Yesterday afternoon I went walking in the lovely Cherokee Park here in Louisville. Clouds had moved in with a short rain shower and the hot temperate had cooled down a few digits. And the clouds remained for most of the day offering some relief from the hot sun. My dear friend Lisa was with me. She had traveled from her home where she lives in the beautiful state Virginia, visiting with me in Our Treehouse for a few days.
A young man had placed a set of drums and cymbals under a large shade tree. There he was playing those drums “to beat the band”. :O) I listened and I watched, mesmerized. Understand, I had never seen the back of a person playing the drums. His whole body was moving. His head was boppin’ to the beat, his arms and torso were in constant motion, tapping the drumsticks all over the drum set. And his legs and feet! Again constant motion, the left and right foot pushing on drum pedals set on the ground to pound the hammers into the lower drums. I had no idea a drummer did this.
The young man took a break and rose up off his stool and we introduced ourselves. His name was John. He told us he has been playing the drums for 23 years, since he was 12 years old. He didn’t look old enough to be playing the drums for 23 years. But obviously he has a passion for it and I thought he was very good. John was wearing an orange T-shirt with a picture of a piece of corn candy on it that said, “Keep it corny!”, and a pair of summer shorts. His shirt was damp with sweat. His legs had calves so muscular any cyclist or other athletic person might look at them with envy. I knew musicians gave a lot of energy to playing the drums, but I had no idea how much! John told me even his gluteus maximus, his buttocks, get a workout from all the motion from his upper and lower body. Who knew!
I love to learn. I love nice surprises. I got both in the park yesterday!
c Love, Joan
That’s cool & a secret passion of mine. I’ve always wanted to play drums
Hey beautiful Lady! I could sooo see you doing that, playing the drums!!
I didn’t understand either, Joan. Even though our son plays. It started one Christmas when he was 2! And his godparents asked permission (bless them) to get him a little set after catching onto the music within him. In middle school he bought a nice, professional set from a drum teacher. I should have realized the physicality involved, but he always closed his bedroom door as he played. When he was a teen and navigating all the drama of h.s., he’d come home & wail on them for a half hour in his bedroom. If a friend of mine called during that time, they sometimes asked, “How do you put up with the racket?”. And I’d say, “I love those drums! He comes down calm and relaxed after playing them…” (I thought it was like therapy… But now I see it was like a good workout. When I think about it, he did amble down the stairs sweaty…) You are so observant! Hugs!
I am not surprised beautiful lady about your son Jared. (I hope I spelled his name correctly.) Two years old! He is such a marvelous musician now. I am wondering how many instruments he plays… I know he writes music! :O)