“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 746 (Friday) – marching on

It was another deathly quiet and empty day in the office. In addition to colleagues scheduled to be working remotely, a couple were volunteering for the Belle of the Ball Boutique Day event setup. For the first hour, two of us didn’t know there was a third colleague silently toiling on the other side of the suite. When I traversed to the far side of the floor for instant hot water for my instant oatmeal, we learned we were three for the day.

The usual street cacophony of sirens, car horns, and thumping bass carries through the air with regularity, and is especially clear when the office is nearly abandoned and silent. Shortly before 1:00, the street sounds took on a new tone with the possibly imagined sound of marching band drums, and I leapt from my chair to look out the window.

There was, indeed, a marching band making its way down the sidewalk on Merrimack Street from the area of City Hall and JFK Plaza. My phone (aka the camera that takes the occasional call) was still on my desk and there was a quick sprint back to grab it, then back to the window, then to another window and over to yet another, trying to puzzle out the random appearance of the band and how to grab a photo. Of course, the best angle was the one missed before the camera was in hand.

Friday marching band.

The colors of the uniform were those of Lowell High School. The band turned the corner onto Kirk Street in the direction of the high school, confirming the guess. While the drumming indicated a band, the marching formation needed work, but it seemed the group was returning from its performance and not in the midst of it. 

We later learned it is Greek Independence Day and there was a flag raising at City Hall and suddenly, the midday appearance of a marching band made sense. If only the dots connected as easily with all of life’s little events, and every Friday featured a marching band.