...when I was 6 which was my saving grace. At the age of 8 I started learning how to play the clarinet which of course leads to the inevitable – BAND NERD. I was 6 feet tall at the tender age of 13 (we graduated grammar school in size order and I was the last one to graduate), and I entered the high school and basically lived in the band room for the next 4 years. YES, marching band, orchestra, choir. I did it all and I must say, it did not help my social standing. Six foot three plus marching band equals unpopular. I ended up really kind of hating high school. I was teased incessantly, but I knew deep down inside, I was really cool.