The end of the marching band years

This evening Thomas is in Indianapolis performing in his final marching band competition.  I'll be honest, I never understood the appeal of marching band, nor did I particularly enjoy watching marching bands.  However, for the last eight years I have poured a significant amount of blood, sweat, tears (yep, there have been some) and TIME into our marching band program.  I've had a marching band student for eight consecutive seasons, and this is the end.  This is the last time one of my kiddos takes the field in a high school marching band.  I'm so grateful for how much Catherine and Thomas enjoyed it, and my favorite were the two years they were able to participate together.  Having said that, I know there are SO many things about marching band season that I won't miss.  I wouldn't have traded one second though, because it was so important to the kids.  It's the end of an era!