It was starting to drizzle when the call came: form up for practice. I carefully assembled my bagpipes, stowed the carrying case and walked out into the rain. We warmed up and tuned our pipes for a few precious minutes before our pipe major motioned us into a circle, where we played a few tunes to an appreciative crowd that had gathered before heading off to the muster area, a small side street next to Centennial Park (the games venue) where about 500 pipers and drummers would soon gather. In a matter of minutes, we were formed into two groups, a necessity because there were so many of us. The call came through and the first group blew up their pipes and marched forward to the cheers of the crowd.
We stood there, in the rain, waiting for our turn. I was in the second row of pipers, near the middle of the group. I checked my lines to either side of me to make sure I was straight with the others and jammed my glengarry firmly on my head in case the wind picked up. Our drum majors, who had been listening to the progress of the first group signalled us to begin playing. The drummers sounded the beat and we pipers struck in our drones. On the order to march, we set smartly forward.
Through the gates and into the park we marched, the smiling crowd cheering us on as we rejoined the first group. The sound was deafening. I kept playing while taking care to keep in time and step with the others. Then came the countermarch, the U-turn maneuver that bands do upon reaching the end of a field. I followed the piper in front of me, quick-turning right at the exact spot he turned and immediately swivelled sideways to allow for the two rivers of pipers streaming on either side of me.
We marched, stopped, played some more then marched off the field still playing strong to the delight of the crowd. We quickly dispersed at the muster area - the massed band event of the Canmore Highland Games had been concluded, as were the games.
I was wet, cold and couldn't stop beaming. What my pipe major had said was true: you felt invincible and ready for anything upon playing the pipes.
That was a good day.
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