So I could say that Chris Botti played his trumpet just for me on my birthday today. But that would be somewhat of a lie. You see, it all started with tickets from my dad for my birthday. Box seats, plush chairs and a straight view of the world's BEST trumpet player EVAH! Yes, I like him. Not only is he the Brad Pitt of trumpet players, but he has been touched by God to entertain the world with music. I could not believe the pure, crisp sound that came out of his trumpet. Not to mention, he had some ahhh mazing special guests. Just when I thought I was in heaven, Caroline Campbell floated onto the stage in a flowing red gown that swept the floor, barely enough to show that she had no shoes on and was carrying a million dollar violin (which name I can not pronounce). When she began to play that violin, that's when I knew that everything was going to be alright. I knew that I had come out of my turkey coma and had re-died and gone to complete musical heaven. If you have never heard Chris Botti in concert, then you have not had a glimpse of ear candy heaven. One thing you may not know about me is that I am a classical pianist. I started when I was 9 years old. (a little late-- by classical musician standards.) I grew up listening to Jazz from my dad's "record players"....(see the dictionary "record player" for those of you under the age of 37.) My grandmother would sing (in her operetic voice every Sunday-- the Hallelujah chorus) and my mom would sing sweet lullabies to me to put me to sleep. Music is very much still a part of my life. I play Mozart, Bach and Beethoven to my sons in between homework, juice boxes, dinner and soccer games, and photo sessions. And everynight before I tuck my little guys to bed, I sing some type of show tune from broadway.
In summary....I am very thankful to have the parents that I have. They have given me the gift of music and life. And in turn, I can appreciate ear candy that is so sweet, you may melt at the sounds of the notes floating in your ears. When I looked at Christ Botti and all of his musical guests tonight, I understood VERY much what I am. An artist. I belong to a unique club where the artist lives in a parallel universe. We practice our craft. We show our craft, and we share our craft with the world. We pull people into our visual and oral sweetness. And as I realized with my first 110mm camera that I got when I was 9 years old, it's not the instrument you buy. It's not even the most expensive instrument or tool that you may have. It's what you do with it. It's how you interpret it. This is what I do with my photography every day. I interpret the sweetness of my world, and share it with others to enjoy. I haven't given up my piano skills. Bach will always be my #1. But, my Canon camera is the instrument in which God instructed me to use. I will never stop taking pictures and playing music.What an amazing birthday! xo
