It was in the local paper, in a weekly article about how people keep fit. The profile was of a grown woman whose fitness routine was playing trumpet in a marching band.

A grown woman.

In a marching band.

The article listed an upcoming marching band field competition.

“Want to go watch marching bands?” I asked the kids.

“What’s a marching band?” they responded.

To a former band geek, this was disturbing. In my town, if you were in band (and most kids were in band), you were in all the bands: concert, marching, and pep.

Today, many schools no longer have marching bands. What a shame. Kids miss out on marching down a parade route on a hot summer day in a wool band suit and buffalo hat while trying not to run in the person in front of them. Ah, the memories!!

Yet, the band geek culture endures. There is even a website devoted to all things marching band, at marching.com.

The Husband and I took BaoBao to see the competition listed in the newspaper. Marching bands from three states not only competed, but had booster groups with tent setups selling tshirts and other promotional items. Grown people use their precious vacation days traveling about the country to compete in field competitions.

There was the band with the Blood, Sweat and Tears tribute, the band with the ode to Las Vegas, and the winner of the competition, with an involved production titled Valhalla.

Valhalla is the Norse word for Viking heaven. The first line in the program about Valhalla states: For the ancients, death on the battlefield was not to be feared. Now that’s a serious band competition!

I don’t know if I am more surprised that there are adult marching bands, or that marching bands are no longer the norm at most schools.

What surprises you?