Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Help me!!!!

Alrighty guys, this is an essay Im writing for college!

Let me know what you think, what you would change, if you like it, etc.

Thnanks!!!!!

P.S Mind the layout, blogger did it this way.






My life has always revolved around music. From the moment I was mature enough to

learn to appreciate it, I knew that it would bring me some of the happiest moments of my

life. At about the age of fourteen I began to play the guitar. I soon realized that when it

comes to playing almost any musical instrument three things are required: patience,

perseverance and creativity.


Some time after I became decent at guitar, I decided to start a band. I searched hard to

find band members. Finally, I found a female musician by the name of Alena. She played

a bit of guitar and could sing quite well. As we played shows and practiced together, I

became quite fond of her. I grew to like her more than a friend. I tried to find ways to

show here “signs” of my feelings, but none of them quite got the message across.


The months passed and seasons changed from summer to fall and from fall to winter.

It was about a week or so before Christmas. Fresh snow had fallen overnight. It was a

typical winter day. As I stumbled out of bed that morning, I heard the telephone ring.

Nobody else was around so I answered it. I yawned into the phone a bit and then

grumbled, “hello”? Alena was on the other end, she was curious as to whether or not I

wanted to go out window shopping with her. This was not an unusual affair for us. We

had already gone window shopping quite a few times before. Being that I had feelings for

Alena I always agreed to come along. While we were out that day, Alena pointed out a

belt that she seemed to like quite a lot. It was also quite expensive. Due to that reason, she

didn’t think twice about it. But I did, I decided this would be the perfect “sign” to express

my feelings for her. My only problem was, I had no money.

A couple of days later I was up late watching a television show about street performers.

The television show seemed to suggest the answer to my financial problems. I would take

my guitar, go street performing, and ultimately, make enough money to buy

the belt for Alena. It was a fool proof plan! I mean, if it could work for some bum with no

musical talent at all then it was bound to work perfectly for me!

The next evening, I prepared myself for my endeavor by practicing a few old songs and

learning some new ones. I also decided on exactly place I was going to perform at. There

was a shopping square right across the street from my house, and being that it was only a few days till

Christmas, it was bound to be bustling with people. After about an hour of practice I put

on my jacket and fingerless gloves, grabbed my guitar and headed out the door.

I made my way across the street, the only sound was the constant sloshing of snow and

ice beneath tires. It was a cold night, the type of cold that penetrates your clothing and

skin and gives you a ghostly chill. Only a few piles of snow were left from the snowfall

only a couple of nights before. Most of the snow had somewhat melted and now turned to

ice.

As I approached the sidewalk I began to feel a little uneasy about the idea. This would

be the first time I played publicly all by myself. I suddenly felt naked to the world.

I stepped onto the sidewalk and opened up my guitar case. I strapped on my guitar and

began to play. At first, nobody even cared so much as to look at me. I became even more

nervous and began to think that I was playing for a lost cause. Suddenly, however, I

caught the attention of a smiling young couple. They stopped and listened for a bit and

then threw in a five dollar bill before they went along on there way. They liked my music!

My nervousness had now eased a bit and I began to feel more confident. So I

played more enthusiastically, and to my joyous surprise, people began to come and watch.

Eventually, I had a small crowd of people watching me. Only a few of them tipped me,

but still, it was good fun to be playing and to have an audience!

As I stood there and played, my fingers grew numb against my guitar strings. My voice

also began to feel numb in a sense. It got to a point where it was torture to continue on

and play. But I kept on anyways. If there’s one thing that music taught me its that if you

really want to get something done, you’ve always got to persevere.


I had now been playing an hour and a half, most of the stores began to close. As they

did the amount of people shopping died down. I decided to pack up and head home. I

started my way down the street with my guitar case. Fingers numb, voice destroyed,

almost frozen alive. But I was happily satisfied with myself. I kept on thinking to myself,

“People actually like my music”! The thought was so exciting, I almost forgot about

everything else.


When I finally got home, I walked inside and thawed out a bit. Then I decided to count

my earnings. The total added up to fifty-three dollars! More than enough to buy the belt

for Alena! I went back to the shop the very next day and bought it for her. This was it!

The “sign” that would say everything! I couldn’t wait to see her face when I gave it to

her! She might even throw in a kiss if I’m lucky! Well, unfortunately, it didn’t happen

that way. She loved the gift! But not quite as much as I’d hoped. Oh well, at least those

people liked my music.