realizations

"You are living the dream my friend," explained Corey Heddon, one of my best friends.
We were talking over the phone about me being a part of one of the best music schools in the country. At the time, I laughed this comment off, not realizing what it meant...

Later that day I was opening a package my Mom had sent me, the first thing I pulled out was an Angel's ralley monkey. This was probably the first "Wow I really moved to Texas" moment I have had. Contemplating my relocation I realized just how big of a dream I am living.
Not only am I involved in a great school, but I am doing what I love, surrounded by great people whom are also living their dream. Right now, I would like to publicly thank the people who have directly made this possible. My mother Lorraine, my father Robert, my step-dad Alton, my sisters Shannon and Alison. My recently deceased grandmother Leonor, my god-mother Aunt Sylvia, Aunt Markie, Grandma Foran. Steve Trapani, for fostering my trombone playing to a point where I could actually do this thing. All of my Family who have given support in my endeavors. My Friends; all of you, especially those who continuously push me to be better; Janine, Corey, Darren, Matt, Casey. I could spend the rest of the night typing a list of everyone I would like to thank and why, but you know who you are and you must know that I am thinking of you too.

"How is living in Texas?" - seems to be a question I can not get away from, not that I mind. I just have not really been sure how to answer it until now. I am approaching two weeks here in the lone-star state, each day has literally been a new adventure. Everyday that I have been here I have done something I have never done before, so in that sense I reckon living in Texas ain't that bad. The people here are really friendly. I can not keep track of how many times I get a wave or hello from someone I have never seen before. Even when I am on my bike, people here just love to honk and wave!
Although the new setting has posed some challenges. In hindsight I realized that I have never had to go out of my way to make friends. Nearly every friend I have is an extension of another friend, allowing me to merely go for the ride on the social scene. Well, that doesn't really work here where I started off not knowing anybody. I definitely had to break out of my So-Cal-shell to make acquaintances. Then turning those acquaintances into friends is even harder.
I am proud to say that I have 6 friends in Denton, TX and I would like you to meet them. Joey, a freshman communication studies major who is a USA Youth Table Tennis Team Member. I saw him playing at the rec. center one day, thought I could give him a run for his money, and challenged him to a game... Bad idea, he beat me 21-2.
Jeremy Tilley is a 3rd year music education student and the tuba section leader of the UNT Green Brigade Marching Band. Jeremy let me crash at his house when I was here for my audition in March. Bryan Fairless and Dale Eldridge are my house mates. They are in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the music fraternity that I joined at CSULB. Dale spends his time dealing poker at the largest Indian Casino in the country. He is also a very talented flute player, the first day I arrived he was playing Bach flute sonatas with piano accompaniment on cd. Sounded awesome. Bryan is a vocal student who recently was accepted to the top choir at the school!
Tess Mattingly is the sweetest girl I have ever met. Making friends with her was somewhat easy due to her out pour of friendliness. She is here, like myself as a first year grad student, yet concentrating in Vocal performance. She hails from The Sunshine State, pretty fitting.
Evan Woods is a devout Christian whom I marched with at The Crossmen in 2006. He lives about 20 minutes away in Lewisville; I am really excited to hang out with him.

I have become thrilled to be in school and living here. Now that classes are starting up and ensembles are under-way I am seeing just what I am in for; an amazing educational experience which is going to boost my capabilities just like steroids boost Manny Ramirez to hit the long ball. If someone told me a year ago that I would be mastering in music at the University of North Texas, I would have laughed. If you ask me now where I think this path is headed, I will probably also laugh, because honestly I don't have a clue. What I DO know is that I made the right decision to seek my masters degree, I made the right decision to come to Denton, and I made the right decision to further my musicianship.

It took about 2 weeks for my brain to arrive in the same place that my body has been at, but now that I am fully here, it is time to shift into high gear. Thank you for reading. I know I am long-winded with this thing, but it is just as much for me as it is for you. Adios amigos
~shane