You didn't ask, but...

June 1, 2005

You didn’t ask, but…

happy muster season everybody!

In the spring of 2004 I was at the Fusilier Muster in Millbrook , New York . While we (The Civil War Troopers) were practicing prior to our performance I could see our old friend Bill Hart approaching. As we finished playing he stepped up and said “Hey there, Troopers. Happy muster season!” It was perfect, expressing exactly what I was feeling at our first muster of the season. A year later I’ve been using the same phrase.

If you are not a fife and drum enthusiast it may be hard to understand what I’m talking about. At a muster you get a feeling of being home. The fife & drum community (referred to by many as “the Ancients”) is a tight knit group of people. It is a lot like family. There are some people you haven’t seen in years and you wonder why you never stayed in touch. Others you haven’t seen in a few months and when you get together at the first muster it’s just like you never had that long winter of separation. There are other people who you’ve had disagreements with and after a few months away you wonder what the problem was in the first place. With the Troopers, I try to make as many rehearsals as I can during the off season. But there is a feeling of pride, joy & enthusiasm that can’t be duplicated every time I sling my drum and play at a muster.

I am babbling, but I guess what I’m trying to say is I love the muster season and can’t wait to see all of my friends…my family.

So to everybody I say HAPPY MUSTER SEASON!!!!!

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