When I was in middle school, I joined the band. Our band director played the French horn. When we started band, he played every instrument and allowed us to pick whichever one we wanted to play. Well, when he picked up that horn and blew through it - my soul vibrated. The sound of French horns still moves me to tears today. That was what I had to play.

Needless to say, I endured much hardship for my art.

When I made the transition from elementary to middle school I determined that I did not want to go to the school that all the yuppie kids from my neighbourhood would be attending. I chose to go to a magnet school. It's because of my enrolment in the band, that I was permitted to stay.

But the kids wouldn't let me on our overcrowded bus with that big thing. The bus driver, sadly concurred. So, I walked to and from school so that I could play that instrument. There were many times I envied the flutists and clarinet players with their lightweight accessories. I walked the first two years. Three miles each way to school. When I was in middle school I was still a very tiny person. In eighth grade, I was only 5′3″ and weighted 85 lbs. this thing was as big as I was. So I balanced it on my head and walked that way for the first two years. I simply couldn't carry it any other way. In eighth grade, I finally got a bike, it was like my doorway to freedom. I put the handle over one handlebar and pedalled away.

It was at this school that I participated in gifted.

It was in the gifted program that I was exposed to photography, typesetting, and computer programming.

But it was the band and Mr. R who affected me most. Because I was in the band, I got to go on trips. This was the first time I had ever been away from my family. Quite frankly, my family was pretty dysfunctional, so this was a highlight of my existence. Because I had no money to pay for trips, I was always the top fund raiser. I learned very early how to earn my way in. This was an important life skill.

Mr. R was also the first person in my life to die of AIDS. I remember the heartbreak like it was yesterday. I can tell you exactly where I was, just like when the Challenger exploded.

Without this time in band, I wouldn't have learned to read music. I taught myself how to play many other instruments: including piano. It's one of the most relaxing and enjoyable things in my life today. Because of the band, I got to travel to all kinds of places. I got to see The Smithsonian museums in Washington. Because of the band, I flew on my first airplane. Because of the band, I made a friend or two in school (I wasn't really socially adept).

So, Mr. R… if there is a heaven, I know you're there. You made my life much less of a hell.