XXVII

This is very much a matter of personal opinion, that goes without saying. But I have been thinking about it over and over again day after day, more so now that I have felt it in my hands. I know some will say, bullshit on the fact that I may seem bias to this, but let me remind you I have stated already that this is a matter of personal opinion. The violin is an instrument of the highest order. In the right hands, men weep, women faint and any person that knows themselves can at any point be moved by its sound. Most will agree that love can only be shown, some try and speak of it, but fail. Love can be heard nonetheless. I feel that in the right hands that a violin can take the spirit right out of you and in turn give it right back to you. I stumble over these words now and again as I think this through in my head. But I know it wont really matter. If you know what I speak about, you wont need my words, they will all but make sense regardless.

I don’t really need to say much here. Other than the fact that when a person is give a violin, not going out and buying one themselves, but given one, it is almost their duty to put it to good use. I was given one. The person that gave it to me, believes in me as no one has, or, and I am pretty adamant about this, ever will. She believes in me so much, has so much faith in me, knows me so well, that she can without a doubt put an instrument in my hands and know, with not a shadow of doubt or hesitation that I will push myself so hard, and never rest until I can play it; until I can show I have mastered something so complex, so mind-numbingly amazing that her beliefs were right.

The violin I am very sure of is nothing like photography for me, photography was natural. It is and was simple. Hence is why I still do it. But this, this violin is something so alien to me, so strange, a mystery that I must with not a drop of reservation learn. I see it as a challenge to myself and from her. I feel she said to me, “Pick it up and show me you are smart enough, talented enough, and by god after so many years, ballsy enough to think you can do it.” She wouldn’t use those exact words, she would be more to the point as she always is. Never wasting a word, or a syllable. So, with drive, and pure tenaciousness I plan on proving her right as I always do. Main project from this point on: Learn the violin, learn it well, and become a master of it. This will take years. Something she might not have, but she has fulfilled what she has set out to do I think. Free me.

When we met I was not the same man as I am today, she has changed me over the years of being with one another. And no man can ask for anything better than having the most important person in his life do that for him, change him into a better, smarter man that he was before. To give him opportunities he otherwise would not have. To instill dreams and asperations otherwise over looked. Thank you.

Thank you Jessica for everything you have ever done for me or might ever do in the future. You give me drive, you give me life. I love you.