You Want to Know More About Me...? (Read This)

Musician

You feel that instantaneous rush
Front row, middle of the stage.
Your hands begin to shake
All the while, you question your confidence.
Can I do this?
What if I screw up?
One tiny little squeak or missed note
You feel like that would be the end of everything.
But it's not.

The music has the power to break you
It mends your broken, still beating heart
You let it take over your whole body-
Even if that wonderful feeling only lasts an hour.
It may sometimes even last two.
Those long Jazz Band Gigs
They always bring out the best in you.

The mellow vibrato of the tenor saxophone
It soothes you instantaneously
While at the same time, you think to yourself:
Is this gorgeous sound really coming from me?
Is it possible that I can relax everyone else, too?
It is possible- even if some others don't believe it.
It's because the music grabs you- and takes you as its prisoner.

Music gets you through the best of times.
Music gets you through the worst of times.
Music gets you through the times when you just want to cry, and give up.
It gets you through the fact that your father is suffering from cancer
While you and your mother fight to hold the tears back
Staying strong for your family- and for him.

The Music runs in your blood.
Your father was a musician.
Your dear "Gram" plays the organ and piano- even when she's blind.
Your Grandfather... though a total jerk- was also a musician-
Known throughout Portland Oregon in the 50's and 60's.
Now.... it's been passed down through blood to you.... you cannot escape it. It's your talent- your heart... your Major. It is the one thing that helps keep you sane and in control of everything.

The "you" that this music takes a hold of... is actually me. Music- just for a moment, is my reality.
I am a Musician.


-Wendy R. Berry