There comes a time in every Pride of Dixie band members' life where they are no longer able to continue being an active member, wowing the crowds, and dedicating who you are to the best band there is in the world. You arrive at a time where you're having too many class time conflicts with practice time, you're graduating, or you're just not physically capable of going on.
This is the life of a University of North Alabama Priiiiiidddeeee of Dixieeeeeee has been.
1. You feel weird having classes during "Band Time."
Between the hours of 2-2:50 MWF and 2-3:15 T/TH, if you're auxiliary you're starting at 1 all of those days, you have classes that you have to take. The entire time you're fidgeting in your seat, your body is telling you that you are in the wrong spot, and quite frankly it's not used to this much air conditioning for that time span that it normally didn't get for those couple of hours.
2. When you don't have class you freak out that you're late for band.
The first day of class is always stressful but it's even worse when you look at your watch and literally feel your heart stop because you think you're late for band until you realize, "Oh wait, I'm not in band anymore," then you have a good cry for .5 and go to class or work or whatever took the POD's place in your life.
3. You feel as though a part of you is missing without your awkward band tan lines.
Let's be honest, no matter how awkward our band tan lines looked in uniform or just in general, they were the sign of hard work and dedication. It also was an unofficial competition as to who could get the darkest.
4. New members add you on Facebook and you have no idea who they are.
This usually occurs in the midst or after band camp because they either have heard stories about the great (or not so great) Mr. or Mrs. Band Person and immediately friend requests them. Other times, and majority of the time, its because they see another band member is a mutual friend and they see you in uniform while creeping on your social media.
5. Saturday's aren't the same.
When you're either still in bed at 7:30 call time you wake up out of the fear of being late then realize you don't have to be there. The day grows more uncomfortable not donning the uniform that you would take great care of or over do your make up for the show. What's even worse is sitting in the stands not warming up, doing Pre-Game, stand tunes, or getting ready to perform. If you're a past auxiliary member, you shed a couple of tears and feel a pain in your heart after you see the auxiliaries get up during the second quarter to warm up for the show. Then you really cry when they start performing because it's not you down there anymore. (You don't cry at every performance but the feeling of it should be you down there doesn't ever go away.)
6. You are proud to call yourself an alum of the POD.
You have no regret about your time you spent dedicating yourself to the POD because it was because of you and the people before you who created the reputation that the members currently get to live up to. You and your fellow bandmates are the reasons why hundreds and thousands of people are dying to see the best band in all the land. You go and cheer on the current POD because you want to see them succeed and go far beyond what your year accomplished.
If you're a former auxiliary member here is a list of things you didn't know you would miss.
1. Glove tan lines
2. Triples and Quads of rifle
3. Sequin covered uniforms
4. Curling your hair
5. Intense daily workouts
6. Spending almost everyday with your fellow line members.
All of this considered, you wouldn't ever trade anything for the time you spent with this amazing organization, hearing so many people stand to their feet, screaming for you!
Oh and the Battle Hymn Chorale will always and forever give you chill bumps, whether you're standing at attention, or listening from the stands.
Thank you Dr. Jones, and any captain, section leader, and peers that helped us has beens grow into our potential and rise above the expectations others had for us.
Loyally,
A Proud POD Alum
