Have you ever had one of those "I'm so excited I can hardly sleep" moments . . . or days . . . or weeks? Yep, I think just about all of us can identify. This was the BIG day! The moment Sara had been waiting for, working toward, and dreaming of . . . her first piping competition at the Highland Games! She declared that she was not nervous, and I believe her . . . because I was nervous for her. : )
I don't think Sara slept a wink the night before. She knew that she needed to have plenty of rest, so during the hour or so drive, she confiscated Allison's music and laid her head down on the seat in a heroic attempt to relax. She might have succeeded in keeping her eyes and mouth closed for a minute, but all of the sudden her eyes would pop open, and she'd be taking up right where she'd left off. So much for the "relaxation" technique. ; )
Don't let her fool you. . . there was no rest for the weary excited. : )
Ahhh . . . just a little feel of Scotland . . . cool, damp air, fog, and all.
Upon arrival, Sara registered and acquired her competition number.
Definitely riding in style! We were thankful that Allison was able to get her new wheelchair just in time for the Games.
As soon as she got her pipes together, she hurried over to check in with the steward at the tent where her competition was to be held. We were pleasantly surprised to find that our aunt and uncle were already there waiting for us. : )
Her piping instructor helped her make sure of the fine tuning,
and soon after Dad and Ray arrived, she was up!
Her cool, calm, and collected manner was one to be admired . . . especially when facing the judge who was in no way making it easy on anyone's nerves.
"Walking the plank" : )
If you would like to watch her competing, just click on the link below.
The best way to learn . . . watching others compete.
Clan tents were lining the field without much of a gap between them.
And they had reenactment tents set up across the gravel road.
Color Guard
The singing of the anthems at the Opening Ceremony.
The honored Chief
And what is happening when and where???
Dad and Ray enjoyed watching the heavy weight sports from the grandstands.
When Sara got her score sheet back, we found that she had gotten 5th place!
Not bad for her 1st competition!
Watching the heavyweights was . . . well . . . as one Dad said to his small son, "It's all in the tattoos." To say the least, they made Ray feel rather anemic. : )
Soon it was time to strike in with the massed bands. One of the pipe bands let Sara jump in with them. What an experience!
Trying to find a needle in a haystack would probably be easier than picking Sara out of a crowd of hundreds and hundreds of pipers. I was thankful when I spotted her on the outside row. Otherwise, pictures would have been impossible!
Just keep your eyes open for the green kilt hose!
See what I mean???
Counter-marching . . .
Allison got a lot of famous signatures on her casts . . .
like Sandy Jones. : )
The hatchet toss . . .
Those judges can make a body nervous!
Ray and I happened upon a jam session in one of the clan tents. We enjoyed reels, jigs, and other traditional selections.
Then we moseyed over to the traditional stage and got to listen to some old Scottish songs.
Maybe it just runs in the veins, but Scottish music is my favorite!
It seemed but a short while after we got there that it was time for the Award Ceremony.
The Chief
Allison was able to get his autograph on her cast! His eyes then lit up and he challenged, "Wanna race?" It wasn't an idle question, either, as he zoomed around the table on his scooter to get in place. The massed bands chose that time to strike in, and Allison had to quickly exit the field before she got trampled by all those kilted bagpipers. Oh, well. That sure would have been a new event in the history of the Highland Games!
Such a full, exciting day must come to a close, and to be honest, we were all whooped . . . and sunburned. And Sara could finally relax. That is, after she had recounted her adventures at least a hundred times. : )
