MY FAVORITE QUOTES
My Current WoW
The Unexpected Sting of Generosity
As the warm glow of the restaurant's lights bathed our table, laughter and the clinking...
My Drug of Choice
As a nine-year-old, I received a Roy Rogers guitar for Christmas, complete with an instruction...
Burnt Toast
As I sat in my favorite chair in our sunroom, I was mesmerized by the...
Awakening to Life’s Pivotable Moments
Awakening to Life's Pivotal Moments Life has a way of presenting us with crucial crossroads,...
A Journey Through Pages
A Journey Through Pages: From Coal Camp Comics to Audiobook Adventures Picture this: a young...
A Selfless Act of Friendship
One holiday weekend, a dear friend found herself stranded with a flat tire, facing a...
Knowing Your X-Factor
Emily Dickinson said, “Hope is that thing with feathers,” and I agreed with her. I...
🎵 The Magic of Music 🎵
Recently, I stumbled upon an article about the "Magic of Music," and let me tell...
🎋Embracing the Golden Years-A Humorous Reflection🎋
I haven't worried about Monday mornings on Sunday evenings for eighteen glorious years. That's how...
🎋Cherishing The Little Things🎋
🔱I have been guilty of ignoring “the little things” in life. That does not include,...
Guest Missives
🎋Hello Old Friend🎋… by JoAnn
For the past few weeks, I have read how many days are left until Spring...
🎋That’s Not Funny🎋… by JoAnn
I turned on the television today in hopes of easing my boredom. It wasn't as...
🎋Remembering Joy🎋… by JoAnn
I learned through social media a few days ago that a dear old friend had...
🎋Four-Letter Words🎋… by JoAnn
Whenever someone mentions the phrase "four-letter words," it's usually assumed they mean profanity. There seems...
🎋Brain Change🎋
…. Author unknown. My son started school this week. It’s going to be strange...
🎋The Library🎋… by JoAnn
When I began elementary school back in 1968, I loved everything about it. From riding...
🎋Time Lost🎋… by JoAnn
Never in a million years did I think I would be "that" person. The one...
🎋The Bubble🎋… by JoAnn
Have you ever heard the expression that someone is living in their own bubble? I...
🎋Brush Strokes🎋… by JoAnn
I left home today to run errands with only one hour of daylight remaining. I...
🎋Superstitions🎋… by JoAnn
Today is the first of a new month. A friend of mine always posts "Rabbit,...
AS MY WORLD TURNS
My Drug of Choice
As a nine-year-old, I received a Roy Rogers guitar for Christmas, complete with an instruction book. Despite my initial excitement and daily practice, I struggled to make progress. Living in a small coal mining camp of about 50 people, I had no one to turn to for guidance. My school teacher played piano, and my uncle played the fiddle, but neither could help with the guitar. Eventually, the instrument was relegated to the closet, forgotten over time.
Fast forward 45 years, and I was in my mid-fifties, divorced, and with ample free time. An article about dementia prevention caught my attention, suggesting that playing a musical instrument could help reduce the risk. That sparked my motivation to visit local thrift shops, acquire a used guitar, and seek out a teacher.
Learning to Play
Being a self-proclaimed hillbilly, I naturally gravitated towards country music and made this preference clear to my new instructor. For about 18 months, I took lessons, often joking that I had to slide the check under the door before being allowed in. Despite my teacher's apparent need for earmuffs, I persevered and was pleased with my progress. Eventually, I moved to a new city and continued practicing independently.
Guitar Collection
My passion for guitars grew, and at one point, I owned four instruments simultaneously. That led to tension with my wife, who questioned the necessity of multiple guitars. My witty retort comparing guitars to kitchen dishes did not smooth things over. To appease her, I gave my least favorite guitar to a relative interested in learning. However, my wife remained skeptical about my need for more than one instrument.
Electric vs. Acoustic
My favorite guitar is electric, much to my wife's chagrin. She complains about the noise, but I personally enjoy the volume. It may seem counterintuitive for someone my age to prefer loud music, but it is a passion I cannot deny.
The Joy of Music
While my practice schedule has become less consistent, I hope never to quit playing entirely. Music brings immense joy to my life, and I firmly believe that a life without music is like a life without sunshine. The guitar has become more than just an instrument; it is a source of happiness and a way to keep my mind sharp as I age. It is indeed, my drug of choice!
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