On Saturday, 27 September, my high school classmates, spouses, and children gathered for our 67th annual reunion at The Inn at Fulton Harbor on the Gulf coast of Texas, near my hometown, Sinton, where we grew up. We are the SHS Class of 1958.
First, we had supper at the Butter Churn Restaurant in nearby Aransas Pass, and then we reassembled in the meeting room at the Inn, where some people simply talked while others solved a jig-saw puzzle. And for the third such reunion (2022, 2023, and 2025), I performed a short trumpet show–afterwards, one classmate shouted, “It keeps us young!”
I brought my Jupiter Pocket trumpet so that I could practice on the beach or in a local park or in the condo where we regularly stay. When I practice indoors, I use my Japanese-made Best Brass practice mute so I won’t disturb anyone. When I practice outdoors, I let ‘er rip (see photos below).
Each year, I open the show with our school alma mater and fight song. This year is the 100th anniversary of our alma mater, “Maroon and White” (see photo left). Daniel E. Sharp, Sr. wrote it in 1925, and one of his sons, Mike, came to this reunion and spoke about his Dad and their musical family.
In between these three core pieces, I entertain with a few songs and jokes. In 2022, I played “When I’m 64” and “What a Wonderful World.” In 2023, I played, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and “Dream a Little Dream of Me.” (My wife and I did not attend in 2024.)
This year, I chose a hit song from each year that we were in high school, fall of 1954 to spring of 1958. The five in-between pieces were “That’s Amore” (’54), “Rock Around the Clock” (’55), “Blue Suede Shoes” (’56), “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter” (’57), and “Splish Splash” (’58).
Before I close with either “God Bless America” or “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” we stand with hands over our hearts, facing the USA flag, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, as we did beside our desks each morning in Grammar School (grades 1-8).
I pass out the lyrics to all the songs and invite my classmates to sing along as I play. As the songs remind us of our school years, we interact with each other, take group pictures and videos, tell stories, remember our friends, reminisce about things we did, what we wore, where we went, who our teachers were, and such. It’s fun, and they’ve invited me to do it again next year, God willing–we’re all about 85 years old! Many of our absentee classmates would like to come but simply can’t make the trip anymore.
Years ago, the high school building where we attended was replaced by a much larger and nicer one. But now, it also has been superseded by a new, even bigger group of buildings, athletic fields, gymnasium, and tennis courts, and this year is the first that students are attending classes in it (see photos below). The buildings are sized for enrollment growth. I visited with the long-time band director, Mr. Robert Flores. (He kindly lends me a music stand for my reunion shows.) He showed me the new, first-class Performing Arts Center, including the huge band room with surrounding practice rooms, and a very large percussion room. The magnificent theater seats a thousand. For perspective, just think–my class graduated about 77 kids.
Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
![FlagDay 2014 - 66[1]](https://glennstrumpetnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/flagday-2014-661-1.jpg?w=300)
success, and “I’ve Got the World on a String” expresses our achievements of the same. But then, “Stormy Weather” expresses our feelings of failure and depression, while “Make Someone Happy” answers the question of how to make those Over-the-Rainbow dreams come true—love. For caring for babies, those helpless, totally dependent creatures we conceived, “Summertime” says it best.
For thinking about retirement, I chose “When I’m Sixty-Four.” For feeling gratitude, I played “God Bless America.” For summing up our lives, I played the lovely, precious “What a Wonderful World,” and then finished with this earnest farewell, “Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas.”
current year or 55 or older and disabled. The minimum lease term is 6 months, if available, but leases are generally for 12 months. The units are 1- and 2-bedroom size. Certain units have washer/dryer hookups and reserved garage parking. However, you need not own a car to live here. If you qualify, you can join SHAG’s Nissan Leaf Program and drive a so-called “company car.” Many SHAG residents contract with in-home care providers for housekeeping and medical help.
Glenn's Trumpet Notes 