80-year-old plays in high school band one more time
HART, Mich. — Mary Sue graduated from Hart High School in 1954, as the valedictorian of her class. During her four years of high school, she played the drums in the Hart band, and loved every second of it.
Like most, and Mary Sue is no exception, as the decades pass, many of the high school memories start to fade away.
In June 2014, Mary Sue Carnes was a spectator during Hart’s annual Asparagus Festival Parade. Little did she know that two years later, she’d be marching for her Hart High School alma-mater again as a surprise for her 80th birthday.
“Watching her at that parade, I never realized how much she loved the marching band,” said Kathy Maysick, Mary Sue’s daughter. “It was amazing to watch my mom when the Hart Band marched by us.”
Mary Sue was so excited to see her alma-mater play and march, she started clapping her hands and moving her feet, rekindling many memories of when she marched in parades six decades prior.
“I started videotaping her with my phone because I was amazed at what I was seeing,” said Maysick. “Seeing the band made her so giddy and emotional.”
After the parade concluded, Kathy generated a unique birthday present for her mother’s 80th birthday which, at the time, was still two years off.
“I wanted to see if there was a chance she could march with the Hart Band again,” said Maysick. “I immediately contacted my sister in Texas and said, ‘we need to make this happen for Mom’s 80th.’”
Practice began, and it didn’t take Mary Sue long to come to the conclusion that she might need to play something other than the drums.
“The other drummers were too good, and I didn’t want to mess up,” Mary Sue said. “Plus, the snare drums today are much heavier than they were when I played, and I’m certain I can’t carry one of those for two miles in a parade.”
Mr. Taranko stopped practice and helped Mary Sue decide on a different instrument. She selected one that was much lighter and carried with it some flare.
“I think my instrument to play will be cow bell,” Mary Sue said.
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