Day 29 - Valerie C

Valerie was the head of the sax section and therefore, my leader.  She was a perfect person to have as a role model.  She was really smart and funny and knew how to be in control and flirt.  She also dated Dave Peterson, who was like, one of the hottest guys in band and a drummer.  Of course I looked up to Valerie.

She gave me my first nickname: Amy Jo.  Supposedly, I looked like a girl who graduated the year before with that name.  My first year in band that was my name.  I didn't really fight it, it was kind of liberating.  As the years went by, it became a joke to tell freshmen that was my name.  (It doesn't sound funny now.)  It also was a pretty handy way to see who was actually my friend.  By the time I graduated, there were still people who thought my real name was Amy Jo.