Pan Callin Meh
May. 12th, 2010 07:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wlotusWhen I lived in Syracuse, NY I met a man in Utica who wanted to start a small steelband. That is where I got my start playing and improvising on six-bass; I consider him my "Pan Daddy". A few years ago he moved back to his hometown in Trinidad. When I called him last year to wish him a happy birthday, his number had been disconnected. Since I don't know his people, I wondered if something had happened to him and no one knew to call me. Awhile back he suffered a serious brain injury, so I tend to worry when I don't hear from him. I tucked his memory away in a warm corner of my mind and hoped he was alright.
This morning an unfamiliar Trinidad 'phone number appeared on my Caller ID. When I heard his voice, I felt as though he had risen from the dead! He had lost his phone with my number saved in it and after months of searching had finally stumbled upon my number in an old telephone book. He was just as glad to hear my voice as I was to hear his.
Now that we have each other's numbers again, we intend to keep in touch. He is working with a fairly young steelband and wants me to come to Trinidad to play bass with them for Carnival. If finances allow, I will do just that. He is one of two, perhaps three people in the world who could get me to re-enter the Trinidadian steelband scene. After all, he's the one who gave me my start.
This morning an unfamiliar Trinidad 'phone number appeared on my Caller ID. When I heard his voice, I felt as though he had risen from the dead! He had lost his phone with my number saved in it and after months of searching had finally stumbled upon my number in an old telephone book. He was just as glad to hear my voice as I was to hear his.
Now that we have each other's numbers again, we intend to keep in touch. He is working with a fairly young steelband and wants me to come to Trinidad to play bass with them for Carnival. If finances allow, I will do just that. He is one of two, perhaps three people in the world who could get me to re-enter the Trinidadian steelband scene. After all, he's the one who gave me my start.
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Date: 2010-05-13 12:56 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2010-05-13 01:38 am (UTC)And, btw, let's all make a resolution to jot down those important phone #s and e-mail addies in an offline, paper format. That we lock in a safe. :-) Glad to hear that the two of you reconnected--your steeldrum mentor sounds very important to your spiritual health.
Rock on! Drum on! Beautiful sound!
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Date: 2010-05-13 01:52 am (UTC)By the way, we believe T is part Trini. Her paternal grandmother went to Trinidad on vacation and came back pregnant. No one knows who T's paternal grandfather was, but he was probably a Trinbagonian.
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Date: 2010-05-13 09:52 am (UTC)But somehow the lesson I'm taking from yr entry is that you lived in Syracuse but finally made yr way back to NYC. :-)
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Date: 2010-05-13 02:03 pm (UTC)I lived upstate for 11 years and did all but one of my college internships there. It was good for me to be there, but I am happy to be back in NYC.
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Date: 2010-05-13 12:42 pm (UTC)I really Love the idea of you playing the pans again...and if Ms. T wants to give it a whirl, even better!
I hope you get to go and play...and take pictures, of course!
*hugs*
K.
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Date: 2010-05-13 12:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-13 12:59 pm (UTC)SO EXCITED!!! :)
K.