There are many things I wish I knew how to do.
Some are unrealistically
philosophical—end world hunger, poverty, and homelessness.
Others are frivolous and
shallow—eat only junk food and remain ridiculously healthy and drink all the
wine I want and not ruin my liver.
But to answer seriously, I came up with five things I really and truly wish I knew how to do. Here are the four runners-up:
- fly a helicopter
- speak a language other than English fluently
- paint/sculpt and have it be recognizable as ‘something’
- draw better than pathetic-looking stick figures.
The Number One thing I
wish I knew how to do is play the piano.
I was nine years old when I first started taking organ and piano
lessons. Those lessons, collectively, ended up being as successful as teaching
a pig to sing. It was mostly a waste of time, and it annoyed the daylights out of me
and the teachers.
But I persevered. I was 14 when I took guitar lessons. I did manage to learn to chord enough to strum in rhythm with the country music songs I played on my record player.
And all along, I knew what
the problem was.
I couldn’t read music.
I was, however, probably able to
elevate the blood pressure of all of those worthy music teachers in their
valiant efforts to teach me to read music.
I’m forever grateful that my musically talented maternal grandpa taught me to play the harmonica by ear. At least I have that little bit of musical skill.
Here's 45 seconds of me playing the harmonica.
This is my harmonica. Someday I'll buy a new one... Someday when I feel like $200 for a new harmonica isn't a frivolous purchase, when the one I have works just fine. ;-)
Are you musically talented? Anyone play the harmonica? What is something you wish you knew how to do?
Until next time,
Kaye Spencer
writing through history one romance upon
a time
*Images:
© Can Stock Photo / KathyGold (girl wishing upon a star)
© Can Stock Photo / balaikin (girl at piano)
Great harmonica skills. With talent like that you don't need to be able to read music. I wouldn't let that get me down. There are many professional musicians who don't read music. I wish I could paint and draw.
ReplyDeleteHA HA Thanks. I recently discovered several musicians who don't read music. Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Eddie Van Halen, Paul McCartney, Irving Berlin, and many others. I find that absolutely fascinating.
DeleteI enjoyed listening to you playing Red River Valley on your harmonica. I've never learned to play it nor ever had one. When I was ten I used to walk across the field to the neighbor for piano lessons and I took the Conservatory lessons for several years. However I missed out on the natural talent of my relatives because I never had that "rhythm" and was too stiff. But I did play at socials at our community one-room school house, but always came in second to Kathy who had that natural rhythm. My mom sold my beautiful piano without telling me and it upset me because I loved it. She never learned to play it so felt it was a useless piece of furniture. I always envied how well Joanne played the piano on Lawrence Welk, and then there's Jerry Lee Lewis. There are still lots of things I'd like to do, but I'm content now because four years ago I made my dream come true by having my trilogy published by PRP. This proves it's never too late to follow one's dreams.
ReplyDeleteI grew up watching Lawrence Welk, too. Joanne was so fun to watch. She made her piano rock. As an adult, I wanted to learn to play piano, because I wanted to play Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata'. I bought a second hand piano and all sorts of dvds and such as "Teach yourself to play the piano in 10 easy lessons" (something like that) to watching hours and hours of YouTube videos. It was a nifty hobby and distraction for several months, and I ultimately abandoned it. sigh
DeleteOur wishes are very similar. I wish I could fly a car. That's kinda close. I've always wanted that flying car we were promised we'd have by now when we were kids. LOL! I have always wanted to draw and paint. One of these days... I was forced into those dreaded piano lessons, too. All I wanted was to be outside playing with my brothers. I didn't learn to read music until much later. I played a decent saxophone, but that talent is long gone. I did buy James a harmonica last summer because a neighbor kid was playing one each evening as we sat on the porch listening. James was talking about retiring and learning to play. I think he played a couple notes, said it was cool, and took on another job. LOL!
ReplyDeleteOooh... flying cars. YES! haha I can't even make a Paint-by-Number picture look...well...like the picture. My drawing is awful. I scrawl out one-dimensional and ugly cats, pigs, and horses.
DeleteLovely harmonica, Kaye and what a portable instrument! I enjoyed yourpiece very much - found my feet tapping along.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
I wish I had a talent for languages.
Lindsay,
DeleteTalent for languages>>> Yes. I know a smattering of Spanish and German. I just don't have the 'ear' for learning another language.
Wayyyyyyyy back in 5th grade, my friend and I played a flute/harmonica duet of the American ballad "Shenandoah". Our teacher and classmates liked it so much, we played at a school concert later in the year. I wish I had a recording of that, but that was back in the days when even a video recording was rarely done.
