Another weekend, another wedding.

This past Saturday, Carol from Queen's got married. It was the first mixed wedding I've ever been to. I sat at a table of Queen's students, most of whom were in the Marching band with me. I had meant to go home that very night, but festive occasions such as these always get a bit out of hand. Six of us ended up crashing in a hotel room. I love weddings.

Now, I'm sure many of you are familiar with the concept of orientation week at university. Second year students lead around first year students in wholesome (and sometimes less wholesome) fun. At Queen's we call orientation leaders Gaels. Carol was my Gael, and when I think of it, I'm amazed at the ripple effect meeting her has had on my life.

Carol played the cymbals in the Queen's Bands. Her enthusiasm throughout Orientation week was truly unflagging, and her message was always "Join the Bands!"

Now. I've never played an instrument one can carry. I had no experience in gymnastics or in dancing...

So it only made sense (in my first year, I'll try anything kind of thinking), that I tried out for tenor drum, cheerleading and highland dancing.

I actually remember asking if asian kids were allowed to try out for Scottish marching bands.

Anyways, I ended up highland dancing every single year I was at Queen's. I spent virtually every weekend either at a football game or at some sort of parade. I can not imagine my undergraduate experience without the Queen's Bands.

I would never have marched in the Toronto Santa Clause parade, or the Boston St. Patrick's day parade. Basically all the extracurriculars I did at Queen's were in some way related to people I had met in Bands (Orientation Week, P&CC, AMS). And finally, some of the best friends I made at Queen's are from the Band.

And all because I was fortunate enough to meet Carol.