I Play the Guitar
When I was a child, I was influenced by a number of Hawaiian musicians. One of my neighbors knew Cecilo & Kapono, and they encouraged me to learn the guitar and play. The guitar and ukulele were a big part of my life. We'd sit around the weekend fires, playing, singing, watching those who danced. It was enough to warm your soul, even without a burning fire. Joining me was my high school sweetheart. We carried our guitars everywhere with us, and sat and played whenever the moment allowed. Then tragedy had struck, I came home from an inter-island track meet only to learn that he had been killed in a car accident with his father. I was devastated, and I laid my guitar down under my bed. I couldn't even look at her. Within the next several months, I had written a number of songs, the lyrics, anyway, with the intent of writing the music when I had the power to pick up the guitar again. There's been encouragement from friends and family to pick up the guitar again, but every time I try, I weep. And, so today, almost thirty years later, my guitar still sleeps.