My Hero

It happened yesterday.

Robert and I were practicing for an open mic night performance. I would play chords on the guitar and sing Ray LaMontagne's "Shelter." Robert would play the upright bass that he plays in the elementary school band. We were fussing with the notes and he got red faced, flustered and the tears began...

"I can't do it," he blurted out. So we stopped rehearsing.

"You don't have to do it," I said gently thinking I pushed him too far too fast, eager to share music with him.

"But, I WANT to..."

And here's what Tom and I have been saying for months, and months of the Guitar Hero video things. The reality is: it's a game. But kids feel they are rock stars entitled to the keys to the city. Hours of Rock Band fun yes, but not to the exclusivity of wasting time NOT learning something real with the potential for a lifetime of joy sharing music with others.

Sadly, Robert slunk away defeated and I tried to lift his spirits but it's hard when he knows the truth now. Practice and do it, don't pose your way through life. Better to learn at 10 than 22 or 43. Work your craft no matter what it is because no one can take that away from you.

Ever.

This morning Robert said he wants to take lessons. I smiled. "I'll sign you up today."

and my hero, sans the red cape, bent down to pet Daisy. "Who's a good girl?" and began training her to sit and shake a paw. He's excellent with her; a natural born teacher.

Our performance has been postponed but a fresh dream with the path to get there is newly illuminated.