Twenty-Five Years Later, and I am Still Excited!

I joined The Tuskegee University Band twenty-five years ago....

This past weekend I celebrated my 20th anniversary of graduating from Tuskegee and my 25th Anniversary of joining the Tuskegee Band.

I knew in the 7th grade that I was going to be a Marching Crimson Piper....

Now, a person doesn't just show up at Tuskegee and become a Marching Crimson Piper, there is a process that is called crabbing. Yep, there is a process which includes wearing a brown paper bag on our heads, running laps around the field on demand..... However, if a person can last until The Turkey Day Classic, which is the last game of the season, then he/she officially becomes A Marching Crimson Piper.

Well, I lasted, but there were many days when I thought that I wouldn't...nothing really bad happened except Mr. Duncan, our band director, stopped the entire band during practice to ask me "What was wrong with my legs?" (I wanted to go into the ground.) After practice I cried and cried and cried, and called my mama to tell her that I was quitting the band. She said that it was my decision. I got my nerves up, went to talk to Mr. Duncan, and to make a long story short, I stayed in the band. And, I am soooooo happy that I stayed in the band if for no other reason than to participate in the 2014 Alumni band, the year that Mr. Duncan would retire after 42 years of service to this great band and great University.

Me and Mr. Duncan 

Over three hundred former band members showed up to march in the band for Homecoming.  Band practice was completely amazing, and I could not contain my excitement. We laughed, danced, sang, hugged, talked trash etc. Mr. Duncan was moved to tears.

Former Band Members on the yard!

Now, you know that we had to take a picture
at "The Veil of Ignorance" on our way to band practice!

Old School Sax Players: My Section!

Natalie still got IT, and she had a ball!

The Band Room Was Packed!

Felicia, we were freshmen saxophones player in 1989!

Ina, Homegirl and former band member!

Game day came, and things fell into place. The former band members marched into The Alumni Bowl with the current members. For me this was extra special, because I got to march with my nephew and niece: Breland and Shanta. Did I mention that my family is on its second generation of Tuskegee Graduates? Well, we are...

Breland

Shanta

My Family

Now, let me explain to you about Tuskegee people... We LOVE our BAND! So, as we were approaching the stadium, people were standing, waiting on us, and my happiness level went to the roof. When I saw the crowd, I starting jumping, hopping, turning, flipping, doing all of the moves that I use to do twenty-five years ago. When I saw my sisters, Oh Lord, I really went crazy. ( I am laughing really hard just thinking about it.)

The Best Band In The Land!

Doing what I do or did!

So, I injured my knee in a small biking mishap, and the foolishness of Homecoming did not make it any better.....(Homecoming will wear a person out.)

I sent my sisters a text and asked: "I can cycle 100 miles, teach Toni Morrison to classes back to back, run a marathon, but Homecoming still gets me..How do you train for Homecoming?" My People, Homecoming is not for the faint of heart at all.

I can't stop laughing.....

Eventually the game ended; however, the joy and memories of participating in the 2014 TU alumni band will last forever.

Here are a few more pictures from the weekend:

Roommate for the weekend!

The Dean of The English Department, Dr. Burns.
I am happy that she is still at Tuskegee as the Dean.

Sisters! Skegee Family..

Photo that I just love: We love our school.

Sisters and a childhood friend, Penny

Student guide of our tour of Booker T. Washington's house.

My Dear Friends!

On the porch of Booker T. Washington's House

The halftime show!

Shanta getting ready to do her thing!

The grave site of Booker T. Washington.
I had to honor the man who
went from being a slave to building history!

Tuskegee has soooo many traditions and the band is one of them. I am extremely happy that I had the opportunity to march in "The Best Band in the Land."

Tuskegee is "The Pride of the Swift Growing South!!"

25 Years Later, and I am still excited...

Because it's Tuskegee's Homecoming Week.....

I can't wait.........

Homecoming 2014, and It's My Reunion Year!

God has Spoken!

Deanna and Me!

Deanna and I both went to Tuskegee. Deanna was a few years older than me, and we never really interacted in college. But being that Tuskegee is a rather small school, we sort of knew each other.

After I graduated from Tuskegee, I moved to Birmingham, Alabama, and Deanna was also in Birmingham going to law school. Not sure how it happened, but we use to hang out from time to time in Birmingham. Both attending Tuskegee meant that we knew each other, and it was all good. (There is nothing like that Tuskegee bond!)

Years later, I ended up moving to Northern Virginia, and guess who not only moved to Northern Virginia but also lived in my same apartment complex? None other than Deanna!!!!! Let's just say that the fun began..........

