Ah "Music".......Now that was my first crush, I remember the day we met. I had been hanging out with this box of watercolors I won in art class when our eyes met across a crowded auditorium. It was all shine and loud noises, A crazy hormone filled time. We were happy together, yes we were.....for years. "Art" would call but I was always so busy with "Music". "Music" and I would see each other every day for hours and my parents didn't mind. My mom would say that "Music" was so much nicer than "Art" so much less mess. "Music" never left marks on my clothing or finger prints on the walls. "Music" was fun and new. "We tried new songs and instruments just learning and creating something special. Sure, I still saw "Art". I had to at school. High school hit and marching band started. It was fun. There was new compositions and cool uniforms but I began to see that there were others who loved "music" too. "Music" was popular. I tried not to be jealous but, cracks had begun to form between us. "Music" began to get into all sorts of things that made me feel a little uncomfortable, bands and big hair, people watching you perform on stage. It didn't like when I would have trouble with timing or difficulty learning new instruments. "Music" wanted the spot light and all the pressure that that requires. Then came the day when "Music" said it was time for us to cement our love in a more lasting way........yes, a bassoon solo. I thought it was too soon. I was 14 for goodness sake. We were too young to even talk like this. I refused. I wanted to save myself for senior year. "Music" pleaded with me, told me I was acting weak and said "If you really love me you would do this" I tried, I really did, but when it came right down to it. I just couldn't perform. "Music" seemed to understand. A week later I saw it talking to a cute trombone player with the same range I had. I knew the score and had seen the notes. I left my band uniform and "In The Mood" sheet music and ran. I never looked back. Music kept the band and I got the records. The next semester I had "Art" in a class I was taking called printmaking. There was something about the way "Art" smelled and looked. "Art had a maturity that was missing before when it was all about the crayons. What can I say. I saw how passionate "Art" was/is and fell deeply in love.
"Music" I hear has been playing with the DAVE MATTHEWS BAND for the past several years I can see that it is happy. I am so glad. We both know we always worked best as friends. "Art" and I have been together ever since and we are happy like that. My husband loves "Music" as much as I love "Art" so we still see each other socially, but it isn't the same.
Post Script........A year ago "Music" sent me a bassoon with a note saying no hard feelings, and my heart felt that old pull again. I talked to "Art" and we decided to take some beautiful photos and perhaps hang them up.
