Its Time

I remember my first introduction to acoustic guitar. I was probably around 7 years old and we had just moved to Stowe, VT where my dad pastored a small church. Our worship leader and his wife would play their guitars (this was before playing guitars for worship was cool and contemporary). I loved to listen and watch them play. Peter Guihan would show me how each string played different notes. He taught me how to read music and eventually how to pick. I learned to read music while struggling to read words in school.

We eventually moved back to York County. I continued to take classical guitar lessons (using an old student guitar bought from a friend) throughout my childhood off and on, as my parents had the ability to invest in them. And when I was a teenager, my parents gave me a very special gift - a classical guitar. It's one of my most prized possessions, even now. Not only is the guitar special, but even the case is, lol! I know that it was a sacrifice for my parents, investing the way that they did in my music education.

My grandpa, a native Tennessean, was a lover of country music - blue grass as well. I absolutely love blue grass! He wanted me to learn how to play the guitar in that style. My Nana loved Spanish guitar music. How I love it too! She wanted me to play in the Spanish music style. But my dad loves classical guitar. And I wanted to be

like my dad, so that's the style I learned and loved. I would play during our worship time some Sunday mornings at church. This was so nerve-wracking for me! One time, my brother, Thom, and I played a duet together - he on his flute and I on my guitar. I remember being so nervous that my left leg kept jumping up and down. It was like my leg had a mind of it's own, I couldn't get it to stop! Thom and I just looked at each other in perplexing horror. I laugh at the memory now, but it definitely was an embarrassing moment at the time. My favorite times of playing were in the quiet safety of my room, with perhaps only my dad listening.

I would play from time to time after I got married, letting the kids strum the strings if they wanted, though they did not take an interest in learning like I did. One time Noel and I played together as she practiced her violin. We video-tapped ourselves and she is just adorable!

It's been almost 11 years since I've played my guitar. I got it out of the case today, took pictures of it, searched for a D string. Maybe, once I can go into a music store (after this quarantine is over and businesses are back open) , I'll buy a new string, put it on, tune it, and play the guitar again.