Deanna and I were invited to parties all of the time. We really believed that people invited us to their parties to guarantee that everyone would have a good time. We use to party, were in the same book club, and would do so many fun things together.

Deanna was super talented. She would do my hair, write and recite poetry, crochet, paint, create all types of birthday cards, invitations etc, tell the most awesome stories and jokes, make beautiful costumes for Halloween, could beat anyone mixing drinks, read book after book etc.

Eventually, Deanna moved to Atlanta.

Gerald, another friend who went to Tuskegee as well, changed his Facebook profile picture to a picture of himself and Deanna and then I got a message from him saying to call him, and my heart dropped. I knew that this was not good, and it wasn't....

Gerald and Deanna!

Gerald told me that Deanna passed away, and my brain has not stopped since: I thought about her family whom she is extremely close to; I thought about Tuskegee's homecoming, Deanna goes to homecoming every year; I thought about all of the great times that we use to share; I thought about the first thing that she said to me when she saw me at Homecoming this year: I miss you; I thought why Deanna and why now?

This poem titled "And How Could I live On" by Nikki Giovanni kept going through my brain. The poem has nothing to do with Deanna, but the words "And How Could I live on" kept going through my mind......

I was up all night last night, phone was ringing, but I had no words, and therefore could not talk

On the way to work, I needed words, and I did not want them to be my own. So, I listened to Nikki Giovanni read from her poetry collection...and it was good, hot soup for my soul.....

I know there are a lot of people thinking today "And How Could I live On," and............

"And How Could I Live On"
by Nikki Giovanni

Live? How could I live on -- knowing::::::::Oh sure I could hold on
Wait -- worry -- But I had to hear the sobs -- I know what I must look like
Live? I did live on -- when the bullets rained I fell -- over the girls I
knew he was gone -- I knew I had to change things
We were partners -- you know -- we thought as one -- Sometimes he thought
it was all -- him -- why not::::I knew::::it was us
The changes -- the acceptable changes -- The work -- The worry
But We Pulled Through
The people who used us -- stole from us -- tried to divide us from each other
But we pulled Through
We were at the plateau -- not resting but catching our breaths--The
girls were doing all -- right -- a stumble here -- and there -- but all right
Then this -- this mark that could not be erased -- the mistake that could not be
corrected::::::::I only wanted to Help her
Help cleanse her
Help tame her hate
Her fears
that thing that ran in his family
I brought the boy home hoping trying yes praying scared I was too old too
tired to make a difference but trying
We argued::::and we argued::::but this to me--I didn't feel like it
I wanted my crossword puzzle and late-night radio -- I wanted peace
I felt him before I heard him::::::::Heard him before I saw him::::Called
out MALCOLM don't do this to me
And he threw gasoline on me
MALCOLM don't do this to yourself:::::Stop Now
and he lit the match
MALCOLM I called MALCOLM MALCOLM
and he tossed it
How could I live on -- like some thing out of Richard Wright's poem -- like
an object for people to come view -- like a shadow of myself No, I could
survive but could not live on Knowing my grandbaby:::::named for a great
man who loved me::::::wanted needed insisted upon My Death
I could not live on and wake up -- from that nightmare

I wouldn't take anything for the times that I shared with Deanna.

However, God has spoken, and we all will come to grips with "AMEN" eventually......

The Tuskegee Troops are rallying "The People" right now!

Oh, How I love September!

DC!!!!

Without a doubt, September is my favorite month, and here are just a few of the reasons why:

Labor Day Weekend and I ran my last half marathon of the year....

Adams Morgan Day!

The H Street Festival!

Congressional Black Caucus!

Spinderalla from the group Salt and Pepper!

Ran into Kenny Rocker whom I went to TU with, and he currently
lives in Nebraska!

Yes, the Honorable Congresswoman Maxine Waters!

The END!

Clarendon 10k race and street festival!

Before the Race!

After the race!

Celebration of 75 Years of Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston!



The author Alice Walker

The Writer: E. Ethel Bert

Andy and Alice

The entertainers!

The DC Tuskegee Alumni Club's, Annual Dr. Luther H. Foster Scholarship Breakfast!

In the midst of "loving September," I managed to teach some pretty awesome lessons, I almost caught up on my Bible readings, had my dryer fixed, worked out 5 to 7 days each week, finished all 900 plus pages of The Count of Monte Cristo, got some training in for my century bike ride that is coming up in October and on and on and on....AND, I ain't tired yet!!

Next is always better so, I'm expecting October to "knock me off of my feet."

Every September in the DC area is completely awesome...... Try it sometimes!!!!!!!

Get to living people...Your Life is Waiting!