Rachel in marching band

 Rachel is 3rd from the right in the front row (above)

 

 Rachel's life is consumed with marching band lately.  The marching band has 290 members (that's more than 15% of the school) and they are impressive.  The band will be marching in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in 3 weeks, so Rachel is very excited to spend five days in New York.

 In August, Rachel reported to the first day of marching band practice and was told that she was an alternate.  She wasn't assigned a spot on the field in the flute section because she had missed an orientation band meeting during the spring (it was the same time as Rachel's tournament softball game and her team really needed her).  Rachel was devastated about not having a marching spot.  But at the 2nd practice, a saxophone player didn't show up, so the director looked at  the group of alternates, saw no saxophones there, and grabbed Rachel to fill the spot.  Rachel has never been late to or missed a practice, so she has held on to that spot all season.  She is the lone flute in the very front row, surrounded by saxophones!  It makes it REALLY easy for us to spot her during the shows.

 3rd from the left in the front row

 Rachel with Vanessa, her clarinet-playing friend and neighbor