Lately I've been streaming the late 80s/early 90s sitcom 'Saved By the Bell.' I will admit that it is a bit cheesy but I have to admit that I still love that show. It featured cute guys that every girl wanted to date and pretty girls that every girl wanted to be. I admit that I wished I could go to that school and be a part of the gang of Zach, Kelly, Slater, Jessie, Lisa and Screech. Even the principal Mr. Belding was appropriately authoritative and the right amount of dorky. I enjoyed living in this world where there was no real bullying, no drug or alcohol abuse, and everything turned out hunky dory in the end. Yes, it glossed over serious issues but it was a great escape.
However, looking back on this, I realize that there is no way I would have been a part of that crowd. I was always a little odd. I had plenty of friends, but in no way was I in the 'popular' group. Music, not sports, was my thing and that didn't exactly make you Miss Popular. But having chorus or orchestra first thing in the morning was the best way to start my days. It made suffering through gym class almost worth it.
No, Windham was a far cry from Bayside High School. But as I've gotten older I've realized a couple things:
First, I got to do some amazing things with the music program at Windham. I played viola in the orchestra and got to play in a music competition in Orlando (we took 2nd out of 5) and also got to play on a rising stage in Disney World. That was incredible--I remember that we played the Pink Panther Theme as the stage rose up. Then, with the Windham Chamber Singers, I got to sing at the White House, shake hands with President Clinton, and go to New York to sing in Carnegie Hall. As much as I enjoyed living vicariously through the Bayside gang's adventures, my real life was even better. Funny how different things look as time goes by.
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