Thursday, June 4, 2009

The assignment

I called Erin on a whim today and it was utterly wonderful talking to her, even briefly.  Man, we just seem to convey so much information, even in a few minutes!  I also find it very healing to speak with her, and hope that she feels that way, too.  One topic of conversation is my depression lately and how I feel that I could have become an international treasure by now (as a performing artist and a songwriter) if I had applied myself more to my craft and really pursued my dreams.  She reminded me in the most loving way that if I focus on what I could have done by now that it will prevent me from claiming my future achievements.  "You are an amazing songwriter.  Now you have Melodiuus Records.  You have dreams to fulfill now, so you need to get to it."  She's right!  I just need to drop those could-haves and blaze forward!

"Give me an assignment," I said, "and I'll write it tonight."  Without hesitation she rattled off a scenario that I need to write about, in the key of D flat.  Major or minor, she didn't specify.  I'm thinking minor.  We'll see.  I have some ideas already written that are along the lines of her topic.  She wants me to write about a woman who is faced with a situation where the man who is everything she ever wanted (but not necessarily everything she needed) is now offering her the world.  OK, that sounds cliche now that I have written it out.  Imagine that the man has already broken her heart and left her, and she knows better, but despite what her head tells her, Bad Boy is all that her broken heart could ever desire.  There's a lot of latitude with this situation.  Will she follow her heart and destroy the lives of everyone she knows including her own?  Does she let that ship sail on, even though it is her greatest, and perhaps only, desire?  Does she try to find some balance, with one foot on the shore and one in the water?  So many people can relate to this type of situation.  I can.  It shouldn't be hard to write about.

In fact, some of my recent work fits right in to this scenario, or could with a little massaging... "All the King's Horses" comes to mind, as does "Sail On."  I'm off to the music room, and look forward to calling Erin tomorrow with my homework!  I wonder... what will my grade be?!