After marching with UBB art Last Thursday on Alberta Street last week, I had to admit that I didn’t have much fun. I struggled to keep a straight line and bumped into people multiple times. I got dizzy and stumbled a few times, almost falling once. I had trouble maintaining anything more than the simplest of rhythms, a real challenge since I was the only snare drummer. I had to ask the wind players to take more reasonably-sized steps, and hope that each “let’s keep going to the next lit intersection” would be the last before turning around and going back to the starting point.
When the band wanted to keep playing at the end, I quietly said my good nights and walked to the bus stop. All I wanted to do was go home and rest. My self-perception about my physical health and stamina — and just how serious Long Covid can be — took a beating and has had to undergo a serious adjustment.
I fell into bed that night, and had great trouble waking up the next day.
So I’ve officially quit the UBB as a marching member, with apologies to the leader and a promise to lend other kinds of non-marching support as needed and able going forward. I simply cannot march any more, even when staying in step doesn’t matter.
I think I’d like to look around for an adult concert band and consider the possibility of playing with one. It’s been so long since my head was in that space that I don’t even know what’s out there anymore.
Minimal costs, dress code and time commitment (3 to 4 concerts a year and a weekly rehearsal) would be ideal.
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