It is 17-October-2026 and there is a frosty chill in the air. Not quite cold enough for a frost, but the warmth of the sun feels a bit distant as it rises slowly in the East/Southeast. There are many things going on today in my section of the globe. I’m not worried about attending many of them, as they were things I did years ago… I imagine there are many events in your corner of the globe that may be similar, or vastly different. I just hope you can experience them at least once… …and then reflect upon them…

Today is a big marching band day in the Midwest. In Iowa the Southern part of the state has its Iowa High School Marching Festival. This is where marching bands perform to receive an ensemble rating. It isn’t a competition in the truest sense. Trophies are not awarded. Just plaques and medals. Davenport Central High School is hosting the festival just a couple of miles from my house. I have had a band participate in this event years ago, but our contest site was in Pella, IA.

Just south of there… the No Kings Rally will be in Vander Veer Park from 12-2p.m. This event is just under a mile away. Parking is an issue. Congestion will be likely. I support those who wish to protest. I’m not a crowd person, I find it disconcerting the older I become. My spirit of protest is with a laptop keyboard. I have a space bar wear pattern to prove it. I will dissent with thee in spirit. I plan on voting early on Monday.

In Illinois, Western Illinois (WIU,) Illinois State (ISU,) and the University of Illinois (UI) are all hosting marching band festivals. These events have been taking place since the 1970’s. I have had bands participate in these festival competitions and I marched in these very same competitions years ago. I enjoyed the WIU and ISU festivals far more than UI as a student and as a director. I know many colleagues who swear by the UI festival. I’m glad they enjoy it. The Illini mystique is for their alumni, not for me. I’m very pleased that I no longer have to get on a bus with teenagers and spend my entire Saturday in the autumn chill watching bands and waiting for a score, placing, and maybe a participation trophy for our efforts. My philosophy as a marching band director was all about enjoying the work and creating a community, never winning… I never spent more than 25% of my budget on marching band. I couldn’t justify the expense. I wrote my own drill with a pencil, fixed it with a rewrite sometimes on the field, arranged the music on my own, and many times taught the drum line myself. I hired a color guard instructor. That way all the money went directly to the student’s travel experience. I am unable to justify spending thousands on a nine-minute field show. Those that do enjoy this… I’m happy for you… I really am. I hope your students have a great experience. In the end, that is what these events are about: creating an experience that will remain with them for a lifetime… I served my time, no regrets…

There are dozens of events around the Quad Cities celebrating autumn and Halloween. Area theaters/theatre’s are showing seasonal movies or performing various community productions of musicals. Several of these events include stops at the myriad of microbreweries we have here in the area. Since I gave up drinking, that type of recreation no longer interests me. My liver and pancreas thank me repeatedly for doing so. Eleven years away from alcohol and I must say the world is far better without it, than with it… I am writing from my perspective only. If you drink, please enjoy responsibly… designated drivers exist… use them…

There are about a dozen apple orchards within a hundred miles of my home. I have visited more than half of them over the years. I did so with my children. There were two that I was particularly fond of. Tanner’s Orchard in Speer, IL, and Wilson’s Orchard in Iowa City, IA. Tanner’s is a great place to take kids on a sunny October day. I remember when it was small, as I went there as a kid while visiting family friends in nearby Lawn Ridge, IL. The family business exploded, and if you do purchase something plan on waiting in line for a while. My go-to purchases were cider, cider donuts, and Jonathan Apples. Jonathan Apples have a tart crispness that I have always enjoyed. Though, I despised pulling skin out of my teeth for the next week when I eat them. Wilson’s Orchard had a nice tractor ride through the property. I always enjoyed the ride through the creek. They had a little alligator ready to snack on riders who didn’t keep their hands and feet in the hayrack at all times. Their property is expansive, scenic, and colorful. If you walk to pick your own… be ready to traverse the mighty hills with your apple basket…

This Saturday is a quiet one for me. I have no dissenting to do. I simply want to spend the morning and early afternoon in my house with the dogs and my wife doing very little. Our foster dog (Lady) is on the verge of delivering her puppies. We are watching her carefully. She has been used as commodity far too long by a backyard breeder. He dumped her off on the internet and we collected her. This litter is her last. After that it is couches, treats, and snuggles for the rest of her life. Once the pups are weaned we will sell them to make back our expenses only. She will be spayed. The pups are Presa Canario/Cane Corso mixes from what we heard from the backyard breeder. We shall see. We will not be docking tails or ears, as we feel this is inhumane. Stayed tuned…

Late this afternoon we are going to the Bacon and Brew Festival in Clinton, IA along the riverfront levy. No drinking is in store for us. We may try some bacon though. The live entertainment is why we are going. The Dave Matthews Tribute Band, “Tripping Billies” is going to be there. Since I am a huge DMB fan it will be nice to experience the music live, but from musicians who enjoy the music like I do. This option was far cheaper than actual DMB tickets. They are running around $250 for decent seats as a warehouse member. We can’t justify that when we chose to rescue a dog. Mastiffs are a luxury item. We value these companions more than events, traveling, and experiences. When we travel, we have to get dog sitters. Maybe one day I will get an RV and bring them along. I can only imagine the reaction from fellow RV campers when they see our giants…

I hope you enjoy your October Saturday! Whether it is quiet, or loud. Sporting or Non-Sporting. Marching Band or Stereo, Protesting No Kings, Drinking or non-drinking… The day is yours. Be glad for that time. Enjoy it at your leisure. Most importantly stay safe…

…so it goes…