As October 16th draws to a close, I look back on the last year and wonder how I got through everything.  Around 2:30 am on this day one year ago, the Marching Cardinals, from Chippewa Falls Senior High School, in Chippewa Falls, WI, suffered a most devistating loss. The lead bus in a caravan of 4 struck an over-turned semi trailer, completely obliterating the first 3 seats in the bus. 5 people very near and dear to us, were killed by a reckless semi driver who walked away with nothing but scratches, whereas we went for days not knowing if those that were still in the hospital would live or not, the assistant band director,"C" was nearly paralysed, and my best friend nearly died later on from a blood clot in her leg.  
Personally I am not a band member, but I am a member of the music department, and no matter how much people want to say it doesn't effect those of us that aren't in band, the loss we endured will be a hole in all of our hearts for a very long time.  
59 minutes left to today,  and I've spent the last hour with friends at the grave site of our band director "G", his wife, Therese and their granddaughter, Morgan; we lit candles, sang the marching band's song and remembered the funny things "G" did to, or with us.  This is how most of the day went, our assistant band director, came on over the PA and told a series of I Remember's from that night, and the weeks and months that followed.  Today was a milestone, the kind that gets thrown at you wheather you want it or not.  "C" said something great today, " Just because it's been a year, doesn't mean it's the end.  For some it's just the beginning."
I've never agreed with anything more in my life.