Our conversation made me realize that in-fact he was right. My stories are pretty much about me and my travels, hence the name --On the Road with the Chief. It kind of makes sense to me that "my" stories are about "my" travels and things that "I've" done. I do know "me" best and it's easiest to talk about me. I guess it could be said that I like to "blow my own horn".
Speaking of which, let me tell you about my most recent endeavor.
When I was around eleven or twelve years old, I decided that I wanted to learn to play the trumpet. I remember approaching the music teacher, and without a doubt awkwardly spewed out the fact that I wanted to begin an affair with a trumpet --an affair that unbeknown to me at the time, would last all through my school years. After a short conversation about playing a brass instrument, I was handed a mouthpiece, and told to practice with it for about a week. I followed the music teacher's directions --which following directions for me was fairly rare.
I was raised in a small town in upstate New York, and the local school was rather small. Available funds for the music department were probably scarce. When I was handed my new --to me-- brass instrument, I remember being quite disappointed. The horn that I was about to take possession of was a little brother to the trumpet --a cornet-- and had more dents and dings than the bumper-cars at the local amusement park. The silver "matte" finish probably boasted a shiny new surface decades before, but not that my eyes would ever see. It did resemble a horn though, and I was able to bring it to life.
I learned to play the trumpet, and enjoyed every part of the music scene. All through high-school I was in the concert band, and the marching band. I played solos at events, many in churches around the local area. I was passionate about music.A Christmas or two after I was loaned my badly abused dull and ugly cornet, I received as a gift, a brand new two-tone brass and silver trumpet. I had the nicest trumpet in school and I remember being very proud of that horn. Thanks mom and dad! But like they say, "all good things must end someday", and upon graduation from high school, I sold my trumpet and ventured out seeking other interests.
A couple of months ago, I realized that I still had an interest in the trumpet --an interest that I had put to bed for 37 years. I tried on a couple of occasions to play my son's trumpet, which he had from his high school days, and found that although obviously pretty rusty, I still had a fairly natural ability to play. I ordered a new trumpet that week.
I'm about six weeks into practicing now, and I find that I am as passionate as ever about becoming a really good musician. The passion that I have for music tends to mirror that of which I have for the sport of running. I have considered joining or starting a band if I become as good on the horn as I plan to. I think running for the past two decades has probably increased my lung capacity and my new trumpet feels at home in my somewhat older hands.
So on the subject of blowing my own horn --yes I do-- and I'm happy to say that I'm proud of it. Will blowing my own horn make me rich and famous? I'm thinking that it probably won't, but two things are certain. First, I am having a lot of fun playing again, and second... it gave me something new to write about.
~Safe Riding~
-The Chief
