LIFE ON THE FARM
In
all the years of not drinking, I have told everything about myself to
one or the other. Everything! Then, tonight at an AA meeting, the
speaker told of an amateur band of which he was a member during his
youth. Ah! Memories—here comes another.
As
I think back, between my age of 7-11 (sounds like “Thank Heaven
for...”!) a group of musicians drove out to our farmhouse four
times a year, forming an orchestra, which played 'easy' classical
music like Strauss Waltzes, popular opera tunes, and the three B's
(Bach, Beethoven, Brahms).
I
recall three doctors played violins, a dentist played trombone,
Members of the Cincinnati Symphony orchestra played 'cello, Bass, and
the tympanist directed these events.
Two
realtors and several lawyers rounded out the group with my mother,
pianist (she was really good, a conservatory Peep). I was so
impressed with these Peeps, who obviously loved music so much, that
they came to our house to rehearse. Always 'rehearse'...never played
a concert, to my knowledge.
A
few of the attractions were:
Periodic
escape from hardships
and
horrible news of WWII...
Some
of their wives and lady friends attended. My father—the
farmer--told often, stories—sprinkled with humor--from his own life
of sightless darkness. He was a popular guy in any group wherever he
found himself...maybe because he lived with utter JOY in spite of his
handicap.
My
mother eventually thought I was 'ready for my debut' with the group, and so I got to sit in from that moment on. I was age 9.
These
were my first orchestral experiences. I loved being accepted as part
of a working group of adults.
It
was my first experience with alcohol, and I also fell immediately in
love with beer, but especially Brandy, Bourbon, and Benedictine, my
three B's. These matched my other three favorite B's...Bach,
Beethoven, and Brahms!
Peep
if you are still here, you have just witnessed a turning-point in my life, musically and alcoholically. Seventy years later,
the violin continues to be a great part of my life. Thirty years
after that first binge, alcohol—my best friend--failed me, no longer
supplied the relief I needed.
Alcoholics
Anonymous has saved my life.
Music helps to save my soul.
--steveroni
May
19, 2012
Drawing: Google Images
