“Let the Music Play”

Now I know what you're thinking, who’s that ladies man-like guy in the center of his own HS Dance Team, why that’s me, “Ethan Stranger”, this happened on my 18th B-Day, to be honest, it was one of the happiest moments in my entire school life. However, you might ask yourself, how did somebody like me befriend these ladies & why, well no need to ask anymore questions, for I, “Ethan Stranger”, will provide with you all the answers (there’s a lot to tell, so just bare with me).

It all started back during my High School years (2011-2015), I was with the Band, however, my freshman year of High School didn’t go too well for me, I felt like everything was falling apart around me (and I didn’t know any better): I failed Math 3 times, this led me to be ineligible to be apart of the UIL Competition in Fall 2011, when the eligible students return, the news spread like wildfire, for our band had won UIL & everybody was donning big shining gold medals...except for me. My English Teacher (Coach Q, who happened to be a football coach) was just the worst, and me being very shy and insecure at the time didn't actually help at all. As I mentioned in my “High School Memories: Teachers” Post, multiple emotions were going through my mind once I entered High School - fear, concern, happiness, confusion, frustration and even anger - which were difficult to identify and manage at the time, mainly because some of them were completely different from the other & felt unsure about how the High School teachers were gonna be, they were more demanding and less flexible than the ones I was used to seeing back during both my Middle and Elementary years and this really scared me. As you can tell I haven’t met any of the celebs (the dance team in the picture above)... yet.

When Sophomore year rolled around, I finally had gotten the hang of High School life, as well as slowly began meeting the Celebs (including the Celeb Teacher, which we called D because it was her preferred nickname), my High School Crush (whom I mentioned in my “High School Crushes: Preparing for Love”), she was friends with 2 members of the Celebs Dance team, D had developed a crush on the “Band Director, Mr. C”. I was invited to have lunch in D’s office not by a Celeb member, but by a member of the Cheerleading squad (whom I also had a crush on at the time), I also developed feelings for one of the Celeb members (though it was never gonna work, for mainly she had a boyfriend at the time & she was a vegan). I was beginning to realize that in some ways I was different to others, but I wasn't sure back then if it was a good thing or a bad one, in time, I would learn that it was something positive.

When Junior year rolled around, my High School crush (the one from my “High School Crushes: Preparing for Love” post) had moved to another school, I was thinking of quitting the band so I could get a chance to hang out with her more (though that didn’t happen), besides I was getting tired of band, for it was always the same old same old thing (but my time in the band is another story). Also, Mr. C had left for another school (for he had broken up with D, for he wasn’t fatherly material around her 2 sons, but they still remained good friends). As for the Band, we would practice/exercise outside on a blacktop, while in the scorching sun with only 1 min water breaks. In comparison, The Celebs would also practice, though inside with air conditioning  & were awarded with applause for their hard work, unlike us band people (like me) who marched for hours in the hot sun, with only 1 min water breaks...

To get away from the stress of Band, I would meet up with the Celebs during our 1-hour lunch break (during our summer rehearsals). When School finally began, I would regularly pop in before heading off to class, saying hi to D & entertaining The Celebs following their morning rehearsals, I would like to consider myself to be like “Marvel’s The Beast”, who was quite the Party Animal Entertainer (Like Me)...    

It was a good time to introduce myself properly to the other members of the Celeb team (one of whom happened to be in my 4th Grade Class back in my elementary years), I would get their “School Emails”, where I would write to them (which was another way to get to know each other better). On Valentine's Day of 2014, I made Valentine Cards for all of them (including D). When their Spring Show was just around the corner, I got the chance to be in their show - as tradition, the celebs invite several random school guys to dance in their show (as somewhat of a parody & also to have fun, it’s called “Guys Dance”), so I decided to join for the fun of it. I also took this chance to convenience D in doing several of my “Music Ideas” for the show, even passed the word on the Celebs, it was “Mel Brooks’s The Producers all over again” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaK-Ex38g4c&ab_channel=NathanLane-Topic).

However, it didn’t work out too well, several of my music ideas were considered to be old-school & not every Celeb was fully on board with my ideas (even D), plus they’ve already mapped out their kind of music they wanted in the show, even so, I still participated in the Guys Dance (even invited my High School Crush), gotta say, I had a great time, bonded with the guys & of course the Celebs.

Senior Year would be the last time I hung out with the Celebs, so I thought I would make it count. To my surprise, they threw me a little birthday on my 18th B-Day (even played the “Happy Song”). They gave me goodies & a special t-shirt (which was one of a kind). I also watched their Little Fall Show, where I gave out flowers to their Captain (whom I had a crush on at the time, however, later, I came to learn it was all just another beautiful Friendship, like Cap & Diamondback all over again).

Once again I would attend their Spring Show, as part of their Guys Dance & attempted to suggest ideas & songs, but once again, they all said no.

Following High School Graduation & a 2-year stay in Kathmandu, I would frequently visit my High School (mainly the Dance Room), often had chats with D (she even remembered my B-Day & made me a handmade B-Day Card for my 21st B-Day). Unfortunately, visits came to an end due to my cousin about to attend my high school soon & that D tragically passed away after a “2-year battle with Colon Cancer (2016-2018)”, every Celeb I knew (even myself) were all heartbroken from this news.

From the time I spent with the Celebs, it was one helluva of a ride, I guess being around them helped me be more open to other people (especially since at the time, I felt like Band was making me like one of them Battle Droids from Star Wars, got sick & tired from all the pressure I was suffering & especially how the Trumpet Section always had a “Military Theme every year”, which really bored/stressed me out), so being with the celebs allow me to be loose, free & not having to worry about overstressing, they liked to joke more & so did I. Looking back, they not only gave me a place to be friendly & to meet new people, but they also helped me learn that I can be myself with others and that it's ok to be who we are. Naturally, they also helped me polish some of the rusty social tools I had at the time!

Lastly, I just want to say: Thank you D, for letting me be a part of the Celebrity Dance Family as well as being a good friend, you & The Celebs really helped me during High School years, You can now Rest in Peace now, for you are joined with “Black Panther actor, Chadwick Boseman (who also passed away from Colon Cancer as well)”, but as Queen Angela would say “Take Care of Each Other...In Heaven”, God Bless Y’all.

Well (Sigh) Ethan Stranger signs off & encourages others to “Let the Music Play”, be yourself and try to learn as much as you can from others, we're all in this together!

So remember, even when you feel like you’re alone, you never really are, for often, just around the corner, destiny can lend you a helping hand (or a whole dance team!).

I’m also proud of a Celeb Friend of Mine who started her own Cooking Blog & she really likes my Blog too (Heck, I Love My Celebrities...All of Them).