Trying to become a Music Man

I wrote in a blog not too long ago that I don’t regret anything that I’ve done with my life. You collect all the information you can and then you make the best decision you can in that particular moment.

I stand by that comment. I don’t regret anything.

However, I must admit to having one minor annoyance: I wish I could play an instrument. I have a few talents — I’d like to say writing was one of them, I’ll leave readers like you to decide that one — music unfortunately is not one of them.

When I was a kid and friends left baseball practice early to go to piano lessons, I barely noticed. When some of the same friends and many others left class early in elementary school to play trumpet, saxophone, trombone or any other instrument, I barely even registered a look.

I just never had any interest in music. I was more interested in playing sports or reading a good book than picking up an instrument. I had to sing in music class and in my church, but to say I have a horrible singing voice misses the mark completely. Oh, I try my best, but it’s forgettable at best, painful at worst. I’m sure my poor hearing plays a role, but it certainly isn’t the only reason.

In any event, when I went to college, I finally started to get into music. I knew the best drummers and guitarists to my favorite bands, but classes and work took top priority. When I graduated, I thought about picking up the guitar or maybe even the piano, but work really took off, dominating my life. If I wasn’t working, I was traveling to visit my then fiancé, I didn’t have time to pick up an instrument.

For those reasons and many more, I made sure that my kids at least took some basic music lessons. They went kicking and screaming sometimes, but we wanted to make sure that they gave it their best shot. No regrets.

I’m a big believer that you’re never too old to learn something new. I think occasionally about picking up the guitar or piano. If I do, I want to go all in, I don’t want to stop and start. I want to give it my all.

I know that I’ll never be Eric Clapton on guitar or Elton John on the piano, but I wouldn’t mind picking up a new hobby, learning something new, and being able to hold my own.

Who knows, maybe I have some musical talent in me yet. We’ll see.