Project 18 to 18: Day 9

Canción Bonita

I highlight it every year because it is truly an integral part of Wonder Boy's life and this year is no different. Today we're talking about music, of course!

From the very earliest of days, long before he even realized he was listening to music, the Boy was instinctively drawn to a catchy tune. We would catch him bouncing along to some melody coming from the television while he played with his toys. I recall a day when the Boy was still barely a toddler; we were looking at speakers in an audio-video store and the Boy put on a one-man dance show while we sampled the various options in the shop, completely oblivious to all of the adults in the room. He was in his own world, engulfed by the music used for the demos!

In our look back to 2009, we see our Boy getting into the swing of things as part of his elementary school's sing-along program! We found a cowboy hat at Goodwill that fit, a western-themed bandana, and a snap-up plaid shirt in his favorite color (blue!) and sent him off to school. I was so thrilled to see him with a paper guitar for the show! He and his classmates strummed out some good, ole fashioned country tunes that afternoon and put on a show I am not likely to forget any time soon.


Catching up to today, we see the Boy picking out a tune before school to the delight of myself and the dogs! His guitar is rarely far from hand when he is at home. It has become his go-to instrument and I have noticed that he puts not only more time into honing his skills on this instrument, but more of himself into each piece when he practices his guitar.

A few months ago, we spent a lovely Friday evening listening to the Boy practice. And at the end of his session, he allowed me to take a short video of one of the pieces he had been working on for his instructor. It's truly a lovely piece and I am glad he let me capture it!

Project 17 to 17: Day 3

The theme for Day 3 of this little project is: BUSTED!

I'm certain we'll be talking about one instrument or another and the Boy's love of music as this project progresses, but for today I have to share a funny note ...

I *love* that Wonder Boy loves music so much, but it's actually become a running joke around the house. You see, we know that EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. we ask him to do something that takes him into his bedroom, especially if he has to go into his closet (for example, to put away clean laundry), we have to build in extra time if there is something else on the schedule.

Clear as mud?

You see ... if we ask the boy to go his room (to get dressed for school, to bring out his dirty laundry, to find a pen ...) we know he will slip quietly into his closet, pick up his guitar, and steel a "few" minutes of practice time!

I really love that he loves his guitar so much! He has truly become adept in only a few short months (he started lessons in February after playing around on his own for about 8 months before that). He has a flair for all things music and right now, the guitar seems to get most of his attention. He has orchestra at school, so his viola is not gathering dust, but right now he only rarely plays piano. And while I sometimes miss the sound of the piano, I am soaking up his guitar time (when we are not on a schedule to get out of the door in the morning, at least). I have always loved Spanish guitar/classical guitar. Maybe it is genetic, because Wonder Boy seems to have found "voice" for his inner music as well. A true blessing for the whole household.


In our look back to 2003, we see an even more mischievous little man, caught in the act of obliterating a box of facial tissue. Just look at that little face, he feels not one ounce of guilt for his deep dive into the Kleenex!

After we were done "instructing" him on proper tissue box protocol, we all had a pretty good laugh about this little escapade.

This is another example though, of one of those photos I had completely let slip from memory. I remember glimpses from this age, of course, but the further away we get from those early years, the more they tend to blend together. I am thankful for this little project to bring some of these moments back into sharp focus.

Project 16 to 16: Day 5

It's Day 5 of our count down to Wonder Boy's big day. And today I am going to again talk about something of which I have mentioned every year, I am sure: the role that music plays in the boy's life!


For the past few months, the boy has started playing around with this classical guitar. He starts official lessons in a few days, but he had made some really incredible gains on his own. And, at present, I enjoy hearing his guitar practice more than any other instrument he plays (& that is saying something because I really love them all)!

Looking back, we see our dear Boy in 2005, conducting the soundtrack to the movie Fantasia. Even at such a young age he was drawn to classical music. As the movie began, he would take center stage in the living room, raise his hands with the conductor, and completely steal the show for all of us present. As the screen faded into the cartoonist's interpretation of the notes, Wonder Boy began to dance and sway around the room. It was a show I truly miss seeing. But more than that, I think it was a glimpse into the importance music will always be to our Boy.

I am glad the Boy has music in his life. I have seen it bring peace when he was troubled. I have seen it echo the joy and glee felt on the best of days. And I have seen it focus his thoughts when he was anxious or having trouble getting settled.

And maybe the best part is that music is a blessing that can be shared!