me through Baltimore, so I turned it off and pulled out the directions from Google Maps and MapQuest. Once I turned off U.S. Route 50, the black of night enveloped me. It reminded me of driving the country roads of Kansas when I was younger; people here know how to use their brights correctly.

It was the last performance of the C Program; last Carnival of Venice, last Star Spangled Overture, last Carnival of Venice, last Holst Suite, last Le Cid, last Harold Arlen Songbook. Throughout Tour, Sara has sung her encore, Over the Rainbow, beautifully, always with the thought of her young son in her mind. So close to home, she started to cry, barely able to finish.

Lt Col Erwin was in the audience; as a surprise for both the audience and most of the Band, he conducted Stars and Stripes Forever. Over the years I’ve heard many stories about the days of Lt Col Erwin, so I was tickled to play for him. His tempo was considerably different than Col Colburn’s, and he took the piccolos by surprise when he stepped off the podium during the piccolo soli and stopped conducting, except for the occasional flourish here and there.

Sunday

Sunday at last; the final day of Tour. Even finishing Tour from home, I felt a flutter of excitement knowing once we finished today’s performance, Tour was essentially over. (We still have to unload the trunks and liquidate our orders before Wednesday noon.)

I didn’t really need directions to the last concert; we’ve played there many times as the last North East Tour concert. John and Jamey were off to DC for a soccer game, and I loaded the car for the Eastern Shore. It only took 35 minutes from my front door to the parking lot of Queen Anne’s County High School. Pulling in, I saw a line of cars parked on the grass near the tractor trailer, all pointed towards the exit -- family members picking up Band members and Band members finishing Tour from home, ready for a quick get-away.

Family members were scattered liberally throughout the audience, and even retired Drum Major Lee was in attendance. Last Program A; last Rocky Point Holiday, last Percussion Concerto, last Carmen Symphony, last Masquerade, last Salieri. Last concert. Charles and our amazing Stage Crew were introduced to the audience, receiving a well earned round of applause. Sara introduced Pat and Irv; it is their last Tour concert before retirement. Irv retires next week after thirty years and thirty, yes, thirty, consecutive tours with the Band.

During Sara’s introduction of Irv, she mentioned he had one dream not yet fulfilled during his career that would be fulfilled during the concert. Would it be the piccolo soli in Stars and Stripes? Conducting the Armed Forces Medley? The Marines’ Hymn? The patriotic tunes started with surreptitious glances in Irv’s direction. Stars and Stripes concluded, and Irv melted away to stage left during the applause. The Armed Forces Medley started, and Irv was nowhere to be seen. Just before the Marines’ Hymn, I spotted Irv in the wings on stage right. Realizing what Irv’s dream was, we all pulled out God Bless America for one last time. Sara stepped back and Irv stepped to the microphone as the Band began the introduction. Hearing Irv’s rich voice instead of Sara’s, I had to blink away the tears that welled up in my eyes as I thought of all the history he has seen and been a part of, the memories he carries with him as he prepares to retire from an amazing career with the Band.

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly people move following a final Tour Concert. Hugs were exchanged and cards tucked in bags and pockets as uniforms were packed in the trunks. Having already begun my transition post-Tour, I watched the goodbyes with a touch of humor, knowing that most of us would see each other tomorrow or Tuesday as we unload the trunks and liquidate our orders. Tour isn’t officially over until the trunks are empty and paperwork completed.