When I was a sophomore in high school

I didn’t make it into Wind Ensemble.  

All of my friends did.

If you weren’t a band geek, that’s the advanced band.

The band that wasn’t a joke.

The band that competed.

I was embarrassed.

And hurt.

And mad at myself.

So I worked my ass off and gloated slightly when my teacher had to award me first chair in concert band.

I was the best of the mediocre.  And I was proud of that.

And the next year, I didn’t only get placed in Wind Ensemble,

I made 4th Chair, which was still considered a “first flute.”

I realize this all sounds very geeky.  And I’m okay with that.  Because I am a geek.

But what I’m trying to say is:

It took a year, but I got where I wanted all on my own.

And then I got denied to ASU.

I’ll admit it, I applied and wanted to go because that’s where Mr. Husband was going.

But if you’re familiar with our love story, can you blame me?

I was embarrassed.

And hurt.

And mad at myself.

So I worked my ass off and made straight A’s at WCU.

I wanted to make sure there wasn’t a seed of doubt that I’d get accepted to ASU sophomore year.

And I did.

This isn’t me bragging.  I guess it’s a round about way of trying to tell myself that I’ve been told before that I’m not good enough.  And instead of it stopping me or causing me to hate myself, it made me work harder.

So, Joey.  Why is your book still sitting in the closet?  

Yeah.  I’m wondering the same thing.

ps…it’s really hard to type with a broken finger.  I might be a little MIA until this thing heals up.