2 words - Band Pants!
2 words-
Band Pants 11/3/11
If you were in band either in junior high, now called middle school, or in high school you know exactly what I am talking about.
Band pants----those pants that had a horizontal zipper on the side. It was there so the pants could accommodate a variety of waist sizes, easily…except for me.
You see I was the ‘band secretary”, before they had the group of Band Parents that run and organize everything, like they do now. I was the one who ran the hoagie sales, candy sales, and THANK GOD, gave out the band uniforms!
Everyone was quite easily able to fit into either one or two sizes, because of the adjustable pants side zipper. The uniforms were numbered, so I was able to size and fit a member quite easily and I just marked down the # of the pants and jacket on a sheet and that was it…
Except for me.
I could not find a pair of pants that fit.
Not.
One.
Oh
my
God!
Not
even
ONE.
And here I am the band secretary, the one who ran the whole thing besides the band director, who was so cool. I kind of wonder if he knew my personal (demon) dilemma and just let me go and find a way to make it work.
So I tried on pants, and then some, and then some. I struggled to fasten those big black clips in the front on top of the traditional vertical zipper, but an unending puff of me, my stomach kept trying to peek through. I tried and, silently cried, uniform closet door closed, and was just desperate to make anything, something fit, because I HAD to be in uniform.
I was desperate, there was NO choice, I HAD to make something fit, so I did. I had to be very creative, I found the largest size they had, opened the side horizontal zipper as far as it would open and then THANK God for diaper pins (do they even make them anymore?), I could pin the one silver end that was supposed to be fastened to the other zipper end and pin it together giving me at least an almost 1 inch additional space, so at least I could breathe and walk (which is required when in a marching band) while playing my trumpet. Thank God again, that I was short, and I mean short, so the bottom edge of the uniform never rose above the creatively fastened together-diaper- pin-waistband.
…and I wonder why I felt the need to write this this morning, when yesterday the pants I wore were LOOSE, but the zipper and black clasps brought me back, way back to my very humble beginnings, of which I hope and pray, I will never face again.
I was a twirler and fit into the tiny sequined costumes. Not much room for an extra anything. I remember one day my senior year, the band director lined us up and said, "I will not have a fat twirling line." Now...
I only weighted 115 pounds, most of the girls did, with the exception of my best friend who weighed 130. She was the one he was talking about (and here I am losing weight to get to 130, ironic). We all had to go out and buy the I can't believe it's a girdle all-in-one to wear under our uniforms.
It's funny how we remember things. I think that was the turning point in how I looked at myself. I always have thought of myself as the fat girl..even at a size 5 then.