114173860528822371
My dad was in town for a couple of meetings this weekend. If you have ever been to D.C. you know there are many things to see here. We had a free day and timed it just right to tour the Guitar Center. It was a blast.
My dad has been playing the guitar since he was a young man and so he would show me a particular vintage guitar, explain how his guitar was different, tell me how much he sold it for in a pawn shop (you don’t want to know) and how much that same guitar would be worth today (another number you don’t want to know). He fell off a ladder a few years ago and broke his wrist. He has quite a bit of hardware in there and can’t bend his wrist to adequately play the guitar. We’ve been searching for solutions for the last few years every time we get together.
We sat in the expensive guitar room and played just about every guitar in that room. I was playing these really nice guitars and believe it or not I was thinking of Beth the whole time. “If I bought this guitar Beth would kill me” is what I was thinking.
I started playing the guitar when I was a kid because my dad played. I’ve played off and on for years and never applied myself to the craft until my dad got hurt and couldn’t play. I’m playing now better than I’ve ever played – still not on the level of Greg but I can hold my own. I realized today that I invested myself so energetically in guitar playing to somehow make up for the fact that my dad can’t play like he used to - an interesting angle on honor your father.
Tomorrow we are planning to visit an actual area landmark music store in Maryland before he has to catch his return flight home. That’s my idea of seeing the sights.
5 Responses to “114173860528822371”
There are a lot of things I want to see when I’m there in June. The guitar center is not one of them.
Your angle at honoring your dad is touching. I’m glad you can do this for yourself, and for him.
It reminds me of after I lost my mom, there were dishes that were, as far as I was concerned, exclusive to her. I cook with recipes; she, of course, did not. Once I had tried and duplicated (well, almost) some of those dishes, I was okay with it. I wanted to do what she did.
Keep that “Beth thought” when visiting music stores! It will help you go far in life.
You kill me Bro. Let’s see, we’re in D.C., the District, the Nation’s Capitol, the home of the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Mall, Arlington National Cemetery, the Smithsonian Museum, and the Capitol Building. Where should we go? The Guitar Center! The sickness.
Great post Randy. Great way to honor your dad. I think that is why I like aspects of the military, war movies, and history. My dad was a 20 year veteran of the Army and I’m sure my love of those things flows out of my need to honor him.
Pick a higher level, a MUCH higher level to aspire to than Greg!
The thought of you picking up where your Dad left off reminded me of my favorite Abe Lincoln quote, “A child is a person who is going to carry on what you have started, sit where you are sitting, and when you are gone, attend to those things you think are important. The child will assume control of your cities, states and nations, move in and take over your churches, schools, universities and corporations. The fate of humanity is in the hands of children.”
The guitar is not the only thing you are now carring on that your Dad started.
I wonder what Madison and Reese will do to finish YOUR work? I’m certain it will be amazing.
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