Music, Anyone

 

Music, Anyone?

                                                                               byJudy

 “Please, mom, pretty, pretty please. I’ve just got to be in band,” my daughter said. She was beginning middle school and several of her friends were going to be in band too. I played the saxophone in the high school marching band myself and certainly supported my daughter’s ambition to march in the band. I was not familiar with the words “band geek” yet.

My daughter and I scheduled a trip to our local music store. She decided upon a flute. Another choice I supported. I remembered lugging a cumbersome alto saxophone on and off the school bus. There were several options available for obtaining an instrument. I could rent one, purchase a used one or purchase a new one. I was pretty sure my daughter first-born child possessed exceptional musical talent and nothing but the best would do for her. Price was of no concern, and there was an easy lay-away plan available.

The shiny, bright flute practically glowed in its case with the royal blue plush interior. It set in a place of honor on my middle-schooler’s dresser. She practiced faithfully at home each week. My family endured…oops…I mean enjoyed the middle school band concerts. I was a proud band mother, bumper sticker and all.

Daughter number one continued to play the flute and march in the band throughout high school. Of course, the weekly practice sessions at home were long a thing of the past; and it took a while to find the flute at the beginning of each school year. Sometimes it would be in the bottom of my daughter’s closet or under one of her brothers’ beds, but she did so enjoy the band trips and marching in the home football games.  

One of the first things she packed when she left for her freshman year of college was her flute. The case was a little battered, but the flute itself still gleamed. I envisioned impromptu musical sessions with dorm mates. Truly, I felt justified having spent so much on her flute when she was in the 6^th grade.

Even though one child was away from home in college, I was still busy. I worked full time and still had three children at home. A couple of years passed before I thought about my daughter’s flute again. My other daughter was preparing to leave for college. In fact, she was packing her violin. Suddenly I remembered her sister’s flute. “I wonder if your sister ever plays her flute,” I mused aloud.

“Mom, I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure she sold it her first week at college. But don’t worry, I won’t sell my violin,” my younger daughter answered. Turns out she was right. The flute was sold. What college freshman doesn’t need more money?

And the violin, while not sold, sets forlornly in a closet next to a snare drum. Fortunately, I rented the cello as there’s not a lot of closet space in this house.  I should have seen this all coming, though. Did I mention I have not played the saxophone since the day I graduated high school?