Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?

I was in 4th grade and got a Gemeinhardt flute and thought it was the prettiest thing I had ever seen!

It lead to a life of writing and playing music, being rifle and flag captain on a competition-winning marching band, a feeling of achievement and even a year of free college- and the Navy band director coming to my school to try to recruit me 3 years in a row. I told him if he could get me out of basic training I’m his lol. I knew he couldn’t of course.

Flash forward a year, I went to college a year then decided to change my major and also moved 3 states away. I joined the band for fun. On the third day, in the middle of a song the director cut us off, pointed at me and said “I told you I’d get you!”. Confused for a split second, I caught on and replied “Yeah, but I’m not in the Navy!”

I also got picked in high school for the national McDonald’s parade (3 weeks in CA) but my town was too poor to send me! I was #1 in my state on my instrument most years even without private lessons. It taught me to take pride in something, work hard, and enjoy it all the way.

The flute was the wrong instrument for me, but we had to pick when I was in fourth grade.

What became of it? Crying, I traded it in on a solid silver head joint, silver plated body, open-holed, low-B key Gemeinhardt in 8th grade.

I still remember learning “Windy”, the first song I ever played.

I’m also highly attached to and still have the copy of “The Brothers Lionheart” book a 3rd grade friend in Allentown PA gave me before she had to move home to Denmark.

I can’t wait to see your answers!