~ Another First Experience; Falling Back Into The Grind ~

  I was late. By only two minutes, mind you, but late none the less. I wasn't panicking though. All that mattered was that I arrived at the school bathed, clothed, well rested, and ready; save for my makeup being half done but I could finish it on the way if I needed to. I brushed my still-damp-hair neatly into its required ponytail, borrowed hair spray from Edith because hair product completely slipped my mind, started finishing my mascara but never got to finish putting on my lipstick for the usual reasons, etc. Today was just another day spent with the guard; with the exception that it was Junior Varsity's first competition, of course. Mustn't forget that little detail, however major it might be to most of J.V. since most of them are new to color guard itself.
  "Back Into the grind again. Stretch, stretch, get a good warm up. Now spin my flag; down, up, down, up, toss and turn around. WAIT!… No, not a smart idea… Back to drop spins! Down and up, down, up, now double time down, flat, up, flat. Have to remember not to let my eyes wander. We are above everyone, but above no one in the sense that we just want to have a great performance. Gotta spin, spin, gotta spin. Is my makeup still pretty? Better not touch my face,
lest I mess up my make up." My mind was yapping away one minute and counting off my work the next. How I wished it would shut up and give me just a moment's peace. "Rant rant rant, that's all you do; Just stop." I muttered to myself. I didn't care if I appeared mentally unstable in any degree, but- "I should probably stop talking to myself"
  Our props had gone for a flight, earlier that day; I wondered if they had fun jumping, soaring, floating off the truck. The time went by so fast. The judges gave us the okay to start, the music began playing and -BLINK!- it was over.