Well, this is an interesting question. My question back to you is: with or without the constraints of life as I now know it (making a living, family committments, keeping the house fixed, etc.).

I grew up in a musical desert (my home), and didn't discover the joy of !!!!! MUSIC !!!!! until late highschool and on into college. I was learning songs, and my non-instrument instruments (gut bucket, jaw harp, bones, harmonica). Then I went to graduate school, and hit a fork in the road. I was away from my friends that liked the same type of music and doing it "live", and I emersed my self in academics. My "music" was my little secret.

The hiatus lasted 15 years during which I took on the trappings of responsibility. Yes, wife, dog, house, cars, lawnmowers, kids.... It wasn't until I started singing to the kids everynight that I re-discovered what had slipped away. While I see it as a returning, I think my wife looks at it sometimes as cult emersion. Since then, I have learned autoharp, and started banjo, and sing anytime and everywhere.

So, If I had it to do over again. I would never have let MUSIC slip away in the first place. This would have rippled throughout my life, primarily (I believe) in leading me to a spouse that also follows the muse. I really do envy couples that share in making music together.

Given, where I am in life today, I would say that to be true to me I would be on the computer less and practice more. The internet just sucks the time away. Once the kids are a little older and out of baseball, soccer, scouts, etc. etc. etc. I would also like to start going to jams, or even be in an old time group. All it takes is time.

Whew.. I wrote more than I intended.

Over and Out.

JAB