Drumsticks and Art Supplies
“I didn't just walk out of those stores with bags of music and art supplies. I walked out with something much more valuable.”
I did two things yesterday that, when I think about it, were pretty much intended to give cancer the... well, you know, the gesture. When I was 11 years old, my parents started me on the drums. I think they must have known something, because I'm pretty sure I'm tone deaf. A brief but disastrous six months of piano lessons showed that I didn't really have an aptitude for that, either. But the drums? I loved them.
When I got into high school, I kept playing, but there seemed to be less and less time. When I went to college, there was no time, and college dorms just didn't have the room or the soundproofing for my drums. So one summer I sold my set. Over the years, I've picked up drums and percussion instruments in various parts of the world, but those were just for fun. I hadn't picked up a pair of sticks in years. Decades.
My other hobby, and this is going to take some explaining, is making little figures out of modeling clay. I guess I just never stopped playing with Play-Doh. I mostly made chess sets, although I'm not sure I ever actually finished one. But it was fun and relaxing. I had pretty much given that up, too. I hadn't touched clay in at least ten years.
So yesterday, I went to a music store and bought a practice pad and a pair of drumsticks, and I was amazed to find the same book that I had studied all those years ago when I was just starting out. I started practicing. It was a little depressing at first, I have to admit. My mind knows what's supposed to happen, but my hands don't. But it was still fun.
And there was an art store in the same shopping mall, so I went and bought some clay, and started making those figures again. That I hadn't forgotten how to do. I think the next thing may be to learn Arabic. I've always been fascinated by it and studied it for a few weeks at work a few years ago. I've been looking at those computer programs they sell in malls.
Now, this is probably not the most interesting stuff for a lot of you, but there is a point here. I didn't just walk out of those stores with bags of music and art supplies. I walked out with something much more valuable. The hope and confidence that I have a future. That I will have time to enjoy my new purchases. That the cancer won't get me before I can play the drums again the way I used to. That would be sweet.
One more reminder about Talk of the Nation next Monday. We'll be talking about cancer and this blog, and if you're going to be in Washington and want to be in the studio audience, send an e-mail to talk@npr.org.
5:53 AM ET | 04-11-2007 | permalink
