Congratulations to contest winner Kelly Morris (comment #14).

July is a month filled with fireworks and patriotic fervor. There is nothing like listening to a stirring rendition of The Stars and Stripes Forever to bring a tear to one's eye. That song makes me tear up too, but only because it brings back long forgotten memories of high school band. Memories I would prefer stay buried forever.

I was lured into joining the marching band by the promise it would turn me into a cool kid. I have no idea why I thought donning an oversized navy jacket with gargantuan gold epaulets and a military cap whose visor covered my face would increase my popularity. I didn't even play an instrument other than the piano. But evidently all those years spent whacking my little brother on the head with my tinker toys had prepared me for future stardom. I became the glockenspielist.

For those of you unfamiliar with a glockenspiel, it weighs slightly less than a Honda Civic. In those days, you strapped the vertical metal keyboard to your chest. Back then, it was the only thing sprouting from my chest and I couldn't wait to strut my stuff at the first football game of the season.

Injuries normally occur during a game, not during the half time show. But surely I can't be the only person to walk into a goal post during a half-time show? If I hadn't dragged half the band down with me, no one might even have noticed.

After that ignominious outing, I decided marching band was not my forte. I would concentrate on honing my skills with other percussion instruments. With no goal posts in sight, the band leader decided it was safe to assign me a solo for the annual Christmas program.

My first solo. It consisted of one soaring note on the chimes that would ring throughout the auditorium.  I was ecstatic. At last, my football mishap would be forgotten.

The night of the holiday concert arrived. The orchestra played loudly and skillfully. Then the music stopped. The audience held their breath and waited in silence. I took my mighty hammer and…THWACK!

The room rang with the sound of my mallet missing the aforesaid chimes which was immediately followed by the more subdued thwack of the band leader hitting his head against the wall.

The moral of this melodic tale is that adversity can help you become a better person. Or provide tons of material for your blog.

Leave a comment by July 20th about one of YOUR most embarrassing high school or college moments, and you'll be entered in a contest to win a $20 iTunes gift card which can be used to reminisce about some musical memories of your own.