Living in the Vortex

Just to show me that I'm on the right path, that I'm "exactly where I'm supposed to be", who's ever Up There keeps tossing me little bones in the vortex. Little synchronicities and coincidences and serendipities that keep me paying attention, and trying to be grateful.

Today it occurred as I was walking back down Connecticut Avenue in Upper Northwest Washington, D.C. after getting to a task I'd put off way too long.  After passing an Irish bar where I used to do most of my drinking in the Bad Old Days, I noticed the little guitar shop tucked in behind its shadow. I'd been in there once before, I remembered, and I always find it hard to pass a music store.

On my way across the tarmac I remembered that not long ago I'd thought about becoming a street musician. It's good training, and you can earn a little cash while you're at it.

I entered just in time to hear a young lady asking about guitar lessons. She was a singer-songwriter who had taught herself to play guitar, but now she wanted to move to the next level. The proprietors weren't being too forthcoming, offering as they did more Spanish-style training; classical and flamenco and what-not. She persisted.

Finally, put off by their off-putting attitudes, she pulled off, at which point I asked her what sort of music she played. This led to a long discussion related to her desire to play gigs in the area, and frustration at not having done more already.

"Have you thought about setting up on some street corner somewhere?"

"Yes! That's exactly what I'm thinking about doing."

At which point I told her about my friend in Charlottesville, Virginia — a very talented and accomplished blues guitarist — who had done just that.

"I went to school in Charlottesville!" (University of Virginia, she meant.)

Of course.  I suggested she launch her musical career down there, it's like a 1980s Austin, Texas they say.

"I'm from Austin!"

Of course.  She then told me to visit her webpage at Sonicbids.  I'd just been to that site the day before for a related purpose.

So, all you bloggers out there in Blogger Land, help make Kathleen Collins super-famous doing what she calls "girl - guitar - acoustica".