A Memorial to a Great Man...

"Extra work is the key to life"

Yesterday I found out that the man that had founded and lead the camp I attended to become a better drum major, passed away suddenly on Thursday from a heart attack very close to where I live. I couldn't believe it when I heard it, and if I had to compare it to coming, it would be when I found out that Steve Irwin had died. Both figures seemed untouchable in my mind, but for different reasons

It's a surreal experience for me, because I had just met George this summer at the camp, and while the camp itself was very difficult to get through, at the end of the day, he always had a speech that would make me smile. He would teach us a lesson in a way that we could understand. He taught us how a real leader should act, and the thing is, even though he never yelled at us, we listened! My other teachers continually tore me down, but he would build us all back up.

No one knows what will happen to the Drum Major Academy without him. Will it just end? I mean, his name is in the camp! The George N. Parks Drum Major Academy! It's his brain child! I've never met a man more passionate for band, or a man that could have inspired so many young people in the short life he lived. They said the cause of death was a heart attack. I guess his was just too big.

"Starred thought: life never was worth it until you've inspired at least one person"

Well, his life had more worth than many people more famous than him.

I try to think of the UMass band, his band, which he had been traveling with when he died. They slept in a high school gym, and when they did reach their destination, the Michigan band played their Alma Mater in his honor.

I don't really know how else I can describe George, only knowing him for 4 days, and I'm not used to writing stories about death. It's a shame. I guess George can describe himself.

"You know how there is a football captain, basketball captain, and cheerleading captain, just to name a few? You are a drum MAJOR! YOU OUTRANK ALL OF THEM!!!"

"Did you want to be drum major to make the band better?To be a leader?

LAIR!!!
You want the uniform and for everyone to say your name!"

"If you have to tear someone down, you need to build them back up."

" 'I am the field commander; Field...GROW' "

"When things get tough, get good."

"Raise your right hand has high as you can. Now go two inches higher. THAT'S WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR LIFE"

"How many of you didn't think that a George Parks was actually going to teach you this week?" *raises hand* 

Every self respecting leprechaun has a beard, but that guy doesn't! *points to Lucky from Lucky Charms* I went through college, and I decided to shave my beard, and HE shows up! I feel like I should say 'Detail: Present CHARMS' !"

"Give me your eyes!"

"Detail, sparkle HUT"

Now he may seem like a total cynic, but all these quotes were in good fun, to make us realize who we really are as field commanders/drum majors. I'm honored to have been taught by him this year, and I hope his legacy lives on forever in all the people he influenced.

 

Eclipse Ecstacy

I have a bit of a confession to make. I'm a fan of the Twilight Saga, but anything dealing with gross Mary Sue (Bella) and Gary Stu (Edward) just makes me want to gag. No, I go to the movies and read the books for Carlisle, Esme, Jasper and Alice. Why can't the books be all about them? Those four hardly get any screen time, and it's a bit sad for my friend and I. Then again, it makes us appreciate it more when they are on screen. Most of the time it's just "I can't have you" or "Oh Edward, I love you sooooo soooo much" *gag* I mean, I'm a romantic story person, but that's not romantic. That's just CLICHE. I mean come on. New girl, pretty, gets loved by every boy in school on the first day, including the mysterious boy from across the tracks that no one can get through to. When does that ever happen? I mean, I'm sure there are girls like that, but in my experience, they're hoes. It's just disgusting. Carlisle and Esme, as well as Jasper and Alice, have a sweet kind of love, the kind I like. It's not cliche, but it's what it should be, undying love that isn't showy or gag inducing. Plus, I have a soft spot for guys in uniforms and doctors, as well as mothers and fashionable nice people. So yeah, there is my rant.

I realize that I haven't updated in like 3 weeks, but I just haven't been up to it. It's weird. I just have some writing depression, and it sucks. I know this is just a little update, but I've been feeling guilty, so here it is!

Happy Blogging!

I think writer's block is simply the dread that you are going to write something horrible.

                     -Roy Blount Jr.

Paging Nurse Devon

Wow, I've been slacking off lately. Actually, no. I've been working hard, kind of. Working hard and moping around being depressed, which hasn't happened in a long time. I keep feeling like a fifth wheel with my friends, and it's really bumming me out, even if they say that's not true. When they have a choice between me and someone else, it's always someone else. I don't know what's wrong with me. Actually, I do. I'm no fun, and I'm not obnoxious or random or funny like the rest of my friends. I've found myself getting jealous of my friends, one for a concert and another for a boyfriend and the rest for friendship I don't seem to have. I only have one good friend and I can never see her because she's always traveling or working. I never tell her how much she means to me...

But I won't go into that, because it will probably get me in trouble

Today, I went to my orientation to become a volunteer at our local hospital, and I'm super excited for my first day, July 6th. I have to wait forever because of summer school, which I need in order to graduate. I'm not dumb or anything, but I'm taking gym then so I don't have to during the year. Anyways, I got to mingle a little with the other people in the volunteer group and it got me working a little more on my communication skills. I'll need to converse with patients, just make them feel more comfortable, get what they need, communicate with other nurses, and keep organized. I'm so excited to be in this environment, and to see if being a nurse is what I really want to do, but if my attitude stays the same, I'm sure it will be wonderful. It really makes me happy to know that I will be able to make people's lives happier and more pleasant if I do my job correctly. This will really help me in the long run, and I can't wait to get started!

