I wish I could quit you...Music

"I wish I could quit you."


I've never seen the above movie. I promise. But everyone knows this line. I'm not sure what the exact story line is for Brokeback Mountain, but I know Jarhead and The Joker are two gay cowboys who would rather be straight cowboys because they have families and responsibilities that don't line up with the "gay cowboy" lifestyle.

Music and I have a similar relationship. I'm not sure which gay cowboy I am, but I'll pick the one who played The Joker because I'm assuming he's the manlier, less gay one. (Just go with it.)

Music is the reason I'm almost 25 and have a year left until I get my Bachelor's degree. Music is the reason I drive a 2001 Mitsubishi Galant that is slowly killing itself and finding new ways to not work or annoy me. Music is the reason I worked at Subway from when I was 17-21. Music is the reason I had to spend a stupid amount of time and money on an expedited password.

I tried to "quit" music by leaving Connecticut, getting rid of my connections/distractions and just make school my #1 priority. FAIL. After being in Virginia for about a year and a half, I spend about 20-30 hours a week rehearsing/recording/playing music in some kind of capacity (not counting rocking out alone in my room).

There has always been a part of me that wishes I never picked up an instrument and just went to college right out of high school, finished my degree in 4 years, and were already a few years into my career. I'd be on my way to the "American Dream" of the beautiful wife, 2.5 kids, white picket fence, dog named Fido, and all that other "adult" stuff.

But I also have a part of me that is beyond grateful for what music has given to me. Music is the reason I got to record a CD with my band Palaris and tour with our friends After the Sirens. Music is why i got to play back-to-back nights at The Hard Rock Cafe in Nashville with Ryan Baker. Music is the reason I got to play Canadian Music Festival with Paul Davidson in Toronto. Music is the reason I got to open for artists like Ryan Cabrera, The Myriad, Lovedrug and Everyday Sunday. Music is the reason I got to have dinner with someone who'd produced David Bowie and Celine Dion. Music is the reason I get to play guitar at Brentwood Church here in Lynchburg, VA.

I could go on and on, but the point is, although I sometimes think music has made my life harder, it's also given me amazing opportunities that some people only dream of. God gave me my ability to use it for Him, and has also allowed me to reap my own benefits from it. I'm lucky. Insanely lucky. So although quitting music gets tempting, it's not gonna happen, and who knows where it will take me next. In conclusion, here's a cute baby giraffe.

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW