After more than 40 years, I’m playing the clarinet again. I started playing in Pompano Beach where as a majorette in 6th grade, I was required to play an instrument. Thus, I chose the clarinet. From that time on, all the way through college, my uniform of choice was that of a band member. One early memorable experience was playing with the Fort Lauderdale Symphony as its youngest member. Then we moved to Tampa where I attended Wilson JH and HB Plant HS. In the Wilson Gazette, it was prophesized that I would be 1st clarinetist in an all girl orchestra. The prophesy rang true (except for that “all girl” part) in high school and then in college, Florida State University, where I was in the Marching Chiefs and the FSU Symphonic Band all 4 years.The years between then and now, having married an Air Force guy, were chock full of interesting adventures including, our favorite, a four year NATO tour in Naples, Italy. I taught (just about every grade except 1st) for 25 years finishing my career in education working in staff development. I keep busy attending my grandchildren’s activities, volunteering at their media centers, dabbling in watercolors, puttering around with golf, and playing duplicate bridge. And now, I am experiencing once again the thrill and joy of playing in a band.
