Another Language

I've tried repeatedly to learn Spanish, but I just don't have it in me. I have no passion for it; and I'm too old to keep trying. It's funny, I don't seem to have much trouble learning a new musical instrument. I don't know why a language should be so much harder than a musical instrument, but it is - at least for me. Maybe it's that passion thing. When I have a little free time, I'll grab an instrument of one sort or another and start fooling around with it. It's fun! I dread the thought of grabbing a Spanish text. Where's the fun in that?

I've been practicing guitar off and on for about a year now, and I'm starting to get a little music out of it. I'm no Eric Clapton, but I am having a lot of fun, I'm learning new stuff, and I keep getting better. Maybe some day I'll be good enough to play in front of people, but I don't think that's really the point. It's more about being passionate about something I enjoy. I made my first guitar pick. I used my hotel room key from a pipe band trip as the material. I don't know how long it will last, but it does work; and it makes playing my guitar just a little bit more fun. I cut it out with scissors and finish shaped it with a mill bastard file. It didn't take very long to make; so now I'll keep an eye out for interesting material to make picks from. I saw an add for a pick maker. It's a sort of stamping machine that cuts a pick in one motion. I can't imagine needing to make that many picks, but it might be fun to play with.