Santeria by Sublime

Before walking down today's memory lane, I decided to make sure I wasn't sharing any secret society-type information.  In fact, the Cal Band Alumni Association's website details it all pretty well.  Too well, actually, and I am not so sure this is a good thing.  Back in my day....I am clearly getting old....there was none of this highly documented, easily accessible wealth of information on the "internet".  The majority of my first month or so in the Cal Band was spent going along for the ride, doing what I was told and going where I was told.  In fact, what made today's memory so special was the element of surprise.  When I received the invitation inviting me to attend the Silent Walk, wearing something dressy (I was dubious about this and thought it might be a mean trick, considering our last "secret" outing involved paint and climbing hills), the Oldmen's lips were sealed and they wouldn't share anything with us, other than it was going to be a special night.  They were right.  Without keeping you in further suspense, here goes. 

The Silent Walk was held the evening after the first show at the first home game.  Tonight's memory actually took place during my Senior year.  I felt super sophisticated, first of all, being a senior, and second of all because I was wearing an outfit that I had purchased in Barcelona.  It was this lacy, strappy, barely there, top with some light grey slacks.  I probably also had my gorgeous suede, belted jacket with a faux fur collar.  I was obsessed with it.  The Oldmen's role during the Silent Walk is to meet at Memorial Stadium.  The Newmen are already in a circle and we file around them.  They turn around to see us and we then pin them, making them official members of the Band.  It is pretty special for both sides.  Following the pinning, we watch the footage of the show and then attend the first big party of the season.  My Newman year was at the Greek Theater which cannot be topped, but that was not repeated during my tenure.  Senior year we went up to TH to dance, drink, carry out traditions, and celebrate the night away. 

Now I had been away for an entire year and while I may have been wearing a very Barcelona outfit, I had also lost out on a year of American culture and of course, all the events of the prior year in the Cal Band.   A fun song came on and my dear friend Marek A invited me out to the dance floor.  He explained that it was Sublime, THE band of the year.  He just couldn't believe I had never heard them.  I had a lot of catching up to do.