Connie

I love my piano. I missed it while I was in Kentucky for a couple years. I got a $200 keyboard from Wal-mart that was adequate, but just not the same. In Kentucky I did get to play for some things. I filled in for the regular pianist at church a bunch of times, and I played for a memorial service, and a couple other events. That was cool, but I don't really get that into playing for people. I just like to play.

The first record I ever bought was an Elton John. I thought, that would be so cool to play the piano like him. At the time I was playing clarinet in the school band, just about any other instrument would have seemed really cool. I asked my mom to buy me a piano several times. I knew asking my dad was no chance. It turned out it was no chance with my mom either. I was well into adulthood before I ever got the chance to play. As nerdy as it was, playing the clarinet did help me a lot. Even though I didn't have a piano, by the time I got one, I knew how to read music, so that was a plus. I taught myself on my own for quite awhile. Then I thought I should take lessons because maybe there were some things I didn't know. It turned out there were a million things I didn't know.

My piano is a Conn. I figure that's short for Connie. Connie and I have kind of a love-hate relationship. Usually she loves me, even when I mistreat her. We don't always get along, though. In the end we make up and every thing is good again. I recognize that this might sound just a little creepy. So be it.

In my whole life this is the only thing I've done that could be considered artistic. I don't even understand what makes a good painting, sculpture or poem. But I love Connie and she loves me and that's all that matters.