Sunday, October 5, 2014

The Night of the Margarita

The year was 2001 and I was invited to teach Angelton High School's Color Guard.  Angelton was located in Angelton, Texas.  The high school was about 45 minutes south of Houston.  Bands in Texas are only permitted to practice so many hours a week outside of school time.  The way we did it in Angelton was to start practice a half-hour to an hour before school started and then to practice through first block.  One night a week we would have practice in the evening, after school at a different high school in town.  The band I was teaching competed in The USSBA and BOA along with the Texas Bandmaster's.  I think you get the idea, and though there are other pieces of this trip and story to share, I will leave it here and tell you about the Margarita.  

Our staff consisted of Andy, Rich, Eric, Susan, Lou, Mike, me, and Steve (who wrote the drill but lived in Ohio).  We also had a guest consultant who worked with the Boston Crusaders the year they made finals for the first time in years, finishing 5th!  I can't remember his name, as he was not around all that much.  The staff often went out together after practice for dinner or after a home football game.  It was a great staff to be a part of for sure as it was always fun - ok maybe not always - but for me it was!  

I was living in Lake Jackson, which was very close to the Gulf of Mexico.  Speaking of Mexico, we had a very large Mexican population in our community and there fore in our band.  I learned quickly that the chain Mexican restaurants were never visited by Mexicans.  Mexicans always ate where the food was authentic.  This one Thursday night, we had practice until about 6 PM.  It had been very hot and humid during practice.  This was sometime in October, so it was hard to believe the 90 degree temperatures and the 80% humidity.  I think all of us were a bit dehydrated and of course hungry.  We had a staff meeting to determine what was next.  What was next was the fact that the real Mexican restaurant was having $1.00 Margarita night.  I was promised that the food was amazing and who could pass up $1.00 Margarita's.  

I remember that I road with Eric and Andy was there too.  I am not sure if the entire staff came or not, I think they did.  We went in and sat at a table and immediately ordered 2 pitchers of Margaritas which were cheap.  The cups they gave us were small paper cups.  I had never ever had a Margarita in my life.  So, being very thirsty, I got my cup and basically pounded the first cup.  It tasted like limeade.  Who wouldn't like a frozen limeade on a very hot day right?  The restaurant was so busy, it took a while to get our food.  Unfortunately the Margarita pitcher seemed to be bottomless.  I am not sure how many of these little cups I had, but suddenly, I was sliding off my chair onto the floor and laughing hysterically at ....... nothing.  Our waitress went by and Eric grabbed her and begged her to bring the food before I was lying on the floor.  My friends thought this was really hilarious that in a very short period of time I was inebriated.  The waitress was obliging and got the food out quickly.  I ate and began to sober up a bit.  The problem was, I had already ponded, maybe 10 of those cups.  When dinner was done, I was back on the planet and could walk, but I was still not in any condition to drive.  Eric had to drive me home, which was fine as by this time I had started staying with him.  
We took a side trip to the pool hall to play a couple games before we went all the way home.  My pool game was always better on that fine line between drunk and sober.  Eric figured I would give him a good game so we played for an hour or so.  The next day I had to get up early and have Eric take me to the restaurant so I could get my car.  

I learned that many little cups are as dangerous as a couple normal size cups.  I learned that Margarita's (frozen ones) do have alcohol in them and though I felt like I was only drinking limeade, I was NOT!  Everything in moderation and the only real liquid to quench your thirst is water!  I am pretty sure my friends had a lot of laughs at my expense, but I didn't know it.  

This was just one of the many stories from my 9 months in Texas.  It was quite an experience to say the least.  But an experience, I will never forget and always be grateful for!

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