While I was digging through my Old Stories folder looking for the horn thing, I found this story I wrote about an experience I had in high school. I can't vouch for its quality as it was written over a year ago and possibly under the spell of some bitter reminiscing, but here you go anyway:
A Full Bowl
A Full Bowl
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That's the second time I've cried in two days. I know I'm getting older but that's one side effect I hadn't expected.
And both times (Nimrod, yesterday) were connected to you and your horn.
You say you cannot vouch for the quality of the writing; well it is wonderful. Not just the raw truth of it, but the way you totally involve the reader in the minutiæ of your everyday life, complete with laughs, and then that awful news hits us almost as shockingly as it must have hit you …
If you play the horn a hundredth as well as you write, you must be a virtuosuo.
I was sad enough about your family life, but then to lose your only real friend.
You write beautifully. That was a long time ago, but I'm really sorry.
Diver, I believe I've heard the Nimrod thing before--I wish I could have heard it live.
I am hardly a virtuoso--in fact, when I left the arts building after my lesson this afternoon, I practially cried, trudging down the sidewalk in a crumpled up heap of insecurity and self-doubt. There's always another chance to not suck, I keep telling myself.
And no self-doubts; every note you play is the best note you have ever played.
And get online and get hold of a copy of Elgar's Enigma Variations. Nimrod is heartbreakingly beautiful (and great for horns).