2nd chair alto sax 8th grade

2nd chair.
Not first…second.
Yes I was 2nd chair and I wasn't happy about it.
Who was the Shannon person I'd never met who had gotten 1st chair alto sax in 8th grade?  Well I'd soon come to find out.

This is how me and my bestie Shannon met.  She was first chair and I was 2nd. She eventually went on to become a Nationally Board Certified Band Director and concentrated on Horn in F at college and I, a professional student.

I can't really remember much about our early friendship except that we talked on the phone a few times and the band trip we took to Hershey Park was the first time I ever went on a trip and had been PICKED to be in a certain chaperone group. Honestly, Shannon and Sarah were my first real true friends. I love them dearly.

I'm not a huge maker of friends.  I've had Sarah and Shannon so long that I honestly thought that if I never made another good friend it would be okay.  I'm pretty sure I said this to ML at some point early in our relationship. O_O

Band Competition Costumes: Mellophone, Sousaphone, and Baritone

Senior Year at Career Center

My relationship with Shannon has given me so much. She's always down for shopping which I love but she's also the kind of person you can go on a 3 mile walk with and just talk. We've grown up together over the last 14 years and walked through some interesting times. One situation I remember distinctly was driving back from Shannon's childhood best friend's viewing and Sarah turned to me and said "We can't die. We can't leave Shannon." Sarah and I actually had a conversation about this on our way to a Friday night football game because we were her best friends and we had just watched our best friend fall apart.  I choreographed my honors dance piece to be in memory of Shannon's friend and she danced in it, unpartnered with a light, while two pairs of people danced on either side of her. I wanted my best friend back…so I made a piece I thought would help her. I made dance therapy for her. 14 years is a long time..over half my life so we…use three have seen a lot together.

I was super proud to be one of her bridesmaids.

And I was stoked to be the first person to guess she was pregnant thanks to a Facebook status. My bestie doesn't take naps so when she said she was taking one…I simply texted her "R u pregnant?"

And she was all no one is supposed to know but of course you would be the one to guess!

Sarah, Shannon, and I stayed close through college which spread us from NYC to NC and grad school which took me to Nebraska while Sarah stayed in NYC. Now I live about 1.5 hours from Shannon and its literally the best. 

Just a snuggle fest with the little guy being crashed by his momma!

My sweet LP

Shannon gave me this….

Those eyelashes!

I love my co-parenting weekends at her house and my little man's unbridled enthusiasm! Co-parenting is the best gift Shannon could ever give me because I love kids but I'm single and I don't have any. I get to go to her house and live that domestic life to my heart's content.

Oh and her husband is a gem of a man who never begrudges us our pedicures or baked goods.