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Topic: Music and Video
I'm a percussionist.

No, that's too fancy, and implies that I can play a lot of different musical instruments which I can't really play. I'm a drummer. I haven't played properly in a long time, and I'm rusty, and out of practice, and can't even remember what a flamadiddle* is, but I'm pretty sure I can still do one if it comes along in the song.

I live in an apartment, and there's no room for a drum kit. I doubt there's even space enough in here for a decent 5-piece footprint. And if there were, the neighbors would complain, partly because it would be loud, and partly because I'm nocturnal, and they're not. So I don't get to play.

But everyone has a need for musical outlets. I've been tapping the steering wheel and singing in the car for mine. Other people are lucky enough to have a guitar and the talent to play it, or maybe they just hum a whole lot. Or they have talent with a keyboard** or maybe bass guitar. All these things can be played in an apartment. They can be played quietly and their neighbors won't be really upset. I envy them.

Occasionally, when the weather is right, we hear one of the houses near ours, as its denizens play various instruments. It seems they hold band rehearsals there. The bass player seems to live there, so once in a while he practices without them. That just sounds odd. If you've ever heard the bass line of a song without hearing the rest of it, you know what I mean. It's not annoying... if you go inside, you can't hear it unless you're trying to, and anyway they don't play late at night. That means during the day, when they play, I'm asleep, usually. I consider them lucky.

But I have musical needs too. So I did something about it.

I bought a harmonica.

It came with a book on how to play, so I'm thinking I'll maybe practice mornings when I'm the only one home, and learn how to play the thing. Just for fun. I just want to be able to play some of the harmonica parts from songs like "Last Dance With Mary Jane," by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Hells, even The Beatles used harmonica in some of their songs.*** I have to consider it a valid part of contemporary music, with its own place in The Halls of Rock.

Comedian Stephen Wright once stated that he played harmonica by putting the harmonica in his left hand, driving down the freeway at 70 miles an hour, and sticking the harmonica out the window. I don't think I'll do that.**** But it'll be nice to have a musical outlet again. Besides, nobody ever looked up at the group as they sat around the camp fire in the middle of the desert and said "Hey, Jed! Pull that piano out'n yer pocket, an' give us a tune!"

And having the harmonica in my pocket, should such a situation arise, would be a responsibility... an honus,***** if you will, falling squarely upon my shoulders. And when I hear the call, I shall not be found wanting. I shall proudly and triumphantly reach into the inside pocket of my duster, draw forth the harmonica in its sacred protective bag, remove it, place it to my lips, and begin to play.

And that's how we'll keep the coyotes away.

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*This is a real word that I did not make up or invent in any way. I swear. See?
**The kind that makes music and doesn't have "QWERTY" printed along the row.
***Not in "Helter Skelter," mind you, but some of them.
****Well... maybe once.
*****Not Hohner, although it might be.

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