Memory Day: Reading Day

Sixteen years ago today, on December 9, 1999, it was Reading Day on the campus of Virginia Tech. This was the day just after the last day of classes, completely devoid of labs, homework, classes, or any other distractions, inserted into the calendar with the mistaken understanding that students would wisely devote it to studying for their upcoming exams. Of course this was a mistaken assumption, as most students just used the time to sleep off the effects the previous night's parties.

Although I had been at Philip's the previous night with Kelley, Shac, and Liz, I was not yet a drinker. As a result, I was up bright and early to lay claim to empty communal washing machines and work on the third movement to Jazz Suite for Brass Quintet. Midday, I headed to Squires Student Center to practice my trumpet, and then met Liz Benyo for lunch at Schultz Dining Hall, probably getting my standard fettucini alfredo and nachos with cheese.

In the evening, I went to dinner with a bunch of trumpeters and Dr. Bachelder, who was orchestrating a guest appearance / master class by trumpeter, Ryan Anthony, from Oberlin (Ryan would eventually go on to become a member of the Canadian Brass). Dr. Bachelder urged me to give him a copy of my recently finished trumpet work, Badinage. I did so, but I never got any feedback on it. For all I know, it was confiscated as being too avant-garde by airport security on Mr. Anthony's way back to Oberlin.