Everyone Knows It's Windy posted 11/16/2007 1:24:56 PM | 12 kudos what's this?     report abuse

Tunes4u

The first time I saw her, she was crossing the street headed towards her banking institution, clutching her deposit bag and fighting the wind. I was in my guitar shop, mindlessly staring out the front windows, watching a few brave souls dealing with the strong gusts that were forecasting bad weather later on. Probably snow, and lots of it.

She was beautiful. Her hair was long and black, blowing all around her face, and her dress was dancing in the wind, showing brief glimpses of her womanly charms. I was transfixed, needless to say.
I recognized her as the young owner of a small cafe, which was right around the corner from my shop. I had yet to visit the place, but after seeing her cross the street, I vowed it would not be long before I did.

I ended up learning more than I ever bargained for from this young woman. That was almost 11 years ago. She started me down a path of true enlightenment which continues to grow and mature to this day. She planted and nurtured the seeds, until they started to grow on their own.

One day very early on, she came in to the shop, and asked me to teach her to sing. In the back of my mind, I thought two things. First, this would give me more time to spend with her, so I could convince her of my admiration, but also I figured it would give me the opportunity to learn how to play guitar. I had always wanted to do that. I had no clue how to sing.

We spent countless hours and days together. For years we were best friends. We did so many things together and had such wonderful adventures. We went everywhere together. We danced like no one was watching. We even made the front page of our local newspaper dancing more than once. We were seen together for years. Every concert, catering events, festivals and so much more.
We were very well known. Everyone assumed we were a couple, and that we were inseparable. It was just understood. But things aren't always as they seem.

So we started. I began by picking songs we were listening to anyway, and kinda familiar with. I figured out the chords, looked up the words, and we started a book.
We practiced every single day for a couple years at least. Some days we would sit in the back of the shop and play for 6 hours or more. We ate in the shop, slept, drank, had parties. And worked really hard, and found we actually had a musical connection besides our friendship. We discovered her voice. I discovered the guitar. We eventually discovered much more than that.
People would come in to the store, and hear us, and tell us how nice it sounded. Positive reinforcement, from each other, along with some of our friends, gave us the desire to work harder.

I can not begin to tell , just how much of a transformation we both went through during this period. There are too many side stories, and too many emotions.

Our friendship evolved. For me, it evolved from the standard " I want you" kind of mentality, into something I have a difficult time describing. I learned about the incredible depths love can achieve. And I learned how to have a real female friend and not just a girlfriend.
I was never perfect at it mind you. There were always moments when an overwhelming emotional wave of real desire for "more" over came my better self. Hell, I am a man ok? But because of her tireless insistence that there was more to our relationship than any careless moment could surpass, I learned.
There were times of frustration, times of wistful dreaming. As time went on, I began to understand.
In all the years we were so very close, I never kissed her once. And yet I always felt her love. It was a different love. One I had never experienced. It took a while to understand, but she was a very patient and solid teacher. I admire her a great deal for that. It bore amazing fruit.
We taught each other, and in doing so, received tenfold. Respect was the key.
Years later we still are best friends, though I don't see her hardly at all. But when we do see each other, it's a race to the practice room and a guitar.

Couple weeks ago, she called and said she had tried out as a singer for a band that is based here in Wyoming , and is a national act. She got the job, and has already been in the studio recording their next album.
And now she will be traveling around doing major festivals and shows. I am very proud of her.

And me? What did I get out of it? I mentioned the lessons learned concerning real love. I have a much clearer understanding about real friends and the gifts that come with that. We had sooo much fun!
But there is another gift our friendship produced.

Her honesty, integrity, and respect, along with plenty of hard work, is totally the reason I am the Leader of My Band. Singing and playing guitar in my own group and having such a great time. Probably the most rewarding time of my musical career.

It is amazing to me to look back, and see just how close I came to loosing all these gifts, just because she wouldn't have me in THAT way. Like a spoiled child, stomping my feet. I could have missed this glorious magic bus.

Thanks, Jacquie. I am grateful for you and your love. I am so very grateful for our extraordinary time together.
I wish all the best to you and Mr.K. And to your new musical adventures!
We did it! And we did it right.
I am so very proud of us both!

Stay Tuned,

I do.

Tunes

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Blogs by Tunes4u: I Should The Art of Eating Honey Tunes, Free Beer, And the Great Conspiracy Jimmy Ratel Forgive and Forget....Almost Forget About It A Pocket Full of Gold Pass the Ammo, We're going To WalMart Water Water Everywhere Except Atlanta Weiners and Whiners....Is There A Difference? Time on the Telephone Good Rocky's Revival Everyone Knows It's Windy +I'm Only Sleeping +Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Supper Club The Weatherman +Dog's Mistake...You Ever Make One? +10,000 Gallons of Gasoline +Back In The Saddle, Almost +Weak in the Keys +What? Me Worry? +Oscar's Joy +Limp AT the Plate +My Old Maytag is a Workin' Still Just Another Boring Sunday.....sigh