The One With the Last Winter Guard Ever

 

 

This post is fun - and sad - to write at the same time. The DHS winter guard competed in their finals in Salem, capping off a fun year of NESBA performances.

This year the team was solid. Bri was captain again. And Emmie and I helped out as we have the past few years.

As they performed their show one last time, I got caught up in the emotion. It was the last time I'd see Bri perform on the team in high school.

They ended up doing well in the end, and it was a great season. A memorable moment at Salem. 

The One With Bri's First Color Guard Competition

 

 

Color Guard Season - Winter Style - go started in grand fashion with Bri's first competition in Salem, MA. Technically, it is the "preseason" show, where they are given an initial evaluation to build upon.

 This year's show is focusing on a vampire love story theme. Watching the initial run through proved that this year's show is going to be great. And, it will not has as many props as last year.

 Emmie and I - along with several other parents - helped out with this show. It went well overall. And it should be interesting to see what the rest of the season has in store.

The One With the Salem Trolley Christmas Carol

 

 

This Friday, December 1, we went to a real treat. We took a ride on the Salem Trolley for a live action version of the Christmas Carol.

What is neat about this event is that Emmie and I took the kids back when Kiff and Bri were really young - Kiff may have been in first grade and Bri in third grade. Although they remember hearing about going, they don't remember the actual trip back then (and probably rightly so, because Kiff was also having trouble with asthma at the time).

Flash forward eight years and we traveled on the Trolley again. This performance may have outdone the other one. Although it was a bit of a gloomy night, and we were racing to get to the trolley depot from Tony C's, we made it on time. In fact, we were one of the first groups there. We picked up the Trolley outside of the old coin shop down by Derby Wharf, which still has some amazing coins.

We were greeted by Bob Crachit. And once me met Scrooge, it was clear he was no ordinary Scrooge. He was playing it up phenomenally. He definitely went after each and every person on the trolley with a droll sense of humor. Emmie and I were "affectionately" called Ken and Barbie after he said, "This is what happens to Ken and Barbie when they get old." And the kids were called the accessories. A ton of fun.

We had three stops along the way. Fuzziwigs was first, which was a lot of fun and audience members had to dance (not us though). The second stop - which was really part of the first stop - was a visit to Bob Crachit's house. Just as she had to do with Kiff before, Bri got to play one of the Crachit children (Kiff was not selected this time). She seemed to quietly revel in the moment, which was great to see.

The last stop took us to the graveyard, where Scrooge came full circle (under the drizzle of the night).

All and all, a great take. And, we got a souvenir chocolate coin!!!

The One With the Salem Game

 

 

Last night, the Danvers Marching Band combined forces with the Salem Marching Band for an amazing pre-game show performance at Salem's opening football game. We had never done something like this before, but it was a great idea. And, because it was right before Hurricane Lee passed off the coast of Cape Cod, the night was actually a true beautiful calm before the storm night with an amazing sunset.

The night started off a little weird. It turned out that one of the buses from Danvers was late (the bus Kiff was on), so they had to get a police escort to the stadium. That makes for quite a memory!!! Then, they quickly assembled and put on a nice show.

Once the game started, the Danvers planned played sporadically in the stands throughouth. The game itself started off well for Danvers, which took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter. But, they were eventually outscored 15-0 the rest of the way, and lost the game.

But all and all, it was quite a night.

The One With the Winter Guard Competition in Salem, NH

 

 

Today, Bri had a winter guard competition in Salem, NH. It was her third competition of the year, but the first one that I helped out with.

 

It was quite an event. First, we had to be at DHS at 9:30 to see a run through and help out with it. That was pretty neat. We were a little short-handed, but made it work. Then, things were packed up and loaded onto a U-Haul amid a snow shower outside.

 

We had a little free time until 11:15, and then caravaned to NH. We arrived and had a little time to spare because we had to be up so early. After all, we were one of the first groups on stage.

 

When it was there time, it all went pretty fast. We set up, got off stage, and watched a wonderful performance, filled with flags, spinning sabers, rifle rolls, and a rifle toss - which Bri caught nicely.

 

We had a ton of time to spare before awards, so I got some things done. Then, at 6:30, awards were given...and her novice group won 1st place out of three teams in their division!  It was really a great time.

The One With The Christmas Carol

This week, we had the opportunity to do something we have never done. We went to the Salem Christmas Carol on a trolley.

Simply put, it was an incredible experience. Essentially, it is the interactive tale of Scrooge where the audience participates in the journey by trolley. You make stops, take part in scenes, and see the story of the Christmas Carol unfold right before you.

The idea is incredible and it truly was a remarkable experience....and one everyone should take part in. The acting was great - Scrooge was impeccable and he even updated the story when he could in spots to connect to the audience. The interaction allowed us to be part of the story, which was great. Bri and Kiff even had a chance to be two of the Crachit children.

The only downfall is it was raining, so it was hard to see outside the trolley. And, I think the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come Scene might have been done in an actual graveyard otherwise.

But, all and all, this is a perfect Christmas experience...and a new annual tradition for our family!

Thanks so much for the great experience.