The social instrument

 

What were we doing 10 years ago? The fun thing about the blog now is looking back at the family photos and all the little things that would otherwise be forgotten. I posted this picture in June 2013 of my first ukulele, writing about struggling to finger pick a few notes of "Ode to Joy." Has it really been that long? Then I should be a much better player by now! 

I never learned an instrument as a kid, much less how to read music, so it was slow and frustrating starting out, especially discouraging with people dismissing the ukulele as such an "easy" instrument. Not for me. I practiced solo until October 2013, when I went to my first SUPA gathering. And later, The Ukes group at the Senior Center.

The Seattle Ukulele Players Association (SUPA) became a victim of the pandemic, what a shame. Those were the days with over 100 strumming, loudly singing players crammed in a room the Phinney Ridge Community Center. They also performed frequently at music events, like the Folk Life Festival. Anyway, now we have the excellent West Seattle Ukulele Players group on Thursday afternoons, and best of all I don't have to drive up to north Seattle.

The Ukes still meet at the Senior Center on Mondays, in fact I went yesterday for the first time in a while. There's still a few familiar faces from the old days, but that group is much changed, as is the Senior Center, and not in a good way. But we do the best we can.  For the young, the pandemic was just short blip in their lives, but it had profound effect on many seniors, gobbling up precious years or even taking their lives. Those of us who made it through with health intact are the lucky ones. How quickly we forget.

Anyway, Ukulele players are a welcoming bunch. I can't think of any instrument where you can play in a social setting like that. Some guitar players lower themselves (ha ha) and take up the uke for that reason. Naturally, it comes pretty easily to them and those are the guys who like to show off their riffs. Unless you're in a guitar band, there's not much opportunity to play with others in a live group.

It looks fearfully hot across the country this week. Speaking of looking back, on June 28, 2021 we had the hottest day ever recorded in Seattle, 108 degrees. A dangerous situation since so few people here have AC.

As usual with the extreme weather, the Northwest is just the opposite at the moment. A heavy marine layer blew in last night and I had John close the windows it was so chilly. But it should eventually burn off to a pleasant 70 degrees this afternoon.