Varied Talents

You don't often hear words "ukulele" and "bass" used
together. Unless Jim is around..

Musicians are more than mere instrumentalists. Our means of artistic expression are varied.

Here, percussionist Jim Richards introduces Ron Wilder to the intricacies of the bass ukulele.








Ron, too, is more than a musician; we enjoy the graphic artist's work in Leger Lines and now at the reunion.

Ron's portrait of the NMA Board of Directors is in the recent issue of
Leger  Lines. Can you spot the one MU who, you might say, outranks us all?

Not a glitch to be seen.

You know things are going well
when the glitch-count is 0.0.

Like planning a Navy band tour, putting together an NMA reunion involves months of hashing out details and just when you think everything is squared away, six hundred more questions pop up.

But our organizers are up to the task. Today our organizational staff met in the lobby with hotel management to finalize the absolutely last, final, this-is-it details. I am told that zero glitches popped up.

The privileges of seniority

"Back in Unit Band 3, we lashed our upright piano to the
mizzenmast and hauled timpani on our shoulders."

We have no rank in the NMA. We welcome past and present enlisted folk and officers, career MUs and one-hitch wonders.

Still, age confers a certain status.

"Ha ha, it worked."

If you play your cards right and don't press your luck, you can get younger members to do the heavy lifting.

Preparing to get underway

Deb Holl knows what goes where--
she's done this a few times before.

The first thing you'll do when you arrive is sign in in the NMA registration room. So, the first thing our volunteers do is get that room ready for the onslaught of MUs that will start pouring in today.


The registration room is our headquarters. During the reunion, this is where you'll find coffee, schedule changes (on the rehearsal board by the door), merchandise, conversation and the all-important check-in sheet. You check the check-in sheet to check up on who has arrived since the last time you checked the check-in sheet.

Your name tag will be waiting for you.

.

Gettin' ready.

An NMA reunion doesn't just happen. It takes work and a dedicated crew of members and volunteers.

Many of them will be here this morning with our gear. Music stands. Amplifiers. PA equipment. Computers. Percussion gear. Small stores items. Pianos. You name it, they'll bring it.

And MUs will begin pouring in today. With luck, we'll have enough members for a jam session tonight.

And the best news of all: with all the members and equipment coming, you won't have to look at any more of my photographs of empty rooms.

Internal combustion memories.

As the sun sets and I gaze out my window over the Tidewater area, I think about the things I miss about my time here: the friends, the challenges and satisfaction of doing an important job, the excitement of serving in the Navy's capital.

I also think about what I don't miss: