People. Like unto Garbage Trucks They Are.

People are like Garbage Trucks.

I had an English Teacher my Junior year. 

He was awesome! One of those guys who was fluent in many languages, and was pretty much a well of everlasting knowledge. 

I love people like that.

Anyway, one day, near the end of my Junior year, he opened the class with this.

People are like Garbage Trucks.

And at first you think, "hey!"

But It's kind of true. 

And it's even better with his explanation.

People tend to go around, dumping their garbage around everywhere. Now, the choice comes to us. To pick up the garbage, and carry it around so that we can dump it elsewhere, or to just leave it.

Lots of people pick up the garbage they are dealt in life.

But what if we don't. We just leave the Garbage, and instead, we spread something like flowers, or sparkles for goodness sakes? 

I don't know why people find it their job to share their garbage with the rest of the world, but they do. 

And this in itself may in fact be just that. Garbage.

So, take it or leave it.

People are like Garbage Trucks.

They are also like slynkies. 

They're totally useless, but if you throw them down the stairs, they make you laugh. 

Yet another wisdom from High School.

Okay, I guess not all people are like Garbage trucks. There are probably other people like this.

So the real question is, what do you leave behind? Most of us probably leave a mix of both. I know that I do.

Yeah, no one's perfect. But we can choose what we leave behind, and what we pick up. Hopefully leave more of these lanterns, than Garbage. 

But one can only hope, and do one's best :) 

Luckily, people understand. And there is real Garbage in the world. But there is also real beauty. 

We can spread both. So, we should be careful what we leave behind, because someone will run into it eventually. 

Leave beauty, not Garbage. But if you do leave Garbage, someone will clean it up. So, just try your best. At the end of the day, that's all that matters. 

That's What it's all About.

High School.

I've been talking a lot of serious stuff.

That's cool and all, but let's be honest. What is High School really about?

The People! The kids you do absolutely stupid stuff with and feel absolutely no shame whatsoever.

After Junior High School. I was kinda caught, like most people, in a whirlwind of which groups to join, and where to go. Plus, I was anti-social. A serious problem if you're an in-going High School student. However, I started hanging out with these people, half because they were from my same junior high and I had known them since I was a kid, but half because they are just spectacular people. 

And thus, it was born.

Alpha Squad as we later named it.

This is most of the Gang. They are amazing people. Seriously. Like I said, those people you do really really really really really REALLY stupid stuff with, and they never judge you, or think you a worse person. 

Yeah, we've had our ups and downs, but that's the amazing part, no matter what, we were all always there. 

Every weekend, doing something or another, getting cops called on us, never really getting in trouble but feeling like rebels whenever we almost did. 

Here's a more accurate picture of the gang.

Yup. That's about right. 

Parts of me are extremely excited to move on and make new friends in college, but a huge part of me will be sad to split from these amazing people.

These guys are amazing. And it's already begun, the mass spreading of this group. In about 2 months we will all have gone our ways. 4 different states. 4 different countries, to various parts of the world to serve our various purposes. It's crazy. So, I'm savoring my time with them now :) Because I will never forget the memories we have had.

This is Ryan.

He was the first of us to shove off.

Oh Ryan. He's an amazing kid, and we will miss him. He's the first of us that we will all miss.

This was the last time we will all be together for a long time. It was so surreal.

And that was it.

An entire lifetime of these guys, and simple as that. It's blowing my mind. I don't even want to think about how many more times this will happen this summer until there are none of us left.

Now there is one very important person I must introduce.

This is Kates and myself.

Every girl needs a BFF right? Kates has been mine. I had an acquaintance in a class once say to me, "You guys are the cutest! When I think of BFF's, I think of you guys!" Haha I don't know how well we fit, or make the stereotype, but she has always been there for me. 

She plays violin, so of course we met in orchestra. But it was really in High School that we became true BFF's :) 

She's that person I called when I had a bad day, texted in between all of it, partied it up with, spent tons of money on matching clothes with, went to lunch, breakfast, dinner with, went on 2 orchestra trips with, Spent the weekend with, shared music with, played my instrument with, Talked all the time with, Ah, the list goes on and on. 

Here, I have to show you, otherwise I will be here all day typing.

Here we are, really bored in Psychology.

At the Drive in.

One of those shopping sprees you kinda regret afterward, but was so much fun!

And the dresses we got from said shopping spree :)

One of our Orchestra trips, to San Francisco :)

Kates has always been there for me. Always. Even if I wasn't always there for her. Her friendship means the absolute world to me.

This year, Music sterling scholar came down to her and me. They chose her, and she is the only person I would have chosen as well. She completely deserved it :) Yeah, it was tough for me, but I was so happy for her! She worked so hard for that.

She is lovingly referred to as "Mom" amongst our group of friends. 

She is basically our mom when our moms aren't around :) 

I never would have seen myself having a Bestie like Kaitlyn when I was younger, but I'm so glad it was her :)

There is just something about having someone to do everything with, and always ask for advice, or a favor, or something. And something about someone who knew you in every awkward phase, and every crazy ridiculous thing you've done, but they still love you and accept you. 

Plus some one you can drive around with, flipping between radio stations and freaking out, hitting the dashboard, almost causing a crash when your favorite song comes on.

Some one who can be your 3rd wheel, and help you out with your love life ;) 

Some one who you tease relentlessly and they tease you just the same, but you're still there for each other.

Someone who texts you every sunday night with an uplifting message, and as simple as it is, you look forward to that text.

Despite all of the crazy silly things you do in life, she's right there. Even when she's not, she's still there at the end of the day. 

I'm gonna miss my Kates. 

A Lot.

But don't worry, there are a few more people I must introduce to you.

This is my cello family.

Some of them, anyway.

On the right is my "hubby", Caleb.

To the left is Brigitte, my sister :) For the past 2 years, we have been the leaders of the cello section in our youth symphony. 

I love these people! They are a few of my music friends, but some of my closest. They are some more of those people you can do absolutely insane stuff with. Only, they get my music humor as well.

The symphony has been amazing. My sophomore year, we didn't talk much. But then, my junior year, we all of sudden were the cool kids. We were the top of the class. And we took charge, and we grew so close. Last summer, we even had a cello party. Complete with tons of food and electric cellos :)

We have done things that only music nerds would appreciate or understand, and I'm so grateful to them for all of it.

Now, Brigitte has become a great friend of mine. She will be my roomie in college, and I absolutely cannot wait! She is seriously my sister, and we have done amazing things together. I look forward the the new adventures we will have. 

I adore and admire all of these people so much.

Now, there are a few people I have neglected to mention.

First, Ginny.

So, I don't need to explain much about this girl. The picture explains a lot.

This girl is my soul sister. I love her! She is one of those crazy spontaneous people, who just lives out loud, and I love it!

One time, Ginny and I were driving to lunch. I was driving and she was sitting shot gun, oh, and there was a choir kid in my back seat. He hadn't hung out with us tons before hand.

Well, we were blasting tunes insanely loud, as is customary in my car, and all of a sudden the bass dropped. Well, when Ginny and I are involved, that only means an insane freak out of in the car dancing and flipping of hair.

After a minute, the kid in the back was just like, "what the heck?!" Because, we're cellists, we're supposed to be boring, right?

Ginny has been my stand partner in orchestra for 2 years. She is one grade younger than me. And we were pretty much instantly friends. On the first day of school my Junior year, my orchestra teacher had told me that Ginny and I would probably get along, so I was just thinking, "I guess we'll see."

Well, I walked in wearing insanely bright primary colors. Ginny walked in wearing insanely bright complimentary colors. That pretty much sealed the deal.

She is one of those super bright, amazing people, who just lights up your life no matter what!

Yeah, I literally do not own a normal photo with Ginny.

This adds to the amazingness of the situation.

Now, this is what it was all about. The people. These amazing, incredible people that I have shared this sliver of time with. There are a million other stories and people I could tell you about, and share with, but I just don't have the time.

But they are all truly amazing. I was so blessed in High School to have broken out of my shell, and be accepted in so many circles. My High School was good that way, where clicks weren't really a problem, but It's just amazing to me that so many people opened up to me as well.

It is memories with them that I will truly cherish forever.

People keep saying that kids in High School are dumb, and I'm just going to forget them like that. I will forget a lot of people, but none of these people. Are you kidding? They are amazing. I'm not saying everything was perfect between us, and yeah, we've all had rough patches, but they are some pretty amazing people.

Near the end of the year, my dear english teacher just kept saying, "I'm always sad to say good bye to my seniors, but there has been something really amazing about this class. There is just something about them, that makes it particularly hard this year."

I would echo all of that. Because, these kids really have been amazing.

Everyone has to grow up with someone, and I could not have chosen anyone better to grow up with. These lovely people have changed my life for the better. I don't care what the world says, or where life puts us, or how much we even actually talk in the future. Nothing can change the amazing times I've had with all of them.

It's amazing what friends do for you in your life, and it's the memories I've had with them that truly changed mine.

Words can only say so much. These are some of the moments we shared, and I just wish that somehow I could come up with the words for all of them.

(Yes, I proved that you can fit 2 cellos, 1 violin, and all of their players in a 2001 Carolla.)

I'm quite literally filled with so much love, and admiration for these people, I can't find words for it. They gave me a High School experience to last the ages. They taught me some of my best, and hardest lessons. I truly love all of them. No matter their flaws, or the ridiculous things they do and say.

Maybe I'm just a naive kid, living in her cute High School world still.

Yeah, probably.

But no one can mistake friendship.

And these guys have defined true friends for me.

No matter how hard it is to finally get all of these guys to plan something on any given friday night, we still love each other at the end of the day, and we will never forget all of these crazy adventures we have taken each other on.

Confessions of a Perfectionist

Like many people, High School as an experience taught me a great many things. 

I say "as an experience" because most of the most poignant things I learned were learned and conceived outside of the classroom. Which I believe is how it should be. 

One of the most important things I learned came during my Junior year, and continued for the rest of High School.

This here is one of those truths I learned.

When I was a Junior, I took Chemistry. Seems like no big deal, right? I mean, most people have to take chemistry. My Brain is not necessarily geared towards the sciences. Especially those involving math, but whatever. 

So I went to chemistry. The teacher seemed fine, until I actually started having to take tests, and use the things she was teaching. The entire class quickly found that we had no idea how to do any of this. She would teach it, and it sounded like she knew what she was talking about as we listened, but as we tried to apply it, we were absolutely besides ourselves.

I was getting less than 50% on tests, and I was barely staying a float.

No, before this, school had been easy. I had generally been an A student, and this was earth shattering. This was one of those times where I felt I hit rock bottom. I would study chemistry with my dad for almost 3 hours a night, I would feel like I understood it, and then get 46% on a test.

It was absolutely discouraging. 

This was earth shattering. After only one semester I had to get out of the class. I had never "gotten out of a class" before. My stubborn perfectionist didn't want to at first, because I never quit, at anything. Not even at one of those lame video games you should have quit hours ago. But in this case I had to.

One semester is all it took. It plummeted my GPA enough to make the possibility of academic scholarships next to a zero. The rest of that year was also tough because my math class was extremely hard for me. 

So my junior year ended with terrible grades, which I had never experienced! That was not me. I felt like I had hit rock bottom. It was the end. 

That's the thing about the education system, it only grades on very mathematical, methodical measures, and seldom grades the student's actual capacity to learn.

My thirst for learning was always present, and I have always loved to learn. But this was something else. It was every man for himself, apocalyptic, suicidal survival.

For one of the first times in my life I felt like a true failure. 

I have always been a perfectionist. So, failure was never an option. When it did happen, I felt like a terrible person. But I soon realized that it was okay. I realized that this was part of it. And I had tried. I would have truly failed if I put no effort into it, but I had honestly tried my best, and in that aspect I hadn't failed at all.

Yes, this effected me for the rest of High School. It continues to effect me. 

There are many opportunities and scholarships I was not able to get because of that one class. It stinks. Let me tell ya! Our current system places so much weight on grades, I was watching all of my friends get offers of wonderful scholarships, and I had none. 

But, things all work out in the end. Luckily, I had my music. I continued to work and work endlessly to prepare my music, and it has helped me be able to go to college. 

Sure, I don't have as much money as I could have. But I have much more. I have learned something that would have been much harder to learn in college itself. I've learned that failure is okay, and I have learned better ways of preventing failure on a huge scale. 

Yeah, my life isn't necessarily perfect. There are things I wish I could change, but then again it is pretty much perfect. Us Americans have a crazy way of looking at other people's lives and thinking their lives are perfect, and how little we have. However, we have some of the greatest opportunities. We may not have the perfect lives we want, or the perfect lives our Facebook profiles say we do, but believe it or not, our lives are quite perfect. 

It's not about being an absolute success, with everything being perfect in one's life. It's about having the ups and downs, the good and bad, the crazy and calm, and the failures in life that actually do make it quite perfect.

We just have to find our perfection in our life.

And we just have to remember, things usually work out in the end. Especially if one always tries one's best. 

I still graduated with High Honors.

College still accepted me.

And at the end of the day, It's this that really matters. It's the people, not the accomplishments in life. Because accomplishments can only get you so far, but the people in your life will be there to carry you wherever, or whenever you need.

A Love Story

Let me tell you a story.

It's a love story :)

When I was the ripe old age of 8 years old, my loving parents placed me under the care of a very qualified piano instructor. For many years, I begrudgingly practiced my instrument.

I. Hated. Practicing.

I began to hate piano. 

Bless it's dear soul........

The beginning was amazing. I had begun to understand music, and actually become good at it. However, I also saw the other pianists in the same studio. They were much better. I knew I would never be a great pianist, even though my rose colored glass wearing parents and grandparents were convinced I was the next Rachmaninov, I knew it was a lost cause.

Around these parts, we have an orchestra program which starts in the 6th grade.

Now, I knew nothing of the orchestra. 

Yes, my mother played violin, but at this point, I was oblivious of that. She hadn't touched her violin in many years. 

However, despite my lack of education on the matter, when I was in the 5th grade, I KNEW that I had to be in orchestra. Don't ask me why, or where this even came from. I just knew. And, due to my lack of knowledge, I figured I could just play the piano in orchestra. True, orchestras sometimes use a pianist, but not all of the time. In fact, they seldom do.

So, 6th grade came, and time to sign up for orchestra. The teacher came and gave a demo on each of the instruments. Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass. I was giddy with absolute excitement! As I think about it, I don't even know why!

Anyway, after all of the demos, I went up to the teacher, and expressed my plan to just be her pianist. She informed me that she did not have need of a full time pianist. 

I was secretly glad, because after seeing the instruments, I had a giant, giant hope to play one. 

It was probably the first time in my life I actually dreamed. A real dream, you know? 

When I was a child I wished for a pony every time I blew out the candles on my birthday cake, but this was real. This was my real life pony.

I immediately Identified with the cello. Why?

Well.

My mother and sister played violin. I absolutely could not copy them. Plus I saw the violin as a weaker instrument. Viola, was just like violin. And bass was too big even for me.

So, that left the cello.

But it was more than just that. It was some sort of connection, of something that had always been a part of me, I just didn't know it.

So, I went home. Told my parents. Where I found the courage to do that, I have no idea. Because that is a HUGE request, and I was a shy, very conscious child who would have never done that normally. It was just one of those things I knew I had to do I guess.

Well, my loving parents, looked at me thinking about the money that would take. The were probably scratching their heads inside, and trying to talk me out of it.

Well, my Dad called Summerhays music. They had a cello. One cello. So, we rushed over. 

We walked in and told the lady at the desk of our intentions. She immediately went to the back and pulled out a black, curvy case as she started explaining and speaking of cellos and string instruments. 

I honestly don't remember anything she said or what she even looked like, I was already lost in cello world. 

I remember when she finally peeled away the cello case, (a cello sleeve really. Student cellos have pathetic cases.) 

I was instantly in love. The cello had a red tint to the wood, and it was absolutely gorgeous!

MMMM so scrumptious! 

It was like, I was already talking to the cello. It was like one of those body language conversations you have with someone across a sandwich shop with your eyes or something like that.

She finally had me sit down and place the cello in playing position, and actually hold the cello.

OH WHAT RAPTURE!! 

I never wanted to let go, and I honestly never have.

That was my first love. Paul. Lovingly named after my favorite Beatle, Paul McCartney. Though, he didn't get that name for a while. It takes a while to form a bond with an instrument, but once it's formed, it is probably the strongest bond anyone has with an inanimate object in the world. Okay, maybe people have a similar connection with their cars, but instruments win in my mind.

I remember one day sitting in orchestra. Many things came very easy to me in orchestra. I already read music, and all of that jazz, so I was fairly bored. And being bored with a cello, you just kind of think to yourself and mess around on your instrument that's as big as you.

Well one day, I was sitting their as my teacher went through and tuned the instruments in the class. I saw my teacher, and I thought, "Wait a minute. I can literally do this for the rest of my entire life."

Before this, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. Literally, I had no desire to be anything at all. Maybe an artist, but that isn't a very fruitful form of income.

For once in my life, I knew for an undeniable fact what I wanted to do. And I can honestly say, I have never looked back.

I played Paul for many years. 5 to be exact. He was a great little cello, bless his dear heart :) He was like me. Not perfect, still learning, and had his many quirks. His A string when played open in its natural form had a very distinctive "poing" sound, due to his bridge being made too high.

Paul and I grew up together.

As the years went by, My passion for the cello grew. Exploded more like. I was more and more disenchanted with the piano, which I was still taking lessons for. 

However, in 7th grade, all of these new things I was wanting to do with my life became more and more confirmed. My teacher awakened in me more and more possibilities. We played quite difficult repertoire for little 7th graders. My friends were all mostly in orchestra. They also confirmed my convictions.

One day. I did it. I took my tapes off.

Every beginning string player is branded with stickers and tapes. They lack the muscle memory to not look at their hands, so stickers are placed on the finger board to help them know how to play in tune. 

I realized one day, I would not move forward if I left them on.

So, off they came. And I played a little ditty without my tapes to commemorate the occasion.

When I was in 8th grade, I came to my parents with yet another earth shattering proposition. I had wanted private cello lessons for some time. My parents decided to enroll all of their children in music lessons at the age of 8. The original plan was to enroll all of them in piano at that age. (Which I endorse for many,) However, my younger sister refused to play piano, so she had gone straight into violin. 

I must confess I was somewhat jealous. Okay, A lot jealous, because I was still stuck on piano, and I hated every minute. I mean, my schedule was becoming quite busy, so I was getting up at 6 in the morning as an 8th grader to attend piano lessons. Really, I was dragging myself out of bed for yet another ill prepared for lesson where my teacher would just get mad at me for a lack of practice yet again.

One night, at my sister's violin recital, I just couldn't take it anymore. That night I told my parents for the last time I wanted private cello lessons. I got a list of teachers from my orchestra teachers and gave it to my dad.

One of the first people we called happened to be an amazing teacher. We observed one lesson of his just to make sure, but after being thoroughly impressed, the first thing my mother told him after the lesson was, "Book us!" 

I Was SOOOO Excited!!!

Oh my gosh! I finally had a chance at this amazing teacher, and I felt for once that all of these secret dreams of playing in amazing concert halls and doing music for the rest of my life were within my tiny grasp! (Though I'm a cellist, I was not blessed with large hands....)

My first few lessons, I was nervous beyond belief for, my teacher is an older retired gentleman, with a lot of experience, and he can come off as quite intimidating. But he has made me the cellist I am today. 

So, a few years ago. My parents were instrument shopping, Once again. For my brother for a viola. 

Which is totally fine, and their decision, but they went to Peter Prier's....

Let me say that again, They went down to good ol' Peter Prier's shop here in Salt Lake City. 

Peter Prier. That's like the string player's paradise. They made the mistake of bringing me along. I had been playing cute little Paul for 5 years. He tried real hard, but he was on the cheaper end as far as cello goes. So, I was out playing him. Drastically. I was a worse cellist than I could have been because I was playing him. Well, they also made the mistake of letting me try out some cellos on my visit to the violin shop.

My eye caught this one, slightly darker cello. But I tried some other cellos, and instantly knew I needed another cello.

Once again, I convinced my parents to relent. Bless their dear hearts, I don't know how they did it. 

A few weeks later, we made a return visit. Peter's shop is decorated with paintings of all of my favorite cellists. Rostropovich! (Remember that name, he is pretty much the god over the cello.) Pablo Casals, Yo yo ma, So That shop is my heaven on earth. 

Well, Peter took us back to the back room with all of the cellos. I was practically salivating. A room completely full of cellos. That is how to make Jessica Happy. THAT cello was still there. The darkish cello. He pulled a few cellos, and that was one of them. The first one I played was good, a little lighter in hugh, and it's top tone seemed broad. (I prefer darker, more rustic cellos mind you, so perhaps thats why this other cello had caught my eye.)

Well, then he gave me the other cello. It cost significantly more. Of course. My father has always joked at my expensive taste, well it certainly showed this day.

I picked it up, and began doing some rudimentary exercises on the new instrument. Peter was somewhat of a Santa Claus to us that day. We were under his careful care and attention that day. 

At first the cello seemed quite evenly matched, but there was something with this cello. It was THAT connection. That sort of, "this is the start of something..." feeling.

Suddenly Peter chimed in,

"No, no.... Play Mr. Schwann, you know that, don't you?" Of course I knew "Mr. Schwann". This was peter's cute German accent showing itself, He was talking about "The Swan" by Camille Saint-Saens, which is one of those beautiful staple pieces amongst cellists. And it was about to become our song.

It is a slow piece with very high shifts and notes. Well, as soon as I tapped into this cello's tone, He opened, like a book falling to a page, or some sort of mechanism engaging, This cello opened up. His already full tone absolutely blossomed when I played him like that. 

I think at that moment, we both fell hopelessly in love. We fell into a trust that will last for a very long time. Immediately, that was my cello. We opened up to each other. We accepted some sort of oath, and accepted each other as we are and were. It was love at first sight, and now, at first sound. The Swan will forever be Our Song. 

Antonio. That's his name. It came within about 3 minutes of getting home.

Tony is really his name.

Made in 1994, West-Germany. I have fantasized many times about Tony's life before me. I'd like to think he slipped from some virtuoso's grasp, gently into mine.

When I got him, he had his quirks too. He had a giant scratch on his back. Poor guy. Some unknowing user had scratched the back with a button or something on his shirt. So, I had to give Tony back for a few days to get it all fixed up. He still has a scar, but I just call it his battle wounds ;) 

A cello usually takes a while to break in. It just does. Much like a horse, Cellos will buck you off a lot in the beginning.

My teacher played Tony when I first got him. We walked into my lesson proclaiming we had purchased a new cello.

"You did what?!" Was my teacher's immediate response. Well, Tony passed the test :) Poor Paul did  not have as much luck, but under my teacher's experienced hands, my new friend sounded even more brilliant. My teacher played at the very top of Tony's range, testing the endurance of this cello.

"Wow, it just keeps going, doesn't it?" 

"Yes!" I said, beaming like a proud parent.

"Well, you got a good one."

He passed! 

But Tony had to be broken in. According to my teacher, even though he was an older cello, he hadn't been played that much. But it was my job to change that. I had symphony auditions in a few weeks, so I spent the first few weeks, fashioning Tony to be in perfect playing condition for my audition.

But that's the thing. It didn't feel like I was breaking him in. All cellos are a little different, so it takes cello and musician a bit of time to get used to each other, but I fell easily into the flow with Tony. I had previously had to fight my old cello to get a good sound. Not with Tony, he was gentle, but had the German umph when I needed it. 

So perfect.

Tony quickly became my best friend :)

He still is. 

He takes up my entire back seat. In fact, when I got my car, the cello case came along to ensure safe cello passage would be plausible with the vehicle.

This is us on our 1 year Anniversary :) What an amazing year :) And we are nearing 2 years in a few months. Almost to the day I will move into my apartment up at college. It is really because of Tony that I am pursuing music in college. He made a lot of it possible. 

Oh the adventures we have been on :)

Abravanel Hall.

Countless Rehearsals.

Many new friends :) 

The people are my cello family from my symphony, Brigitte and Caleb. The cellos are Tony's symphony family.

Tigris, (on the right) and Gastone (on the left) 

Tony is very flexible for a cello. He has been many places that few cellos have been. And this is the preferred hold for a cello about town :)

Not even a college audition when his person was sick could hinder Tony ;) Apparently I sounded good, I made it into the music program, but my ears were so plugged I could not vouch for myself on that one. It's really all thanks to Tony.

Even 2 pit orchestras, which are difficult when you play a large instrument. That is where the rest of his battle scars come from. Playing in the trenches of the musical world, but he is a trooper :)

That is our story.

It by no means ends there, it will go on and on, and I can't wait for the new adventures we will have. I have had plans of a cello quartet at the back of my mind for years, and me thinks college may be the place ;) 

Never underestimate the power of a dream.

When I picked up the cello, I certainly wanted all of this, but I thought it impossible. 

However, with enough hard work, (I know it sounds cliche,) but those dreams are possible.

My cello teacher has had many a discussion with me on the value of hard work, especially in the music field. I have come across many naturally talented individuals. Although many say that I am, I must respectfully correct them. 

I'm a normal girl with an insane amount of obsession, passion, and willingness to work at it. None of it would be possible if I let Tony rust in his case. (Or, decay, I'm not sure what wood does exactly...) 

I know many talented people who don't have to work very hard. I'm totally jealous. Because music for me has been a constant job for over 10 years. And it's because of that work, that I am able to pursue it in the capacity that I am. 

So please don't short yourself by getting caught up in this world of harsh reality. You don't have to be the best at something to succeed. Just try, and that will bring you much farther in life than a great many things.

And on love at first sight, It most certainly exists :) 

It happens every day.

Just ask the sandwich I had for lunch. I knew it was meant to be.