Could I have found my Niche?!

First off I would just like to say that I love the word "Niche", I remember when I first learned the meaning of the word and heard it actually used. It was grade three with Ms. MacLean, whose husband Mr. MacLean taught me ancient history about seven years later in grade ten..lucky me. Ah Ms. MacLean, reminds me of a funny story of her since we are on the subject. She had this annoying bell on her desk you know the kind you would see at the post office, she had one on her desk and would ring it to quiet the class down and if she had to hit it 3 times you were in big trouble. One day we all came back in from recess and Ms. MacLean was asleep in her chair or so we thought. There was a set of twins in our school, Dwayne and Jason. They were always getting into mischief, and I can't remember if it was Jason or Dwayne that took her bell cause she wouldn't wake up, and started ringing it right in her ear, trying to wake her up. We were all terrified we were gonna get it for touching the bell let alone ringing it next to her head! Come to find out later, Ms MacLean was a diabetic and has passed out due to low blood sugar, she was okay in the end. This is just a memory that has stayed with me ever since, when I think of the word niche.

For years I have wanted to learn how to play some sort of instrument and never really had the opportunity. Well about 4 years ago almost five now, I inherited my Mother's acoustic guitar. Which as I understand the story to go, was a gift my Dad gave her for their first wedding anniversary or something like that. I vaguely remember her taking a lesson, then it sat and collected dust. Now we are talking this thing is like 40 years old I would say. ( I like to call her Jude, after my Mum, check out the very 60's strap..) I got it and it was severely out of tune, and needed to be restrung, and it continued to collect dust. It was always in the back of my head, that I wanted to one day learn how to play it. Mainly cause I have never heard anyone play it the way it should be. It's well traveled let me tell you. It was the one thing that I would not give up( and Lola Kitty) when I moved to the States. If you saw how much I moved here with, you would understand the why. I literally fit all my belongings into 2 feet of space on a freight truck the rest was on my back in my backpack and in a suitcase. What didn't fit was left to Goodwill or sold.

Finally after all these years I decided to dust her off, and find someone to teach me how to play it. Then I came to discover that there is a music store right across the street from where I work. Paul went in one day and asked if they knew anyone who taught lessons. They said they highly recommended this one woman who works out of their place. Lucky for me she had one spot available on Friday's at 4:30pm, I get off work at 4:30pm, this was meant to be! I emailed her and asked about rates and asked if she would be willing to take me on. Someone who has absolutely no music experience other than choir in grade 4, and music class from Grade 1-4 which I never remember playing anything but the triangle. She said sure it was not a problem. Well the night before I went over and asked a guy there how easy it would be for me to re-string my guitar, have gave me some brief pointers, and seem pretty confident I could handle it. Glad some one was confident about this. I got the first two done, and then snapped the third, and thought okay I will wait and see what Paige says.

Next day was my lesson. Paige asked me if I ever played anything like piano or anything. Nope nothing, I really can't read music either. She looked nervous. But she check my strings that I did, and said they were pretty good, then finished the rest. We started off with the very basics. It was a 30 minute lesson, that was it. I was feeling like a total ass, out of my element. Then at the end of the lesson she looks up at me and says; "You know I think you will really enjoy this, and you will find it less intimidating than you expect." Come to find out she was right. I am finding it so relaxing! Even though I am not really playing any actual songs yet just learning chords, to hear my Mum's guitar actually play a tune and sound like it should and knowing that I am playing it, brings me such joy! I never though I would find my creative outlet! All of the rest of my family has some kind of talent, My father is an artist, my Nan (My Mum's, Mum) started painting when she was 70 years old and it was like a pro! My Father's, Father played drums for years, and was in a band for a long time. I thought for sure some how the gene skipped me, but the hair, freckles and hips sure didn't.

Today was my second lesson, and it was a long day at work, and I was just thinking how I really just felt like going home and doing nothing. But I made a commitment to Paige and I wanted to show her and myself that I been improving. So off I went, it was a great lesson. I left feeling so relaxed and so good! Could it be I found my Niche? Sure I will never be a pro, but it's another release for me, and it's like learning another language, only this feels very natural.