My Mando and I

Here's the thing. I am never going to stop exploring this amazing world we have here. I mean, it's kind of incredible how each day can be new, filled with fantastic moments if you just open your heart to it. I thought to myself, you know, even though I am not traveling the deep blue anymore....my locations are still exciting. I am still traveling on land. I may settle down for a bit, but I will never stop exploring. 

I wanted to take a moment to talk about my Mandolin. I travel, and I take my mandolin with me. I can't remember the last trip that I didn't take it with me. It has become a part of me (cheesy, but true). I find that my mandolin case is getting torn and tattered. My fingers are developing hard calluses, and I can hear the mandolin accent in every piece of music using this fine instrument. I admire talented musicians like Chris Thile ( from Nickel Creek and Punch Brothers) who make it their lives to respect this tiny but mighty noise maker. 

I was thinking back to when I first began to play my mandolin. Why did I even start? It was the summer of my senior year of high school. Some very old friends of the family invited me and my family up to their ranch in Idaho to see the music festival on the lawn that happens every year. I wasn't expecting much. I mean, Idaho? I had never been and I had never thought of going. But when we got there, it was something magical. The sheer beauty of the place alone took my breath away. I was able to respect the nature, and not feel like I was overwhelmed by the good ol' California traffic. The festival blew me away. I was young, and I didn't know much good music yet, but I did feel a serious connection to the musicians. How they stood up there and shared their lives through a single song. How they conveyed so much passion that made people sing along and dance for joy. They all looked so happy. I wanted that. I want that. But then, Nickel Creek, who I never heard of before, came on the stage and took the concert to a whole new level. I stared at Chris Thile play his mandolin at lightning speed. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. He was a genius. I remember not even getting up to pee, I loved it so much. Their gorgeous harmonies and interaction with the audience made my heart flutter. This was the first time I knew I wanted to pursue music. As a musician and a singer.

After that summer, my father bought his dream ranch up there, and we went to as many festivals during the summer as we could. I sometimes couldn't make it, but I would always discover new artists by my mother getting the CDS. Many incredible artists have played there. To name a few Brett Dennen, Brandi Carlile, Ryan Adams , Wynonna Judd and many more. I have been inspired by this festival. 

But the mandolin came into my life about 2 years later. My sophomore year of college. My father actually fixed up this mandolin for himself because of seeing Nickel Creek at the festival. I remember admiring the details of the F-shaped epiphone (after the gibson), with it's stunning woodwork and impeccable cut through sound. I knew my brothers and dad were the talented ones on guitar and instruments. I tried to pick up the guitar, but truth be told, I have carny hands. But as my dad was fixing this delicate instrument up, I picked it up, only to find that I loved pretending to play it. My dad taught me a few basic 2 finger chords, and I stuck with it. That christmas, my dad gave me the mandolin. And I have been playing it every single day since then. I still have not taken a proper lesson, but I feel it, and I know I want to be better. I get a thrill when I am singing and playing this magnificent piece of art. How can something so small, be so loud and yet gentle? I am going to do this. With my band mate Jessica, one day, I will perform, in honor of beautiful music and dreams, on that same stage that sparked this fire in me. Here's to Portland first, then traveling again. With my Mando.