News Taffy

Where has my summer gone? It is hard to believe that it’s the end of August already. I have spent all of August traveling which sounded like a fabulous idea in January. Now that the month is almost over, I’m going to tell you that I am ready to get home to New York City. Living out of a bag for weeks on end is overrated. Don’t get me wrong, I love to travel. However, my month long streak has me worn ragged.

Part of August was spent back in Jonesboro. As you’d expect a lot of my time was consumed catching up with my family. I did manage however to squeeze in a little, fun alone time (an hour to be precise) for myself. It didn’t start out as alone time, but with a little planning that is how it shaped up.

You see, back in June I bought Corbin a ukulele. When I gave it to him, I explained that we would take some lessons so he could learn how to play it He was excited! When we arrived in Jonesboro, I called Back Beat Music and signed him up for a few lessons.

While Corbin was taking his lesson, I hung out in the shop and started playing on the keyboards and strumming the guitars. I’ve played the piano since I was in the second grade. I truly love to play the piano and don’t do it enough anymore. The main reason I don’t play much is that I don’t have a piano in our apartment in New York City. Moving a baby grand piano to the Big Apple didn’t seem like the smartest idea to me.

After I worked out my favorite Debussy piece and played a few bars of Last Date, I found myself shopping the guitars. I’ve always been intrigued with the guitar but only pursued the piano. Honestly, at one point in my sheltered Lonoke County life, I thought that the guitar was for pot heads! I’m not kidding. I’ve since changed my position on the guitar and the people who play one and decided that I should take a lesson. I only had a short amount of time to myself and wanted to have some fun. And just for kicks, I also signed up for a drum lesson.

My guitar lesson went well. I learned enough of the basics to play some chords and how to read the guitar music. I had no idea my fingers would be sore though! Ivory keys are much kinder than guitar strings! I have an even deeper appreciated for guys like Eddie Van Halen who make playing the guitar look easy. But there was no time to waste worrying about the severe red marks on my fingers because I had a drum lesson pending.

For as long as I can recall, I’ve always mentally been tapping out a rhythm in my head. When I walk down the street, I catch myself in a pattern. In yoga, I try to keep a rhythm with my breathing. I think this all goes back to the piano lessons and marching band days. Why I never picked up a set of drum sticks I’m not sure. But that all changed a few weeks ago in Jonesboro.

Part of playing the drums is looking the part. I feel the same way about golf and tennis. You should at least look like you know what the heck you are doing even in you have not one darn clue as to what’s happening. I wore my favorite white shorts and blue t-shirt looking very much like a Mom I feel certain and nothing like a leather clad, tattooed, kick-ass drummer. I was mentally channeling Cindy Blackman. Are you familiar with her? She played drums for Lenny Kravitz on his songs Fly Away and Are You Gonna Go My Way. She is supremely cool and is now married to Carlos Santa. I’m sure I looked more like a circus monkey playing the drums than a cool, seasoned pro, but at least I have something to aspire to, right?

After my back-to-back guitar and drum lessons, I asked myself as I drove down Southwest Drive, “Why weren’t you taking lessons for the seven years you lived here?” I don’t have an answer for that. What I do know is that I have visions of a piano and guitar in my apartment in the near future. But I’ll hold off on the drum set for the time being and instead maintain my wonderful relationship with my neighbors across the hall!

Enjoy the link to Lenny’s songs. It is best enjoyed at the loudest level your ear drums will allow. If you have even a drop of musical ability in your bones, I would encourage you to hone your God given talents and share them with the world. If you took the time to read my post, I’d like you to rate it, too. Just click on the red stars below. It’s that easy!

Keep up with D.J and her adventures in the Big Apple by following her on twitter @mrsdjduckworth and on Facebook. D.J. is also a contributing writer for New York Family Magazine.