Life never ceases to amaze me! At this stage of the game, I am experiencing things I never thought possible. As long as I am learning, I feel really alive. And there are so many ways to learn! Many of you know how important music is to my family, and to me. It is the substance of my roots, and my roots are the substance of much of my music. My sister once told me that my poems were like reading a diary. I think that would be an apt description of my music as well. There are things I may never accomplish, but I definitely think that as long as I can move forward, even by inches, it is worth the effort.
When I began writing music so many lifetimes ago, I never dreamed it would move beyond a handful of songs. Now there is a closet full! When I began recording my songs more than 3 years ago, I never thought it would go beyond ONE! Oh, how it gets in your blood! Four albums later, plus collaboration on a couple of others, and I still don't see the end in sight.
What began as an effort to preserve my hobby, talent, avocation, for the sake of my children and grandchildren, has become a real passion. And I would encourage anyone else who has a passion, to pursue it relentlessly, whether for their own sake, that of their posterity, or whether they might want to start a new career. But first and foremost, do it for the love of doing it! It's cheaper than therapy. Well, maybe not...
Anyway, the results are far better than therapy. After 3 years of recording, I finally reached a point where I could lay myself open enough to take voice lessons. I feel that I owe an apology to my voice coach, however, for every step of progress, it reaffirms how glad I am that I was given the advice to go and do this, and that I actually took that advice, and am trying to make myself over. It's not easy, sometimes it's not pretty, but I owe so much to anyone who has inspired me, ensouraged me, advised me, and suffered through the harsh reality with me. By the time I am at the end of my journey, I will be a different person. In some ways, I hope I will become the person I was born. But I will be very different than the person I became, and am now - "unbecoming". Does ANY of this make sense? Get out there and get after your passion!
