Oh … what a title!  What a struggle to simply say “Yes” to this statement.  And I honour myself for living the journey.

I love singing.  It’s easy (except for the memorizing).

I love playing the cello.  It’s difficult (period).

On Saturday I will be playing a piece called Andante at a concert of cello students.  In my moment, it will be just Frederick and me on the stage.  He’s my oh so patient accompanist.  I’ll be naked to the eyes of the audience.

I first placed the cello between my legs when I was 12.  I quit when I was 18.  I began again when I was 74.  Time flies …

The cello has such a deep tone, especially on the lower strings.  In the hands of a master, like Yo Yo Ma, it sings.  In my hands, there are moments of sweetness surrounded by many wrong notes and sometimes a grating sound on the strings.  Far from mastery.

What Yo Yo and I share is the passion for the instrument’s sound, and for touching the people listening.  Can I bring that passion to the stage on Saturday, “come hell or high water”?

(A bit of trembling)

Yes

“Success” is an elusive word for me.  Still, what if I declare success when I play with my head up, my body swaying a bit, my fingers pressed lovingly into the strings, my essence flowing into the audience?

I so declare