You Have Been in Band TOO Long if...

*When you hear music and start marking time. *When you walk in step with the person in front of you. *When you try to guess the tempo of your favorite song. *When all of your friends are in band. *When all of your band friends stole part of the band uniform. *When you don't mind changing clothes on the bus. *When you point out key changes and dynamics while listening to the radio. *When you like wearing your uniform or you can pick yours out from a pile by your own distinct sweat smell. *When every guy/girl you're interested in is in the band. *When you consider your drill book a fashion accessory. It isn't? *When you practice your instrument more than you talk to your dog. *When "armed guard" means a girl with a pole instead of a guy with a gun. *When band camp is FUN. *When you remember flats and sharps more easily than your name. *When you dress the lunch line and urge others to do the same. *When you're alone and you suffocate because there's no one telling you to breathe. *When your instrument has a name. *When making a line is your biggest accomplishment of the day. *When marching backwards no longer reminds you of ballet. *When you can make brown shoes look white. *When your uniform fits. *When black feathers become a fashion "do." *When you see your section more than you see your family. *When everyone wants to kill the other football team...and you want to kill the other band. Die NOVA aka Avon. *When you think evening practices should last a half-hour longer. Yeah, because I like having my blood sucked by mosquitos. *When you accidentally call you band director "Dad." OH YEAH RIGHT! *When you CAN sight-read. *When you can put your uniform on in less than 10 minutes. Oh please, try 3 minutes. *When reeds taste good. *When you think your plume is alive or part of the male anatomy. *When marking time is your favorite form of exercise. *When you have a neck strap/harness tan line. Say hello to Ryan Leitz at band camp. *When you subconsciously start practicing with a pencil. *When numbers past 8 aren't important. *When you role-step through the cafeteria so you don't spill your lunch, which you know you all have done. *When letters past G aren't important. *When everybody fights like family. *When you root for the other football team to lessen the time of your season. *When you know everybody else's personal business. *When you've practiced so long, the flags are together. *When you have no more secrets. *When you don't try to hide the fact that you're in band. *When you subconsciously start humming your music. *When you know not only your own part, but everynoe else's too or make up words to wordless songs. *When you eat lunch with all of the other band people. *When you start to eat lunch in the band room or stay after school in a room that you have overtaken. And in this room, you have social events such as card tournaments or heart to hearts. *When you can tell who's in the bathroom by looking at their sneakers under the stall. *When you resort to humming your band muisc to fall asleep. *When wide open spaces stir up and urge to march your show. Remember that Ryan???? *When you have a pin from every competition you've been to. *When you friends that aren't in marching band ban you from discussing band topics in their presence. *When you have 2 instruments--a junky one for marching band and a good one for concert band. *When dreams of marching are constantly in your head. *When you can't go to the movies on weekends with your friends. *When you don't see your parents on the weekends. *When your free time is spent on homework. *When you wear your band shirt in public. *When you prefer classical music other than modern music. *When the french horn section sounds good, but that doesn't happen without my presence. *When the piccolos play in perfect unison. *When the trumpet section's ego seems normal. *When you hang out with your instrument section and tell others they aren't invited because they aren't part of your section *When you wear your band uniform for a halloween costume or a performance for show choir.