Well, today you get a big pile of stuff that doesn't even fit together. Randomosities. Blurdom. Craziness.
You get an attempted self portrait I did last night. I can't decide who it really is, though. Me, my contemplating, pondering self? Or ContentiousPianoNut (name changed to protect character), who is basically me in written form, in my novel? If that's the case than I gave her a SERIOUS hair cut which she would hate immensely. Of course, I guess I would hate it, too. But that's just the way I decided the hair would look best, here.
I actually rather like how I did her...er...my hair. If you have any honest, blunt critique I would appreciate hearing it, even if you tell me you think my work is terrible. Personally, to me, these days, empty flattery is worth almost nothing and blunt truth is worth a million bucks or more.
It's an art to be able to tastefully portray what you're REALLY thinking about something, in a loving, gentle way, without coming across as sugar-coating it or dumping heaps of fake praise.
I appreciate compliments as long as they are heartfelt. If they are, then it's a blessing. Sugary cotton-candy consistancy fluffy nothingness? Words spoken simply because the person wanted to try and be 'polite' or overly generous? It is hard to stomach flattery. I am not bashing the lovely people who pour heaps of compliments and tell everyone "good job" a gazillion times. I know a number of very sweet people who do this and I am not saying it is evil. It can work well with little children in building confidence and affirmation of their talents and jobs well done.
There comes a point however when honesty and semi-blunt or even downright bluntness can enter and be fully appreciated. I embrace honesty and heartfelt words. The friend that may only compliment me once in a while? And, when he/she does, it is done very sparsly? I can usually tell they sincerely mean it when they tell me I did a good job.
It's harder to believe the person who dumps bucketfulls of "GREAT JOB!"s on you seemingly 24/7.
Sincerity.
There's an untold amount of value in that virtue.
Ok, ok, I'll stop ranting about fluffy nothingness and flattery.
Did I tell you this last Saturday Southern Lights got to play at another venue?
Well, in case I didn't. We did! The venue? The annual McIntosh 1890's Festival, which attracts 50,000 people yearly.
It being a super fun time of fellowship. My beautiful, sweet grandmother helped us with the transportation of getting there and accompanied us during the day, which was another huge blessing.
I know God blessed the opportunity and used us to point people towards Him. It was so amusing to watch people's reactions as they passed us or hung around and listened for a few minutes.
Typically, people appear either 1., amused, 2., curious, or 3., blessed, when they see/hear us playing.
We haven't been doing this but only two occaisons now, but Maygan had the idea to open her violin case so people could put in tips if they wanted. We just started doing this last week at the Micanopy Festival, and it went very well there. Here? We made almost 70 dollars in 1 hour. Let me make it clear, just in case the idea arises that we are performing for money, we aren't. One thing I didn't care for about having the case out was how it could possibly give us that appearance.
We play because 1., we want to point people to God through our music, and 2., we just love doing it for the fun of it. We don't need money involved, to have a great time. It IS an added blessing though, and we were blown away by how much the Lord allowed us to receive that day. It will help in saving for Maygan's new violin and my new guitar among savings, tithes, and other things.
One of the most common refrains I hear from people when we're performing is how they "never see accordion-players around anymore." Apparently I am the last accordionist on earth. (not really, (derrr) but they sure make it LOOK that way) I don't even know why entirely that I even picked the accordion as another instrument to play. It's such an awkward, unusual piece, really. And 16 year old American girls don't typically play them these days. I have yet to meet one and when I do that will be a most interesting event.
But it's kind of an amusing relationship, the accordion and I.
On the one hand, it is so big and clunky and rather humorous. But on the other hand, it is different, unusual, unique. Maybe I'm somewhat crazy for picking such an instrument at my age. But that's the side which I like. I love how people walk by, a perplexed look on their faces to see a young girl playing an instrument typically embraced by elderly people, and CERTAINLY not the teen culture of today. I can't deny that I like being different.
Here be my fabulous fiddling friend and I enjoying some ice cream after about an hour of music. Boy, was that stuff good, too. Mmmm.
Well, I'll stop jabbering now. I have algebra to work on and I'm sure you're probably bored to death listening to me yack about being an accordionist and all that insanity. DO tell me what you thought of the sketch though. I don't need to repeat my thoughts on sincerity and honest critique.
Happy Tuesday!
