P-A-R-T-Why? Good question.

The idea of college seems to differ to some people. I've heard that it's the best time of your life, and I've heard that it's the worst time of your life. Does it mean that there are different experiences, or different outlooks? Well . . . I think it's both.

I certainly know my fair share of people that party it up. Some of them drink. Some of them don't. Either way, they really seem to enjoy themselves. However, me being the anti-social person that I am, I try to stay away from parties. I hate it when people say, "Oh, not everyone is going to be drinking. You should come anyway!" It doesn't matter if not everyone is drinking. If there's alcohol, I don't want to be around.

Am I missing something? Because I feel like I can have a much better time with a few close friends without any alcohol whatsoever. However, it's not that simple anymore. I'm 20, but a lot of people my age are turning 21. I seem to be the only one who isn't planning on drinking. I'm not sure what I'm going do. Should I be more open-minded? I don't have a problem with people drinking; I just don't feel comfortable in that sort of environment. I guess we'll see how things go.

-Chris

It's Back

Tonight, I got back something I had lost without even knowing it.

I remember in high school, I would finish a song and have a strange feeling. It was a combination of emptiness and satisfaction. It was the feeling I got whenever I poured emotion into the horn. It used to be something I felt so often, but I had somehow become separated from it.

Tonight, we had a concert for Wind Symphony and Symphony Band. When we were getting ready to play "Song for Lyndsey," something changed. Whatever it was, I put more emotion into my playing than I have in a long, long time. The feeling was amazing, and contagious. I kept hearing people say that "Song for Lyndsey" was more powerful than they had ever played it before. I missed this feeling. I hope I don't ever lose it again.

-Chris