Harmonica, you nailed it. I confess, I've learned most of what I wanted to learn. I played piano, loved it. I'm doing art now, took ground pilots training, but then decided I really didn't want to fly. (Learning Spanish now). All comes from my parents saying I could do anything and 'no' wasn't in my vocabulary. I just keep hacking away. With practice my stick figures are coming along. LOL. Loved this post. Doris
ReplyDeleteDoris,
DeleteThanks! I did take flying (airplane) lessons a good many years ago, but what I really wanted to do was fly a helicopter. I did learn a functional amount of Spanish with a course called Command Spanish, Inc. It would have been a good 15-20 years ago. www.commandspanish.com Sadly, there is no hope for my stick figures. ha Thanks for stopping in.
Kaye, I'm late to the party, but I love your blog. Made me think about what the things are I wish I could do. I always wished I could be an artist of some kind, too. I loved to color and still do--but that's because the things I'm coloring are already DRAWN for me. LOL My mom and both my kids are very artistic, but sadly it skipped a generation.
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to play the harmonica! You did a great job!!!! I love hearing the harmonica and now (though others might disagree) I don't think I have enough wind left. LOL But I do play the piano, and do read music. My mom always wanted to play but of course that was impossible in the time/place where she grew up. She never read music, but she was a wonderful vocalist. I love your list of things you wish you could do, though, especially flying a helicopter! That would be fun to learn.
Cheryl,
DeleteI'm typically late to my own parties, so no worries. hahaha
The extent of my reading music ability is 1) FACE and EGBDF, 2) recognizing the note symbols and able to name them (quarter note, etc.), 3) know treble clef symbol from a bass clef symbol, 4) understand other notations such as fermata, pianissimo, and all that, but all of these are in isolation. I can't put them together. I know reading music is like reading a book and that those who can read music hear the music in their heads. That is freaking amazing to me...maybe even witchcraft. hahahaha
My maternal grandpa was musically and artistically talented, and two of my three kids plus two grandkids are artistically talented.
But I'm the only one who plays the harmonica.
Thanks for stopping in!
Really enjoyed your harmonica piece and your post. Like Doris, I've at least tried most everything I wanted to to. Now, I'm learning to speak Danish, but doubt I'll be conversational before I go to Denmark this year. (Hopefully, COVID won't cause the trip to be postponed again, as traveling to the land of my ancestors is something I've long wanted to do.)
ReplyDeleteAnn,
DeleteHow fabulous is that to take a trip to the land of your ancestors. Practically a dream come true. Do you have relatives in Denmark that you'll visit?
I had my TL a little more than a year ago when my third child was born via c-section. I was not told ANYTHING about the possible side effects of having this procedure. Since then I have experienced heavy bleeding lasting sometimes 3 weeks out of the month, weight gain, severe mood swings. Severe cramping, changes to my libido, severe depression accompanied by suicidal thoughts, headaches, migraines, many new symptoms & older issues are now exacerbated. The father of two of my children doesn't want me anymore. I've become too much of a pain in the ass I guess. We don't talk. We don't sleep in the same bed. I think he might really think I am crazy... & maybe I am. I feel crazy a lot of the time.
ReplyDeleteI'm unpredictable. I feel so angry about the whole thing & now what was once a mild fear of doctors has exploded into full on white coat syndrome that causes me to have a panic attack/hypertensive emergency (severe increase in blood pressure) whenever I have to deal with them. I'm not sure what to do... I fear the next time I have to see a doctor I'll have a stroke or a heart attack from the stress & anxiety of it... what do I do? I take my time and keep searching on internet looking for natural healing that how I came across Dr Itua herbal center website and I was so excited when Dr Itua told me to calm down that he will help me with his natural remedy I put my hope on him so I purchase his herbal medicines which was shipped to my address I used it as prescribed guess what? I'm totally healed my cramp pain is gone completely I also used his Anti Bacteria herbal medicines it's works for me very well I want anyone with health problem to contact Dr Itua herbal center for any kind diseases remedies such as Parkinson, Herpes, ALS, MS, Diabetes, Hepatitis, Hiv/Aids,Cancers, Men & Women Infertility, I got his email address drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com he has any kind of herbal remedies for women & men also for our babes. I really miss my Hunni...he's a fantastic father & a good man. He doesn't deserve this. I feel like an empty shell of who I used to be...www.drituaherbalcenter.com