When I was deciding on where to go to college, I knew I wanted to go somewhere with a marching band, just in case I decided that I missed my days of marching as a member of the color guard. My freshman year, I thought I would be too busy to miss wearing spandex in the cold or getting sunburned from hours upon hours outside.

Needless to say, I was wrong. I miss it. I miss it too much for words. Not doing marching band was probably one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Here are the things that I miss the most about high school marching band that I hope to recapture again in college marching band this year.

1. The Band Bus is the Best

Heads up, almost all of these pictures are going to feature the world's best bus buddy, Kaitlyn. She was my bus buddy for four years and holds my heart forever. She made band worthwhile for me.

2. The Band is Your Family

This was a bit literal for me. My sister joined color guard as soon as she could. I love her and miss spending the extra time with her. These were some of the best days of my life.

3. Everybody is Crazy, but in a Good Way

I know all of my pictures feature color guard, but they are the ones around when we were allowed to take our phones out. I promise the rest of the band looks just as weird at times. I can't tell you how many times I've seen the instrumentalists try to balance their instruments on their heads after realizing if you do that to a trombone player, you can call them a bonehead.

4. If You Don't Already Have Friends, You're going to Make Them

I see you have met Kaitlyn once again.

5. You Aren't Alone, No Matter What

6. You Get the Chance to Goof Off...

Things can get pretty wild in the stands during football games. Exhibit A: someone grabbed my phone and took this picture. This is how everyone in band acts about 74% of the time.

7. ...But You Know When to Get Your Act Together

The other 26% of the time is spent practicing and preforming. That is some serious stuff. We make our time count. And yes, a nice photo is possible with all of these crazy people.

8. Sometimes, Weird Becomes the New Normal

The color guard had to have big hair one year. You know what? We rocked it. By the end of the season, the rest of the band didn't even notice. In the meantime, we got used to the band shoving their hands up their jackets to reach a pocket in their bibbers. Like I said, normal.

9. You Get the Chance to Express Yourself

We are all in uniform, but we are all unique. No matter what it is that you like, no matter how obscure, nobody in band will judge you. If they do, you don't care because you know about all of the weird stuff they do too.

10. You Learn to Get Ready Quick or Face the Consequences

We're smiling, but moments after this picture was taken, someone almost lost an eye to an eyeliner pencil and a bumpy road.

11. But You Eventually Get Used to Doing Makeup on the Bus

It just becomes second nature along with eating, getting dressed, helping other people get dressed, and not spilling food all over yourself when the bus comes to a sudden stop.

12. Did I Mention the Family thing Yet?

So, maybe there's more to it than just having your actual family around. These are the people I would have given the world for. I grew with these people. I cried with these people. I slept in a sweaty, smelly bus with these people. In some ways, they were more than family. That is why I am looking forward to being in marching band again. I know I'm in for something much larger than what I knew in high school, but I want to belong to a family of weirdos again.