Midwest Clinic – Day 2
On the final day of my journey to the Midwest Clinic, this morning I went to one more clinic, saw the US Air Force Airmen of Note, walked through the exhibit hall one more time and visited with Drew Farmer and MSC again, and closed the day watching Keith Brion and his New Sousa Band. Their version of Stars and Stripes Forever was simply breathtaking.
In between, I did a 6 hour whirlwind tour of Chicago taking the train to all three of the things that I wanted to see; the Willis Tower (Sears Tower), Wrigley Field, and “the bean” in Millennium Park. Would you just happen to guess that they are working and constructing around Wrigley Field so some of the views were not great. Still, I had lunch there and I found the neighborhood to be quite neat. Being a fan of the National Pastime that I am, that trip was necessary. The Willis Tower was interesting as there is a glass outcropping that juts out on the 103rd floor. That was a weird feeling looking down. I walked through Millennium Park and through Grant Park as well so I walked a pretty good distance today. Chicago is not the easiest city to walk around but the trains are interesting and they do get you to where you need to go. It was definitely cold today and I did see a few snow flurries but not enough to even get a good picture. The New Sousa Band was a great way to end it.
The inevitable comparison between Midwest and TMEA comes up now and then. Both are terrific and being from Texas, I will say that the TMEA convention is equal to Midwest as far as clinics and performances. But, if you have the time and the means to do this, Midwest is something you need to experience at least once, if for nothing else, to see how everybody else does it. Mind you, it took me 25 years.
Anyway, back to Houston tomorrow and a probable wrap up.
