A Writer's Bloc

Good morning.  It's Monday again.  Don't you love Monday mornings?  You know, a reminder how short you weekend seemed to be and how long your week is going to be?

Seriously, though.  I figured I just write a little blog about bloc.  As in writer's bloc. The disability of a writer to produce new work.  Which is, for me, usually lasts a few days.  Though on occasion, it has lasted several months.

The Tune And The Pen

I have this view that music is everything.

It is in my blood. My family comes from a long line of musicians.  My dad was a professional drummer for many years for numerous bands, both on the road and in a studio. My uncle, dad's brother, was a guitarist of some renown in the New England area for a long time. Their mom (Grandma) was pianist who had taught children to play.  My mom and sister are singers. I myself dabbled in music as a youngster, playing in garage bands and was an occasional studio fill-in.

Music for me, is like breathing.  I feel like I am suffocating if I go too long without it.  It soothes the savage breast,  calms the soul of inner turmoil. You can get lost in it, tuning out the outside things you might not want to deal with at the time.

I Want To Be A Rockstar

I remember back when I was a little kid people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I said "I want to be a rock star" I was quite serious about it. I was playing piano already and was learning guitar. My grandmother and father were musicians and I had some talent. It is funny though how things don't work out the way you wanted. I was in my first band at age 12. We thought we would be the next big band to take the world by storm. It lasted for two years and of course no one took us seriously. We lost enthusiasm and just stopped. My next endeavor was playing Bass guitar for a local band. I was 16, and the youngest member. It was abysmal, that is where I learned about alcohol.(Another story) Well, it crashed rather quickly. I waited a couple years before I tried again. This time, I started my own band. I actually met two great musicians who I felt a good vibe. We were good, very good in fact, and we thought we going places... No one signed us. It comes late for some people, but you realize that sometimes you are just not good enough. Case here: good but not great. I feel bad for the young musicians of today. it is much HARDER for them then it was for us. Music changes. You must have some kind of gimmick. You must know someone in the business. (A famous relative, perhaps?) Oh yeah, unless you are off the chart talented, you must be hot looking. Now I just do it for fun. I make a few bucks on the side. Nothing earth shattering, but I enjoy it more now than I ever did. Anybody else have aspirations and realized it just would not happen? When you gave it up, were you satisfied you gave it your best shot, or did you regret it for not trying harder?