Sunday, December 2, 2007

The Penn Band's A-Changin'

so, i'm sitting at the info desk in the library, staring at the gorgeousness that is eric swanson. and of course that prompts me to write in the blog. swanson can have that effect on people. (oh, and yes - he is "in another state." at the library. go swanson.)

last night members of the low brass section got together to hang out at geezer billloth's apartment. in attendance were myself, kettler, palusci, klitzman, big stunna, ellen, and lauren. and of course bill! we just listened to music and shared stories. oh, and we played duck hunt! seriousy - duck hunt! it was awesome!

anyway, listening to all the stories everyone was telling about the band got me thinking. (yes, i'm a senior and a lot of my posts will therefore be reflective/nostalgic.) i feel like in many ways i am a bando caught between various waves. (in fact, last night at nova, i was told by klitzman/joe that we will be staying with the cornell band in the spring b/c "[my] generation" is the old one and the "new generation" doesn't want to stay with columbia.)

on one hand i am very proud to see this new wave taking over for the penn band. (for instance, seeing klitzman speak so well at election made me both proud and happy that younger students are blossoming into leadership roles.) but on the other hand it makes me sad. a lot of people don't like the cheers we did my frosh year - like u-g-l-y and and the baskeball "who's your daddy" cheer. i just hate that these cheers might die as soon as i leave.

and again, i could very much identify with bill's stories last night b/c my frosh year i hung out with a lot of geezers. but then again, the people in my section now are probably the reason i still show up to band. (i have come to the realization that if i didn't like them so much my attendance might have dropped off when i came back from abroad.) it's just really hard to feel like i have no set place in this band. i don't know. i know that i don't need a set group - honestly i love that i am a part of both. it's just strange. and i am sure that many seniors go through this. it is just strange to put it into words.

i look at the future and i know that i will always have a place to come back to. at the same time, i see some of my friends that are now alums and they are sort of bitter. i just hope that doesn't happen to me. (honestly, i won't. i'm not that type of person. not that those people are bad in any way. i'm just not like that.)

alright, i have to switch desks right now. gosh, i'm such downer when i post! although swanson is still stumbling around as i look over at him, and how can anyone be depressed knowing that?!?!?! (and yes, the greatest question i got last night was from a frosh who asked if swanson is really "like that" all the time. and of course the answer is "yes." another new thing that i absolutely love!)

ps - got a text last night from my buddy xavier at columbia. it read, "you know willow joined cumb now. she says she's totally over the penn band..." :-(

2 comments:

Joe said...

awe mel :'( I'm sure they all won't die, the funny ones.

Avery said...

Joseph's right. They fall out of favor, then you show up as an alum (still unsuccessfully fighting the term, "Geezer") and you introduce them to the new, "new generation."

They fall in love with all these "new" cheers and then they're back.

Just think about how the first class who didn't have Bonegiving felt, and how they'd feel now if they knew you guys brought it back after decades of remission...

This is why it's so important that the alums stay active!