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)
