Move Along March 14, 2010

Twenty-five days down. Seventy-five to go. Memory 26/100:

Doing some song-surfing on youtube.com, I had a memory of plebe year.

It was fairly early in the first semester. I was in the drum and bugle corps, and we were going to Stanford for their home opener against Navy. I hadn’t been assured I would go on the trip because my grades had been borderline since the first day of class. I had “Stanford???” written on my desk planner, and it helped me study harder. I just wanted to get away from Annapolis, Maryland. A trip to the West Coast seemed too good to be true; so, when I received approval to go on the movement order, I felt an incredible weight lifted off of my shoulders.

I didn’t know what to take besides the essential uniform items—so that’s all I took. I didn’t have an iPod with me (they were forbidden,) nor did I have a Gameboy of any type. I stuffed my bags with black socks, white socks, undershirts, white leathers, corframs, an extra cover, extra summer whites, extra ribbons, and more whitey-tighties than I care to admit. I took running gear, in case I had the chance to P.T. (I didn’t.) Oh, and I did make sure to take my Pro Book (Professional Knowledge Book—it had a weekly topic about the Navy and Marine Corps that I had to memorize for tests each Sunday—these tests successfully ruined every weekend.)

Overstuffed with enough uniforms to last two weeks, I departed for my three-day trip. This was my first of many trips to the airport in uniform—they let us through the express lane in baggage claim and security. I felt like I didn’t deserve the treatment, having been in the Navy for only a few months. I still feel the same way, after almost four years.

You know how the rest of the airport process goes. I eventually made it onto the plane. This is where the youtube surfing comes in. I didn’t have headphones, so I bought an airliner pair, the type with two plugs, for two dollars. I plugged them in, and I turned to the first station. I hadn’t listened to music since Induction Day, (the last song in the car was “Yellow” by Coldplay,) so I didn’t know what was popular. The sound was so amazing! Looking back, I think it was the perfect song for me at the time. I was a lowly plebe, feeling sorry for myself, and I needed to move along.

Listen to “Move Along” by The All American Rejects: