You Can Take It With You

Recently a couple of incidents have happened that remind me of a story from my school days.

I had made a friend at Berklee who was an extraordinary bass player and had a very expensive custom made Alembic bass (at that time all Alembics were custom made). He used to drive around in an old Thunderbird or something like that. He told me a story of how he had his bass with him and he was headed to the laundromat for well...apparent reasons, when he decided to stop along the way for quick in and out stop at a friend's house.

This was right in the city (Boston) so he parks and hesitates for a moment as he decides whether to bring his prized Alembic with him. He knows he's only going to be minute...at the last second he takes the bass with him. Fifteen minutes later he comes back and...car gone along with ALL of his clothes. He literally lost his car and every piece of clothing he didn't have on but the nightmare of nightmares was avoided. He still had his irreplaceable bass guitar.

If someone takes your car - they'll also get everything that's inside.

The other day one of my students was accompanying me to a performance at the NSU Recital Hall. We're almost to the hall and he says - maybe I'll see you in a little while? I said "Aren't you coming in?". He wanted to bring his guitar to his car or take it home as he felt awkward bringing in the recital hall. "F**k that" I said (not very smooth, I know) "it's a music hall I think it'll be alright to bring it with you". He wasn't used to the idea that he was somewhere where people would expect others to be toting around instruments.

The thing is...even when it seems awkward, I'd rather carry my guitar around with me in a mall or to a restaurant than chance losing them should someone break into or steal my vehicle. My instruments or irreplaceable. Are yours?