|
I got a call this morning- a man, somewhere across town, was having problems with his computer. He needed help. We chatted a few minutes, and he seemed personable, and we set a time for me to drive over and pick up his machine later in the day. He seemed impressed that I correctly guessed the spelling of his last name- he said no one had ever gotten it right the first time before.
When I found his house (the streets were all mis-named on the map and I had to go up and down a couple streets to find his place) and finally met him at his front door, I immediately knew I'd like him. He was a little younger than me, had red hair, a big grin from ear to ear, and a firm handshake. We introduced ourselves, and I walked into his office.
He quickly told me about his computer woes, then turned to other things in way of natural conversation. I found out he's a musician, specializing in keyboards and guitars. He gave me an imprompteau demonstration on his electric piano, and then told me he was in school- his ambition is to get his master's in music theory, and then to become a teacher. After listening to him play for a few moments, I knew he'd be a fantastic teacher. We talked music theory for a solid half hour, him mostly talking and demonstrating, and me listening and interjecting thoughts from time to time. We got along very well, and we both knew it.
Then came the real revelation- he'd been in the auto industry for many years, and he'd suffered severe injury in an accident at the plant. They had thought he'd never get out of a wheelchair- hell, they thought he should have died. Yet he stood there, slim and athletic, with an almost-invisible surgery scar on his neck, and with only a small tremor in his hand from what they'd called severe nerve damage. Learning the keyboard had been his way of regaining control of his arm and hand.
This is a man who is steeped in his goals. He's intelligent, dynamic, and will make a fantastic teacher. I see rooms full of fascinated students driving themselves to great heights just to please this man. I see great musical compositions coming from him. I see a man with the futures of many others in his hands.
I have never met anybody even faintly like him. It was a once in a lifetime chance meeting, and for reasons I don't even know myself, it's energizing me even hours later. I know that as long as there are people like him, there is great hope for the rest of us.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
