Bagpipes, Drum Majors and Another Kind of Pride

Right now it is quiet.

Really quiet.

For the entire weekend we've been surrounded by friends and family and festivals. And. Of course. Noise. For the most part it's been a joyful noise, but it's noise nonetheless. We actually planned today to do quiet, peaceful things. We enjoyed the mayhem of the street festival and the fun and the frolic of the parade, we enjoyed it all. But we're 61 year old men, who go to bed at 8pm and who live, mostly a very quiet life. So today - we're going to one of the museums near us and we're going to eat leftovers from our traditional anniversary dinner (hot dogs and potato salad).

Oddly, amongst all activities that went on, I think I'm going to remember two moments that happened, very quietly, with two different men that we met. While we were waiting for the parade to begin, it was a long wait, a fellow came by wearing a kilt and carrying bagpipes. Both Ruby and Sadie have been showing interest in bagpipes, so, as he passed by I asked him if he had a few minutes. He stopped, said that he did, so I told him of the girls interest and asked him if he could show them how the pipes work.

He then set about doing a little workshop about bagpipes for the kids. He took some of it apart and showed them how things worked and where the sound came from. The kids were rapt by his presentation which he did lovingly without rushing through. A tremendously nice fellow was he.

Then, as we continued to wait we moved over to be in the shade and found ourselves next to a military band. Ruby noticed the drum major practising with the mace with which he would lead the group. She was fascinated by the smooth movements and the intricate way it was used. Again, as he came by I asked him if he had time to explain to the girls what it was he was doing and what some of the movements meant. He let each girl hold the mace, showed them the position it should be placed when saluting and they each practised. They had questions, of course, just like they did for the fellow who taught about the bagpipes. The questions, again, were answered without rush.

The weekend was so busy and so frantic and so fast paced that it was nice to find that people were still willing to take time and share their interests with a couple of little girls. Joe and I, both admit, that we learned stuff about bagpipes and military bands that we didn't know before.

They took their time.

To share their pride in what they do ... at a place where they had gathered to show their pride in who they are ... that, to me, is cool.