Comments

Eileen,
Keep on keepin' on with practicing and playing the Violin! If you are old enough to have a 16 year old, the Rotten Kid doesn't need YOU to be wiping his nose and other messy parts! But, I'll bet in about 5 years he will beg to play piano with you. (Check out Mark Twain's remark about his father: "When I was 16 my father was the most ignorant man alive. When reached 21 I in awe at how much he had learned in only 5 years!).
As for your husband...let me back-hand him for you. He should HUSBAND you as he would any part or person in his "kingdom." That means he should encourage you to develop yourself in those areas in which you take delight, like playing music. It's too easy today to turn the radio or slap a CD on to hear some music. But also, don't give up encouragaing Jenn and your other friends to grow as violinists, musicians and people. Everything you have is a gift, (even your non-husbanding husband), so use them wisely and diligently.
Another way of summing it up is, "Non illigitimi Carborundum." I offer this to not as some whacked-out Feminist always knocking down men, but as a man who sees another man not fulfilling his role as husband, at least in this one area. Husbandry does not apply only animals! (So, right after you put that load clothes in the washer, run to your practice room!) :-)

John Baker, Tubamirum

Eileen, this is the first time I've read your blog and I can totally relate to a lot of your experiences.

1) I have a 15 year old son who no longer plays the piano
2) I have a husband who makes fun of my playing and asks me to play in the garage so he can sleep
3) I have an old Germanic/Tyrolean unlabeled violin too, very beautiful old-world sound
4) I used to play violin up to high school, got to the Mendelssohn Concerto #1 (okay, this is more like your friend Jenn)
5) God definitely called me back to the violin because I was at church 3 years ago when a woman brought in her violin and since I said I used to play the violin they all asked me to play something. Then the pastor brought over a group from another church with a violin player. That was 3 years ago. Now I play hymns for the congregational singing.

Just keep your chin up and under your violin. And definitely be a Barnabas, encourage your friend and know that you're on a mission. To use your violin for the Glory of God, and to make new friends so that you can witness to them and win them for Christ. God has allowed me to meet so many people once I had a violin tucked under my chin, and each one is a precious soul that Jesus died for. God Bless you Eileen.

Clare

Clare, I hope you meant "keep your chin up and OVER a violin." Eileen's going to be mighty discouraged if she tries playing with her chin under the violin. ;)

After reading about both your families I feel very blessed to have a husband who supports my violin studies so well. My biggest problem is my needy three-year-old, who hates everything that doesn't involve her being the center of attention, including my practicing. I hope that's a phase that'll pass soon.

I think as adults we realize that every moment we spend with this instrument we love so much is a gift. I wish you all the best of luck in getting more of those moments, but in the meantime, enjoy the ones you have!

Thank you for saying what you did, John. My ex-husband was jealous of my violin, and that was a serious problem. Thank you all so much for the encouragement ! It was greatly needed. I was having a "hormonal" moment yesturday...feeling very melancholy and blue about wanting to play so badly...and not being able to. Guess I'm not the only one in this position...lol....so I'll stop whinning about it...for a little while anyway ! :-D Yikes, I meant OVER the violin. Eileen, I hope today was better. I got the day off from work, and thought about you, practicing a bit, doing some housework, then practicing another little bit, doing some more housework. It does seem to break up the day and make more effective practice. I even sightread the Beethoven Violin Concerto half-way through the first movement! I also left two violins on the couch with case open and played one against the other. It helps to keep me interested how they respond differently. Also, I read that it opens up the violin that is not being played because it vibrates sympathetically. My husband is out of town, I dropped him off this morning at the airport. And my kids are all into video games... So looks like I'll get another couple of hours in, after cooking and dinner. Ah Clare ! So glad I was able to help you out..lol ! I did have a better day today. My husband had to go to a wake at the other end of the state so I had a few hours of unhindered practice. I can really open up and play when I don't have to worry about "bothering" anyone. My kids don't say anything, they just ignore it pretty much, though I did get a compliment from my daughter today !!! "Mom, you're sounding much better now..it doesn't screetch anymore when you play" LOL...I'll take that anyday..even though I havn't "screetched" in over a year and a half ! My husband isn't so bad really...he's as patient as he can be. He'll just breeze by with a scowl on his face that says.. "Geesh, can you lay off for awhile"
I'll be going to the fiddle group tomorrow evening....I always look forward to that. It's not really the kind of playing I want to do..just a bunch of folks trying to outdo each other in speed..lol..fiddlers are such egomaniacs..but a really nice group of folks. I much prefer the kind of playing I did on Sat with Jenn and Krysten...but I'll take anything I can get at this point !!!