Who do you admire? I have a friend named Kevan who plays guitar. In the summertime, we get together and strum, occasionally writing new tunes for the instrument. What I admire about Kevan is his focus and concentration. His lifelong career was in law enforcement, special weapons and tactics. Because he is fluent in Spanish, he still sometimes teaches "Spanish for Cops" to make a little money even in retirement. But his real ambition, at this stage of life, is to be a street musician, a busker. He wants to sit on the corner and play the blues for tips.
Kevan is totally devoted to this dream. He has a strict practice routine. He attends music camps for songwriting. He studies music theory. Whereas I have all kinds of pastimes and am not very proficient at any of them, Kevan makes progress at his chosen endeavor in a way that I can only envy and try to emulate.
Here's a song I wrote this past week, in homage.
Un viejo sentado a lado del camino con su sombreroEspera dinero sin cuidado en verano como niño
Toca la guitarra por divertimento
Un cansado viejo que conoce la guitarra
Es un estrella que brilla y canta as poemas de mujeres olvidadas
Y enamoradas anticipadas
Por favor, escuche, Señor. Por favor, un propina mejor!
Por favor, escuche Señorita. Por favor, llamame tu favorita!
No hay una vida tan benedito como un viejo con su sombrero
Por favor, escuche, amigo. Tocaré la guitarra con brio!
An old man sits by the side of the road, with his hat, waiting for money,
Without worries in the summer, like a child, playing the guitar for amusement.
A tired old man familiar with the guitar Is a star, shining and singing
Please listen sir. A bigger tip! Please listen, lady. Call me your favorite!
There is no life so blessed as an old man with his hat
By the side of the road in the summer, waiting for your money.
Please listen, friend. I’ll play the guitar with brio!
Next time you pass that old man or young man, or woman on the street, playing guitar, or violin, or harmonica, won't you stop to listen? It's their passion, their gift. When you stop to listen, los ángeles sonreirán. The angels will smile.
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