A Disappearing Act
March 9, 2010
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By Chelsea Blackburn
Longtime color guard performer Chelsea Blackburn found the best way to explain winter guard to friends is to let them experience it. She shared her personal story with Marching.com.
"I can't. I'm going home to Nashville this weekend."
That is how I answered my roommate Rebecca's invitation to go see a movie this weekend, and it's also how I responded to every invitation, on Facebook or otherwise, for events that happened on the weekend during my college years.
"Oh that's right," responded Rebecca. "You have that guard thing."
"Yep. Winter guard."
"What exactly is that?"
I sighed. Here's my standard answer: you know those people with the flags and rifles that are on the field with the marching band? Well, it's just the flags and rifles in a gym, performing to taped music. That covers the basics and is usually enough for strangers and acquaintances, especially law enforcement. I once got pulled over on the way home from practice. It was after midnight, and I was sick with strep throat. The cop asked me why I was in such a rush to get somewhere, and I told him I was just trying to get home to get some rest. He asked me where I had been, and I gave him the typical answer. Apparently, he had never been to a football game in high school, because after I tried to explain it, he still stared at me blankly. I just told him it was basically a lot of dance. He nodded and gave me a warning. I still think he was too confused as to what I was actually doing to give me a ticket.
Read the full article here, on marching.com
