Here, I will do ALL of the things that I do in Pennsylvania. That's definitely a note-to-self for my next big adventure. I'm going crazy without my music. No iPod, no iTunes, no guitar...nothing. What a crazy thing to do! I considered these things before leaving, and I thought, 'No, I don't want to be in this amazing country all hung-up on my music, in my own world.' Now I realize that world has followed me here. I've been relying on Youtube for all of my music listening needs, and let me just say, it's not very satisfying.
I've been really jones-ing for my guitar. Every day, I walk down the street, and there are street musicians everywhere playing and singing. It's beautiful. To have the nerve to just set up a PA and play, I will never understand, but I wish that I could. I watch them, and I dream of being that person someday. Paige has been telling me since Rome that I should get a guitar here. They really are cheap. Seriously, like a decent guitar for forty euro. That's beside the point.
Tonight, Paige, Lily and I were walking around after getting one of the tastiest gelato yet. (I feel like I say that everytime that I get gelato!) While walking past the Uffizi, there was a street musician at the piazza there. On a whim, we stopped and listened. We sat behind him, and it was a great decision. There was a man sitting next to us, and when I said, "This area has great acoustics!" he turned and nodded. A musician, obviously. There was a guitar case next to him, but I thought that it was the performer's. After talking, I learned that this man is a songwriter from Boston. I was in awe. After the street musician was done, Paul (the man next to me) got out his guitar and asked me to play something. Slightly in shock, but super excited, I played my usual go-to song, "Colorblind" by Counting Crows. Naturally, I was super nervous and shakey and quiet and, well, I sucked, but it was great to play. Then, he played a song that he wrote the other day. It was pretty good, very sing-able. I caught on pretty quick and started singing harmonies. It feels so great to sing and play and just get some music going in Italy. I've missed it so much, even if it is just a personal thing for me.
Anyways, I'm hoping that we run into each other again for some more jam-time. I need to play (yes, music is a need), and even just singing along would tickle my musical bones. Plus, I have to remind myself, I have a question with his lyrics: how does Van Gogh relate to Chinque Terre? I'm a technical gal.
So I came home to the apartment with notes floating in my blood. My goal this year is to kill my nerves of playing guitar with people around so that my music can be true and my love and knowledge of it can seem more legit and believe-able because right now, I feel like a doofus when I play because I get so damn nervous.
I believe in signs.
Tonight, we went up to the Piazelle Michelangiolo to watch the sunset. There were guys there playing guitar, and Paige kept saying that I should ask them if I could borrow one. Shy as I can be, I was content with allowing them to provide a soundtrack to my surrealistic surroundings. I got some great shots to paint when I get back to the States. If I can ever bring myself to leave...
Blessings.
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