Good column, Don. Great gift, great kids. For me, a bit bittersweet, though. I still have myGuild guitar that I bought for 200 hard-earned dollars nearly 50 years ago. I got pretty good at it by playing weekly at church for many years. Can’t play now, though: arthritis in my left hand. While I gently weep over my guitar, I’m planning to gift it to my son.
Don, I remember when we were 13 how you actually played the guitar for me. I was impressed, but I am even more impressed you are pursuing it with a beautiful, new instrument! (Bravo, kids!) My husband enjoys his guitar immensely, and plays at least a few minutes each day to thwart the onset or recurrence of blisters. Good luck! As for me, I am cautiously and carefully attempting to get back on the tennis court!!!
Oh, Joy! I'm so happy for you, Don! I, too, got my first guitar in 1964. In 1969, I got a Yamaha 12-string and played it constantly until the early 2000s. In the last decade, I have periodically rebuilt the blisters and even had my beloved guitar repaired at a wonderful little shop in Hamilton, and posted some videos of my playing on Facebook(!). Ole Bess (my guitar) is once again collecting dust, but I know I'll get back to playing again. Enjoy!!!
As to the ARD Award I had the privilege (???) of meeting the inventor of the diabolical plastic/harder than steel inventor. He was an engineer who worked in plastics and I believe the toy companies first approached him as they were losing so much money on people ripping open the flimsy cardboard and plastic packaging and stealing the toys/Products inside. They thought the best way was to make a package so strong that juveniles couldn’t just break them open and needed scissors or some sharp implement to do that which they probably would not be carrying with them in a store and it would take too much time and they would get caught for obvious reasons. Obviously the product was wildly successful and he became wildly rich.
As we know the few tend to ruin it for the majority. The lowest common denominator has to be dealt with so the majority has to suffer the consequences.
What a wonderful story--and how perceptive and thoughtful of your kids. When I retired in June, one of my goals was to pick up the viola da gamba (Renaissance and Baroque instrument that looks like a cello, and that I have because my sister makes them). I had taken lessons for a while but paused due to lack of time while I was working. The plan was to pick up again when I retired in June, and really focus so I'd be good enough to play with my sister and her pals when I went to Paris in October. But then, COVID. I came to stay with my mom, and Paris was out for the time being. I did bring the instrument with me, but the most attention it's gotten is to get tuned every month or so. I get back to it at some point--just need to get that plane ticket as incentive. Good luck to you, and enjoy yourself!
Good column, Don. Great gift, great kids. For me, a bit bittersweet, though. I still have myGuild guitar that I bought for 200 hard-earned dollars nearly 50 years ago. I got pretty good at it by playing weekly at church for many years. Can’t play now, though: arthritis in my left hand. While I gently weep over my guitar, I’m planning to gift it to my son.
Don, I remember when we were 13 how you actually played the guitar for me. I was impressed, but I am even more impressed you are pursuing it with a beautiful, new instrument! (Bravo, kids!) My husband enjoys his guitar immensely, and plays at least a few minutes each day to thwart the onset or recurrence of blisters. Good luck! As for me, I am cautiously and carefully attempting to get back on the tennis court!!!
Oh, Joy! I'm so happy for you, Don! I, too, got my first guitar in 1964. In 1969, I got a Yamaha 12-string and played it constantly until the early 2000s. In the last decade, I have periodically rebuilt the blisters and even had my beloved guitar repaired at a wonderful little shop in Hamilton, and posted some videos of my playing on Facebook(!). Ole Bess (my guitar) is once again collecting dust, but I know I'll get back to playing again. Enjoy!!!
As to the ARD Award I had the privilege (???) of meeting the inventor of the diabolical plastic/harder than steel inventor. He was an engineer who worked in plastics and I believe the toy companies first approached him as they were losing so much money on people ripping open the flimsy cardboard and plastic packaging and stealing the toys/Products inside. They thought the best way was to make a package so strong that juveniles couldn’t just break them open and needed scissors or some sharp implement to do that which they probably would not be carrying with them in a store and it would take too much time and they would get caught for obvious reasons. Obviously the product was wildly successful and he became wildly rich.
As we know the few tend to ruin it for the majority. The lowest common denominator has to be dealt with so the majority has to suffer the consequences.
Keep those bandaids handy😃
What a wonderful story--and how perceptive and thoughtful of your kids. When I retired in June, one of my goals was to pick up the viola da gamba (Renaissance and Baroque instrument that looks like a cello, and that I have because my sister makes them). I had taken lessons for a while but paused due to lack of time while I was working. The plan was to pick up again when I retired in June, and really focus so I'd be good enough to play with my sister and her pals when I went to Paris in October. But then, COVID. I came to stay with my mom, and Paris was out for the time being. I did bring the instrument with me, but the most attention it's gotten is to get tuned every month or so. I get back to it at some point--just need to get that plane ticket as incentive. Good luck to you, and enjoy yourself!
Your writings bring a smile to my face - I must be an old soul as I feel I am of your generation. Congratulations on the guitar!