Spring 2010

Go-Cart, March

I knew nine months ago what I wanted to do for a senior culminating project: build a go-cart. Just to make Mom sweat, however, I didn't actually finish it until the weekend before my final presentation, March 4th.

To build it, I had to get welding equipment and learn to weld. The frame is made of angle iron, I took the motor from a swapped pit bike, where I also got the tires, and the steering wheel is a wagon wheel. It's a hodge-podge.

Music Man, March

This year Juanita High School produced The Music Man. I volunteered to be in the "pit" [right] and it was a good group; in fact, some of my "pit-mates" were people I've attended school with since second grade. Best of all, Mr. Brannman, our junior high band teacher, stepped in to be the conductor. It was great to work with him because he really knows how to help us be our best, and we always have a lot of fun when he's around.

Good thing because we worked really hard. We started rehearsing six weeks before opening night, and for the two weeks prior we rehearsed for three hours, four afternoons a week and even four hours on Saturday. There were seven performances in all: the nights of March 11-13 and 18-20, as well as a matinee on the 20th. I thought the whole production was pretty good, and the audiences were very appreciative.

By the end I was sort of glad we were done because the daily practices and performances were a hassle. But I'm glad I did it. It was a good experience to have before I hang up my trumpet.

Foot surgery, March

I had foot surgery to remove a bone spur (technically, an osteochondroma) from my toe on March 26th. The bummer is that afterward I was on the couch and on crutches for all of spring break.

The first weekend after surgery I was pretty much immobilized. Note the necessary recovery implements [left]: crutches, TV remote, Xbox controller, iPhone, and bell to ring for Mom.

Spud Fish & Chips, April

The Juanita band played at Spud to make money toward our Spring Band Tour. (On the overnight trip we planned to play at a band contest at Central Washington University and also spend time at Silverwood Theme Park.) For the three hours we played, Spud agreed to donate all proceeds to the band, up to a limit of $1,000. The drum line played the first hour. Next came the Jazz Band [right] and Pep Band, each for an hour. So I played for two hours straight. We were lucky to have a beautiful, warm evening (unusual for spring 2010), and we had a great turnout, so despite my exhausted lips, we made the full $1,000.

Cameron's Excellent Adventure, April

(Or: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly)

The weekend preceding my 18th birthday, four friends and I drove to Ocean Shores, Wash., to see the Rally America Olympus Car Rally.

The good: For two days my friends and I stood by the side of the road with dust kicked up in our teeth and watched the rally races. It was awesome! I also saw Travis Pastrana and actually met Ken Block [left], two of the best professional rally racers.

The bad: Snoring room mates. The noise was so bad that Friday night I left the motel room and slept in the parking lot!

The ugly: On the drive to Ocean Shores, the brakes on my 325IS went out somewhere between Federal Way and Tacoma. (Unfortunately, the problem was due to my own handiwork in upgrading my suspension. Augh!) Luckily, Friday night traffic was slow and I didn't cause any incidents, but the car had to be towed all the way back to North Seattle. Dad loaned me his truck to drive for the weekend. On Sunday, while backing it up in the mucky parking lot, I slid into a 4Runner behind me, causing over $1,000 damage to it. But of course, dad's truck, with its real bumpers, suffered only a scratch. (I wouldn't be telling the tale if it had been worse.)

Birthday, April

Eighteen!

Dad, Suzy, Brennan, Grandma Joyce, Mom, Jan, Sofia, Taylor, and I all went to Olive Garden to celebrate my birthday. We had good food, and I opened gifts—mostly small stuff, since much of my birthday money is now going to pay for the towing and car repair bills incurred over the preceding weekend (see above). However, Mom did buy me a really nice UW sweatshirt [right].

After dinner, the Richards went back to Dad's for cake that Grandma made. Two days later, Mom served birthday cake (one candle for every six years) at her house.

Last band concert, May

On May 26th, after eight years of playing trumpet—two in grade school, three in junior high, and three in high school; after six years playing at least two hours a day, five days a week in two band classes; after six years of arriving at school an hour earlier than 90 percent of the students for Jazz Band at "Zero Period"; after six years of three (sometimes four) major band concerts a year, plus numerous other performances at other venues and adjudicated competitions; after innumerable hours spent learning countless symphonic and jazz band pieces... I finally performed in my last band concert.