Short entry, but I don't know much else to blog on

Happy Blogging!

-Devon

When you're a nurse you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours.

-Unknown

Gotta Catch 'Em All!

So what's the latest craze from grades 1-12? Silly Bandz! Rubber band bracelets shaped into various symbols, such as animals, princesses, medical stuff, military or food. Now the Silly Bandz are the animals, and everyone else has other brands. They go on your wrist in a squiggly line, and you can get a pack of 24 for $5, which is about 20 cents a band, making them a good toy for a child with thrifty parents. There's hundreds to get, and stores can't keep them on the shelves. I admit, I drove out of my way to get the medical pack at Target, only for them to be completely cleaned out! I was bummed.

Now the thing is, schools all around are starting to ban these bands. Why? Because they're a distraction. Kids are trading them during class, and schools are notorious for banning collectible, tradeable things. Let's name some examples, shall we? There was the Pokemon card craze of the 90s, which was followed by Yu-Gi-Oh later in my school years. I'm sure there was a ban put on the silicon bracelets that had an underlying sexual meaning too, or they just faded away. Marbles were also put away, because kids would gamble with them. Then, there were always CRAZY BONES. Little monster of every shape and size that would sit up, and you'd take your best one and flick it at your opponents bones and the person with the last one standing one? Yeah, those. My friend always had a million of them. She had a million of everything I wanted, and she never used the stuff. She only had it because she could afford it. I had a good sized tin case of them, and we played at school all the time, me and my guy friends, until they were banned because people felt bad if they lost them or they were stolen or gambled away. Elementary school children are very crafty, they are.

Also, while I'm reminiscing, remember Aaron Carter? Nsync? Backstreet Boys? Dream Street? Video and Cassette Tapes? Walkmans? Now we have Justin Bieber, DVDs and iPods. Oh wait, there was something before iPods...

These bad boys!

Hit Clips, baby!

Happy Blogging!

-Devon

Woot! 10th Post!

Wow, I was exhausted by 11 after the banquet last night. What a full day, but it was a wonderful day, so I'm glad I was tuckered out. I slept for like 9 and a half hours, which never really happens since something always wakes me up. I completely kicked my sheets and electric blanket off the bed, but hugged my comforter. How I do that, I will never know. Mom took me out to JCPenney's to get a fabulous bathing suit that I found on my boredom drive a few days ago, and I'm so excited to wear it! I'm very self conscious, so getting excited about a bathing suit is about as likely as having Haley's Comet go across the sky on the day you're born and/or the day you die. But it's sooo cute! It's like a little dress, so I'm not as worried about my thighs and hips. Lovely!

But a shopping trip for a bathing suit soon turned into something a lot more. We went to World Market, this amazing store with merchandise from many parts of the world, and I wanted to get a print that said "In Love With London" on it, but it needed a frame and I couldn't afford it. They have candies from Europe, Japan and China, Moroccan scarves and decor, and fun party things and house ware. I love that store so much, but I never really go there because no one else wants to go. Then we went over to Old Navy.

oh.   my.   gosh.

It was worse than black Friday. It was a One Day Wonder, with $1 flip flops. When we got there, a line was weaving through aisles halfway around the store, and the only flip flops left were black and white, and maybe some beige or gold in another size. We went to look for shorts, but we couldn't find any, and we weren't going to wait in that God awful line either. There were team members in clashing outfits with a megaphone horn giving out random prizes, and the black ladies would go crazy if they won. It was a complete zoo, and we had to push our way out of there. No more one day wonders for us!

So my mom walked down the strip mall to the Dress Barn. I have a new favorite store (kind of). I've been getting more and more addicted to dresses lately, and I don't really know why, but this place was FULL OF THEM (who knew?) We went in looking for dresses for a friend's wedding, and my mom never wears dresses, ever, so it was a new experience for her, and I loved helping her out. I tried on a few styles, but one was too old-lady for me, one was too big and too fancy for anything and the last one was cute! I got a salmon sundress for myself, to wear to the wedding probably my friend's grad party, and my mom got this cuuute soft blue dress, that flattered her fabulously, and I even found some matching shoes. They had this strap she didn't normally like, but she LOVED these shoes and they were on sale! It was a great day for a mother/daughter day. We had Panera, and I was exposed to their Caesar Chicken Salad SANDWICH and I wish I got two! It was GREAT. We ended up getting pastries too, and even though we were still full from lunch, we had them too.

Basically, I love shopping. I love getting new things and buying new clothes to look beautiful. I love it when I can make people look better too. That's why, if the whole nursing career doesn't work out, I'll work as a fashion consultant or just at a department store. I don't know what about being a woman makes most of us like shopping, but it's just so much fun! I love going with my friends when they'll try on stuff with me, or I'll try stuff on and they'll give me their opinion. I hope I still have friends like that in a future, and some that don't, because I have those now and they're amazing people!

Happy Blogging!

-Devon

The quickest way to know a woman is to go shopping with her.  

                      ~Marcelene Cox