Loud & clear

At the beginning of the year, Annie joined the school band and much to my delight began playing... the trombone. Every week she'd come home and tell me how she was excelling at the instrument and how excited she was but I admit, I didn't exactly share her enthusiasm. I smiled of course, told her how great it all was, but eventually I would try, in subtle ways, to suggest she might prefer trumpet or saxophone. Dreams rushed through my head, my baby girl playing Clifford, Lee and Miles, jamming on stage at the Vanguard while I sat in the audience with pride in my heart and tears in my eyes. OK., so perhaps I get carried away.

One day Annie asked if I'd consider buying her a trombone and I actually said the following: "How about the trumpet? If you like the trumpet, I'll buy you one."

As always she was aghast at my suggestion and I, as always, knew what an awful mother I was. But somehow, in this area I am like a runaway train and simply can not stop myself.

Today Annie broached the subject again of purchasing a trombone, but this time I was ready. Regardless of my own dreams of the future, I was going to support my little trombonist no matter what! And then I said it.

"Don't you want to try the trumpet, just once?"

Annie gasped.

"Mom!" she said. "You're like one of those mothers who wants their child to grow up and be a fashion model and all the kid wants to do is be a scientist!"

And in that moment I went to my CD collection, put on Sanctified Shells by Steve Turre, one of the most innovative and beautiful trombonists I have ever heard.

Look out Steve, here comes Annie.