Coddiwomple….What in the world is that? Well technically it is a British slang word that means “to travel purposefully to an as-yet unknown destination”. But if you or anyone you know is a part of the Grapevine High School band family, that word will elicit a much more profound response. It’s the name of their 2024 marching show, and this past Saturday night, the journey of that show came to a heartbreaking end when it missed qualifying for state by just one spot.
The phrase heartbreaking end doesn’t quite encapsulate the experience of hearing the results announced, the deafening silence of the bus ride home, or looking into the kids’ faces as they filed into the band hall to put away their contest uniforms for the last time this year. It doesn’t adequately explain the raw and grieving beauty of the many pictures and words posted by the kids, parents, and directors. Each post trying to give voice to what this incredible Coddiwomple meant to each of them.
I suppose this is my attempt to do the same. Honestly, I am battling feeling foolish to have so much heartbreak over this. After all, I’m not a member of the band. But rather than condemn and shame my grief, I’ve decided to embrace it with curiosity. And the more I examine it, the more I can see that my grief is linked to the kids. .
These kids! These incredible kids! Their band director, Mr. Rees, continually tells people “These are the best kids at Grapevine High”. And after spending hours on end with them as a volunteer, I can now understand how and why he continues to say this. It’s because it is unequivocally true! They ARE the best kids.
How can I begin to describe just how incredible they are? Is it even possible to convey their infinite value? Kids from all walks of life, with natures ranging from ultra type A to wildly free spirited, intuitive introverts to theatrical comedians, and everywhere in between…all of them working together for long hours in the seemingly neverending Texas heat to pour something magical to our community. And this year’s show just seemed extra magical. There was just something poetically prophetic about it. It was as if the show was meant to remind us of the beautiful mystery of our life’s journey. And week after week these kids delivered that reminder to us all.
In May, each of these amazing kids started a purposeful journey into an as-yet unknown destination, each of them hopeful the unknown destination would be an appearance at the state marching band competition. And Saturday night, after 274 hours of rehearsing, 15 public performances of the show in 9 different stadiums, the Grapevine Coddiwomple Marching Show was laid to rest. But while the jackets and hats will be placed into storage boxes, the music scores filed onto a shelf, the bonds and memories formed along the way remain. And in a deeply ironic way, the kids’ shared shock, anger, disappointment and grief have the power to deepen the impact of this purposeful journey. So while the destination was not the one they wanted, I hope that after the wounds of the grief begin to heal, they will know that they just lead their community to a destination of deep admiration, abundant thankfulness, and pure joy. Gosh….I sure wish they sold patches for that!