Curt falls into my "Drum Corps Friends" category. He marched with Hubby and I 24 years ago when we were members of Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps in Vancouver, WA. I last saw him 20 years ago when I went out to spend a few weeks with him and we spent a whole day saturated in Drum Corps. A whole day, sitting on hard bleachers under the scorching sun, watching Corps after Corps take the field in competition. We had a blast! I don't think I've ever had as bad of a sunburn as the one I got that day, but it was so worth it!
Hearing from him brought back so many wonderful memories from that part of my life. Hours spent on busses, driving around the country. Nights sleeping on gym floors (except the one year we stayed in a college dorm, luxury!!!). Summer days spent on a football field, sometimes for 13 hours, practicing our drill. They were summers filled with music and friends. While our routine was very structured and we were closely watched by instructors, parents and chaperones, we had a sense of freedom I have not experienced since. It was long hot hours of hard work. We were all in great shape, and it was undoubtedly the best time of my life.
I'm now off to soak in nostalgia.