Find your tribe. How many times have you heard or seen that? I know I’ve seen it plenty of times.
And until this past weekend, I hadn’t found my tribe, or, at least, I thought I hadn’t. I’ve been searching for quite a while now.
Belonging to writing groups
As an author, I belong to a few writing groups on Facebook. I read the posts and sometimes comment if I feel like it.
One of the groups has a conference each year. In fact, it’s this week. I would love to go because it’s in Vegas, but there are several reasons why I won’t. First, of course, it costs quite a bit of money to go. Second, I won’t go some place like that by myself.
One of my other writing groups has a conference every couple of years. The next one is in 2021. I hope I can go because it’s only a couple of hours away. And I have plenty of time to save money.
However, only seeing people every two or three years isn’t quite what I have in mind for my tribe. It’s not the same as seeing someone once a week or even once a month or every couple of months.
To me, your tribe is a group of people you make personal contact with. You meet face-to-face and see them more frequently that once a year. Maybe even get a hug or two and some human touch.
Unless I find local writers, I don’t know if I will ever have a tribe of other writers. I do know there is a local group, but I haven’t checked it out yet.
Maybe it’s time I did. I might even make a new friend or two.
Finding my tribe
This past weekend, I went to my high school marching band alumni reunion. This was something I’ve wanted to organize for a few years, but I didn’t have Facebook or a way of finding people.
Thanks to a younger band member named Brian from when I was on staff, we made it happen—finally. And it’s going to be a group to help support the current marching band, which I’m excited to see.
While not many members from the time I was in band were there, I saw many who were in band when I was on staff for six years. That’s a lot of band members when I think about the band averaged 165 members each year.
As everyone filtered into the large ensemble room of the music suite area at the high school, greetings and hugs were exchanged many times. I don’t think I’ve hugged people as many times as I did in the two hours of the reunion.
But we were excited to see each other and a couple of our former band directors and their wives. While I didn’t take any photos, other alumni did and shared on Facebook.
Before we knew it, our reunion was over. I was sad to see it come to an end. However, some of us did divide into smaller groups and ate dinner together, which was a great time. Or at least, I had a great time hanging out with some members.
When I got home, I realized how much I miss marching band. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something about spending so much time together in the summer and fall and performing a show. Is it because we become like family? Or is it something else?
Perhaps it’s like one alum said in her Facebook post, “Band was my happy place.” April is so right. Marching band made us happy.
If you’ve read my marching band memoirs, you already know how much this group both as a member and staff meant to me. That hasn’t changed, and I don’t think it ever will.
Thinking at home
As I relaxed at home later, I couldn’t stop thinking about the reunion and seeing everyone. I missed the feeling of family that band was.
Then it dawned on me. I’ve already found my tribe. They’ve been there all along.
And I can’t wait until I see my tribe again.