April Fool (that's me!)

With another trip around the sun complete for me (as of yesterday - April 1) - I am thinking about the difficult year that is (finally) turning. Spring is coming (someday, even though the sun doesn't want to participate), and there is much to do as the end of the school year approaches. It was a year for me that was dominated by grief, starting with the loss of my father in the summer, and capped off by the passing of my brother (a brother not by blood, but by some other binding agent that I don't have a name for but that is even stronger than blood). Those of us lucky enough to know him are mourning and in disbelief.

But the past year has also brought much joy, new friends, a new department chair (much better than the former chair - me!), a new band, many performances, recordings, a premiere coming up this month, a new job title (professor) and the realization of dream job, and so much more. 

And then there is this picture, which surfaced again yesterday on my April Fools birthday (thanks to the stern looking bearded guy for the public shame)...

That's me, second from the right, with the black Les Paul Custom, sunglasses, and all the attitude. I loved, really loved, that guitar. Mail-order from Elderly Music in Michigan. This picture is a reminder for me of how much the guitar has dominated my life. One day a few months ago I started counting the guitars I own or have owned, but the numbers just kept getting bigger and bigger. That beautiful Les Paul I traded for a Bill Lawrence Telecaster, which I also loved. Then I traded that for a frankenstein Stratocaster that I also loved. My first classical guitar was built by my good friend and master luthier David Boehlke, and I still have two of his guitars. It has been many decades of guitars. I am celebrating this amazing guitar-life I have had and continue to have with a concert on April 21st, entitled "The Guitar In My Life". Some of my good friends (and amazing guitarists) will be performing my compositions for guitar (both electric and classical). More info about this on the calendar page: THE GUITAR IN MY LIFE. I hope you can come and be a part of it.

So... happy spring to everyone. Yesterday's east-coast sleet and snow, the flooding all over the midwest and west, and the permanent clouds and rain here in the pacific northwest. All the tell-tale signs of spring!

April Fools.