And, This Next Request Goes Out To...........

 This is audio version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqAA06ypj88

  During the 1970's, when I was...uh, a wee bit younger....life's activities revolved almost entirely, in one fashion or another, around music. My older brothers always seemed to have either, the radio playing or they were spinning one of their favorite 45s on our little one-speaker record player. In those days I also owned a little red transistor radio that accompanied me on my journeys and adventures around the little farm that we lived on, and into the woods behind our house.

     In the school year of 72-73, I was in the 3rd grade and launched into the musical journey that would influence the rest of my life. Everything started for me when I picked up an alto saxophone and set my sights on joining the 5th-grade band, which really, was my first opportunity to play a role in and to be a part of any form of organized group. And so, with this goal in my sights, practicing began in earnest....by my quick attempts at laying down some seriously smooth saxophone licks....but which unfortunately came out more like the shrieks and screeches of two desperate alley cats fighting over one tiny scrap of food. Whenever I saw someone playing a sax in a nightclub scene on television, they had made it look so easy. It appeared as if all you had to do was pick one of the things up, and blow into it. Apparently...it was going to be slightly more challenging than that depiction.

    So...I practiced...and practiced...and I did very well, ending up playing 1st Sax in the 5th and 6th-grade band, (by-the-way, the 5th and 6th-grade band members were viewed as being on the professional level as those who perform before a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall). I was at the height of my musical career. Eventually, I finished the 6th-grade and moved up to the 7th and 8th-grade band. I continued to flourish at this level as well, and to this day wish that I would have stayed with the saxophone.

    Alas though, halfway through my 7th-grade year I was seduced by the call of the rock band...and, well...I traded in my sax for an electric bass guitar and an amplifier. I had two friends that were very gifted as well....one played the electric guitar, and one had a rather large drum set that he knew his way around quite proficiently....and so, it seemed only natural at this point that we would form a band. We would get together every Friday night to jam. We would stay up all night....wildly, enthusiastically, and loudly playing through cover after cover of our favorite rock tunes. The 3-piece band carried on this way for two years, until we decided to write a six-minute instrumental that would be entered into a local contest.....a song that we hoped would make the final cut, and be a part of an album that would showcase various local bands.

Above is a picture that is roughly a representation from my beginning years as a bass player.

     We stayed up all night writing and recording a track that was felt to be a perfect submission for the album. During that evening, however, some things within the band changed, and that next morning it was decided that we needed to split up. The track that we had worked so hard on never saw the light of day. I have no idea what happened to the recording, and I never heard the song again from that day forward.

     I entered High School around that same time, and I joined the school's jazz band. I was a part of the rhythm section of the band, which consisted of an electric guitar player, a drummer, and a keyboard player. We accompanied 30 brass instruments and served as the structural backbone for the big band. During those days, the intricacies and demands of playing jazz bass helped to stretch me and sharpen my playing skills.

      At the same time, my oldest brother acquired a beautiful seven-piece drum kit. He assembled the drum set in the basement of our house, and with a friend of his on six string, and myself on bass...we formed another band. For quite awhile we stuck to doing covers of songs, from bands like The Eagles, Joe Walsh, and Bad Company...but eventually, we were engaged to play at a party at the house of the guitar player's brother. It had a particular theme that we wanted to fit into....so we changed the name of the band, and I set about writing several songs that were a good match for the situation in which we would play.

Pictured above was the band with my older brother who played drums. I did not get a picture with him, but I really wish that I had. This was the last band I played in.

     We continued to play, and have fun together until I went away to College. I was gone for several years, and within that time priorities changed. My brother met a girl, and when they became serious he had less and less desire to play. He eventually sold his drums, and a similar thing happened with the guitarist as well. I came home from College with different ideas and desires, and we never played together again. I continued to play once in a while, but without a musical group to be a part of, I quickly became bored and over the course of time discontinued playing entirely.

     However, to this day, I continue to have a deep-seated connection with music....and I gave you a brief overview of my musical background, not because I think you need to know it...or maybe even want to know it...but so that I can say this......

     It is approximately thirty+plus years later, and I find myself wondering if music is a force that could influence or shape my Neurological partner-for-life, Ataxia. Or better yet, maybe I should just cut to the chase and inquire whether or not Ataxia takes requests.

     Do you think that if I requested The Police's Don't Stand So Close To Me, that Ataxia would get the idea that I need some personal space? Or, if I were to request Don Henley's You Don't Know Me At All, do you think Ataxia would realize that it is not the one in charge, and stop acting all haughty and superior? Would my SCA get the idea that I am done with him, and it is time to leave if I played Eddie Money's Get A Move On?

     Unfortunately, my Ataxia would not be affected in this way, ( for he is very stubborn). Through the course of my life, however, I have learned that music is a gift, and can lift my soul to places that go far beyond myself. Through music, I can easily lift my focus and thoughts from daily struggles and the trials, and turn them to see the bigger picture of life all around me. It helps me center my thoughts, marvel at the Creation.... to realize that life is so, so much bigger than me, and does not revolve around my Ataxia.

The above picture is who I am now...and the bass guitar from the two previous photos has now been replaced with a walking stick.

     Once again, my friends, I want to encourage you not to be saddened by what used to be....I know it can be difficult and frustrating not to be able to do the things that we used to do. I understand the thought...I really do, but I implore you not to stay in that place. Realize that past experiences helped to shape us into who we are today. Take the time to look around, and see that life is bigger than your....or my Ataxia. Life is full of blessings, we just have to be willing to look for them, and then let them in.