Category: A Better Me

I’m feeling a bit lost in figuring out life right now. Please pardon the mess….

One of the hardest sections of my site I’ve had to upkeep or write accurately about is the “About Me” section. This is really a difficult question to answer — “Who IS she, really?” I am a complex person trying to live simply. So does that make me an oxymoron?

I’m 32, not married but not single, 6 years out of college — which was several chapters of my life — and in full swing of my career as a band director. Actually, being a band director is not just a career, it’s really a lifestyle. I’ve grown up in this lifestyle so it takes a lot for me to see the rest of the world doesn’t function as the band world does. The nice thing is, many, many people I run into have participated in band or have kids that are band kids so they understand the world in which I live.

Many days, it’s a very easy world for me to live in. I’ve been on one side or another of this world for a majority of my life. Now that I’ve spent a few years on the educator side, I’m learning some of the struggles I’d been afraid of. The world of the band director always seemed to me like “A Man’s World” because it is. It is filled with “Old Boys” and their “Clubs” and women who enter this world can be pat on the head, given the paperwork to process and the colorguard to teach (whether they know how to or not). I’ve always blamed this “Old Boys Club” for keeping anchor on our glass ceiling. I’m starting to see that it isn’t quite the case.

Being a high school band director is very time consuming. Many evenings and Saturdays are filled with rehearsals, concerts, meetings and festivals or contests. I don’t even want to try to count exactly how many 12+ hour days I’ve put in this past one year alone. It’s a wonder my apartment is somewhat clean and my cats aren’t completely bitter and angry with me.

And Len…it’s amazing we haven’t killed each other (or ourselves) trying to maintain our relationship, when you think about it. Somehow, we’ve managed to talk everyday since we started talking a year ago. We see each other about every other week and we haven’t gone more than 3 weeks without seeing each other. Those 3 week periods have been few & far between as well. We spent Thanksgiving, a good majority of winter break, Spring Break, and birthdays (mine, his and family) together, as well as 2 seperate weeks off on vacation this summer. We’ve been very fortunate that our busy schedules have synced so well this past year. They say that love comes knocking when you’re not looking for it. This was certainly true with meeting Len. I guess those sayings exist for a reason.

So, I’m finding there are LOTS of women band directors in the middle schools around Texas. Do they not aspire to more? Are they not hungry for the higher level literature attainable by high school groups? Can they just not find jobs in high schools? Are they intimidated by these old boys who seem to dominate (but are retire) from the high school scene? No…it takes less time for anyone to be a band director in the middle schools. They don’t have to deal with as many after school & weekend events in middle school so they have more time for their families being middle school directors.

On one hand, I want to be married and have a family. On the other hand, I want to be a head high school band director and conduct groups that can handle the meaty pieces of literature I’ve fallen in love with through my own personal education. I don’t think I have to choose one or the other…I have two hands on my body. Why can’t I learn to make them work with each other? I’ve looked for women who are successful HS head band directors I can call on to be mentors. That’s a hard find in Texas. Most women band directors are either assistants (again, potentitally a bit easier on the schedule) or they’re not the family type — if you know what I mean. I look at my professional associations and find most women teach choir, elementary music, or are assistant band directors or teach middle school band. One association I belong to has a spouses section of their convention which is geared totally for women! What about if we’re a woman who’s spouse isn’t a band director…or even interested in the band thing? I guess they won’t be coming to the convention, huh? I have found that there is a national group of women band directors. Turns out, I just missed their summer meeting which happened to be here in Austin. I was out of town that week so maybe next year. Their membership year runs Jan. thru Dec. so maybe I’ll look into joining next January. Maybe not. I’m not necessarily seeing major benefits on their website. Maybe I’ll contact one or two of the women from Austin that I can figure are members and see. Maybe I’ll just contact them to get their take on this quandry I have. I don’t know. I’ve got to figure it out. I know you can’t have everything you want in life.

Family & career…they make inspiring movies about women who can achieve both. Usually, the women end up running themselves ragged and end up with a drug or alcohol addiction. I know I don’t want that. I guess the answer comes one step at a time and with a lot of support from many different people. Anyone know a good shrink?

Guess what?

IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!

I’m 32. Time has flown SOOOO quickly. I was talking to one of my collegues the other day. When he was 32, his daughter was only 4 or 5 and he was MY band director. Now, his daughter is graduating with her masters from UT and his program “feeds” my program. I could go on with stories like this for days. I guess the one thing that makes me really feel old is thinking about this kid I used to babysit in college. When his parents moved to San Marcos to lead the band program at SWT, Aaron was just 4. Yesterday, he turned 18 and has just graduated from high school!!! Aaron running around the band field at breaks during rehearsals yelling, “Has anybody SEEN Cathy Benford?” just seems like the other day.

Okay, enough with the memories. Today’s going to be a busy day. Work all day and our banquet tonight. Len gets here mid-day!!! I’m going to have to take some “stop” time today to celebrate his arrival.

Y’all have a wonderful day!

Today is May 3. We are now 3 days into my birthday month!!! Including today (thanks to online shopping) you have 18 shopping days until my birthday. Now, you folks who live out of town will have to make sure to leave time for shipping.

If you haven’t guessed, I LOVE my birthday. I think it should be a national holiday. I don’t even mind getting older! Some folks think that’s wierd but a few agree with me about the way a birthday should be celebrated. Either way, I LOVE my birthday!!!! This year, I’ll be 32 years old. I remember when I thought I’d never reach 32! Funny how our young minds work.

The one thing I’m not absolutely excited about is I have to work on my birthday. Not just your average every day work day (what exactly is that, by the way?) but I have one of my extra long, almost 2 day long work days that day. We have our band banquet on my birthday. On one hand, it’s a fun idea knowing I’ll celebrate the big day with all my students and their parents. On the other hand, I have to work from 7:30 or 8:00 am until 11:00 or midnight that night. That’s a long day…and I don’t even get to have a birthday drink until the next day. Boo! Another time Piojo will have to drink 8 for me.

So, enough with the negative, let’s get to talking about the positive. I don’t know if I’m going to have a big party but I certainly want to celebrate. If you’re going to be in the Austin area that weekend (May 20 is a Friday), let me know. Saturday, we can go for drinks or something. I’m not feeling a need to drag home stinking drunk and pass out on the way home, like I did last year (thank you Cathy T for taking care of me!!), just an outing with maybe some dinner, drinks & dancing. Let me know if you can come! Presents are nice but optional. I’ve got a “Wish List” at Amazon.com. 😉