As the high school marching band entered the track after the half-time show, passing the crowd in a seemingly endless line, two abreast, there was a point where the marchers turned their heads while moving and saluted the stadium crowd and using their peripheral vision to maintain a straight line and to see where they were going.

The drum-majors were the last pair to take the track. There was a designated point where my co-drum-major and I knew to snap our salute to the audience and it just happened to be where Mrs. Mrs. Shirley and her daughter, Carole Shirley Boston were seated in their permanent spot. Mrs. Shirley told her daughter, “Darin is saluting me!”

Once I learned that information, I directed my eyes and saluted at Mrs. Shirley.

Mrs. Shirley was a snazzy, beautiful lady with a darling personality, and it was present in her daughter, Carole.  Carole Boston and her husband, Bruce, who had gone to school with my parents, operated the local roller skating rink for many years in Elwood, Indiana. I don’t think our town could have asked for two more caring, attentive community bonus parents during that time. Nearly fifty years later, I still cherish the memories spent at the skating rink and where I looked forward to seeing Mrs. Boston behind the ticket window, smiling, calling nearly every child or teenager by name, and offering that beautiful Shirley smile to each visitor.

I was damned lucky and I am grateful for Mrs. Shirley and Mrs. Boston!

The salutes continue…