AND NOW A WORD FROM A GHBOB ALUMNI VOLUNTEER

As part of our "30 Day Volunteer Blitz", GHBOB asked former GHBOB parent volunteers to share their memories of what they liked best about volunteering for GHBOB. Eric Schweinhagen, father of Olivia (GHHS Class of 2022), did not disappoint.
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Sorry it's taken me so long to reply. I guess it's still difficult to accept my story as being mine. Even after these couple of years it feels like it happened to someone else — like in a movie.

I could not dance. Not a lick. Nothing. I brought shame to my family.

My wife and daughter discussed what to do with me, and the options included asking me to leave our home altogether.

But my daughter was a trombone player (HOLLAH, LOW BRASS!) in the Grandview Heights Marching Band, and as it turned out that's what saved me.

My first time volunteering in the concession stand at a football game would be the moment that altered the trajectory of my life. I worked in the back, making sure the front line had everything they needed: hotdogs, pizza, beverages, candy. Fitting, I'd 

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thought at the time, that I be relegated to the back, out of sight. An embarrassment. Always.

There's a rush of folks at every game night, as the crowd scrambles to get snacks before the band begins its halftime show. We'd just gotten through it, when I noticed a hotdog bun had fallen to the floor, as I bent down to pick it up, I lifted my head to find I was staring straight into the eyes of both Dot Keil and Julie Rutter, who had also gone to retrieve the bun. I stepped back quickly as we nearly bonked heads, and as I did so, they both smiled at me in a way I'd not been smiled at since my own days in high school band. The looks in their eyes were filled with hope for me. Something in my backstep, I'd later learn, led them to believe I had the grace of a dancer.

After the game we sat on the floor of the concession stand, holding hands as I poured out my soul. They never faltered or showed me the slightest bit of doubt.

They were about to teach me how to dance. That line catches in my throat to this day, as I'm moved to tears.

Over the rest of the season the three of us met in the concession stand to volunteer every Friday night. Afterwards we would gather in the dimly-lit back, practicing dance moves in the warm mist of the hotdog water.

I can't tell you how my confidence began to soar. Not only did I start to better know my own awkward legs, my smile became contagious. With each week I steadily worked my way towards the front of the concession stand, where finally, at the last home game of the season I manned the cash register, where my quiet but solid nodding and hip-swaying drew huge crowds of delighted customers. I'd pirouette making change, and do the grapevine handing out boxes of popcorn.

There was a moment that night when everything seemed to stop, time slowing or even freezing as I spun in place. As I turned to the back of the concession stand I caught Dot and Julie, eyes twinkling and blinking back proud tears. Then, as I finished my spin, raising both hands with finger-guns pointed to the crowd, my wife's face came into sharp focus. She'd never gazed at me with such adoration. The crowd parted as she made her way towards me. She took a step to her left and revealed that my daughter, trombone raised to the sky, was dancing her way to me, her face filled with pride.

Joyful pandemonium ensued, as a spontaneous dance party filled the stadium, all to the sounds of the marching band. Eventually the football game was cancelled as we continued flooding the field with the joy of dance.

That was several years ago. I've since become an influencer with tens of followers, as well as an honorary member of the Jolly Steppers. But all the success in the world doesn't compare to the respect and love of my family.

Will volunteering with the GHBOB have as great an impact on your life as it did mine? Yes. Yes it will. And I envy you that journey.
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We can't promise we'll change your life quite as much as we changed Eric's, but we sure will try.

Think you can help? Got more questions? Comment below, or send us an email at GrandviewHeightsBOB (at gmail.com). And please plan to join us on FEB 29 at 7PM at the GRANDVIEW THEATER to learn more!
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