The Jazz Band played Chick Corea's Spain, which was a big audience hit, Over the Rainbow, and Elks Parade, with a crowd-pleasing drum solo by my friend David A. Symphonic Band played Blessed Are They by Brahams, a section of Bernstein's Candide, and a piece written and arranged by our tuba player and my friend Seth K. That was pretty cool.

The repercussions of finishing my school music career haven't really hit me yet. So many of my best friends have been a part of music with me, and we have had so many awesome moments together. Some people are urging me to join the UW marching band, but I'm ambivalent. I do know that whether or not I permanently lay my trumpet down, music will always be a part of my life. And who knows... the trumpet's a very portable instrument.

Senior Prom, June

Juanita's Senior Prom was on Saturday, June 5th. My date, Amira K., and I spent the day and evening with a group of seven other couples.

In the morning, we all played laser tag at Laser Quest in Federal Way. Everyone wore pajama bottoms and had a blast. After that, the guys hung out at Ryan's house, waiting the many hours for the girls to transform themselves.

Once the ladies all arrived, we exchanged corsages and boutonnieres. Then we climbed into the white mini-bus we'd rented and drove to Kerry Park in Seattle. It's on Queen Anne Hill, and the views of Seattle are awesome. We were incredibly lucky (especially this year) to have a warm, sunny day, and the photos looked great [right]. (Mom, Jan, and Sofia came to the park, along with many other parents, to take pictures.)

After photos we drove downtown for dinner at the Icon Grill. Besides the good food and casual-elegant ambiance, our waiter was a riot, and sometimes we had difficultly getting the food in because we were laughing so hard.

The dance itself was at the Seattle Harbor Club. The views of the harbor were really nice. As usual at our dances, the DJ was lame (the majority of my peers have terrible taste in music), but we still had a good time. At the end of the dance, we returned in two cars to Danny's house. The guys were supposed to stay the night, but something I ate made me feel sick, so I left about 1:00. I was disappointed at the time, but it's probably a good thing because I heard later that they'd stayed up till 7:00 AM (and I had to have enough wits about me on Sunday to fix my car's alternator).

Graduation celebration, June

The night before Commencement, June 13th, a limousine arrived at Dad's door. I thought it was lost—until I realized it was there to pick us up for dinner. Suzy, Brennan, Dad, and I got in... and then we drove to Mom's house and picked up everyone there [left]. As we drove north and Dad and I played with all the interior buttons and gadgets, Suzy broke out the champagne and sparkling cider, and all the family toasted my school career. It was pretty cool.

We stopped to pick up Grandma Joyce, then proceeded to Anthony's Homeport on the Edmonds waterfront, where Bonnie and Grandpa were waiting for us, camera in hand. Don't put the glass in the door, Mom.

I opened a whole slew of cards, some with money inside, and ate mahi mahi and coconut shrimp, plus rhubarb "slump" for dessert. I was in a food coma.

It was a fun evening with all the family there. I haven't yet fully processed being done with high school, but I do know I'm glad for my family and all their love and support.

Commencement ceremony, June

My last week at school was filled with mixed emotions—more so than I'd anticipated. Graduation night was similar. The seniors met at school early in the day for practice; then we had the rest of the day off. We were all back at 6:00 to dress and prepare in classrooms. By the time we finally marched into the Field House as the band played Pomp & Circumstance (without me among them), the gym was absolutely packed with people. I heard Dad yell my name, and there they all were, waving at me: Dad, Suzy, Mom, Jan, Brennan, Sofia, and Grandma Joyce.

We sat through two student and two teacher speeches. Robby did a great job; I'd helped him edit his. The choir sang "I'll Be There." Then we sat through the slow process of 350+ kids walking up and over the stage to accept their diploma covers and a flower. When they called my name, I heard my family yelling and applauding.

Once we had all sat down again, there were a few more words, and then we were declared "official graduates." We all threw our hats into the air, yelling and screaming, then proceeded back out of the Field House to lots of applause and congratulations.

All the families came flowing out behind us. It took Mom and Dad a while to find me (or me to find them), and then Mom and Suzy took lots of photos. It was hard to connect with my friends in all the chaos, but I did get a big group hug from Alanna, Anita, Claire (all friends since first grade) and Emily [above]. As for the rest, we had plenty of time to congratulate, commiserate, and celebrate at the Senior Party till 6:00 AM the next morning.

Finally done!

Well, after as much summer partying (and maybe a bit of work) as I can round up, I'll be off to college. So that's it for my Web pages.
This is Cameron, signing off...

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