One of the deciding factors to relocate to Austin when I completed my 8-year self-imposed exile from the US was the mild winters. That paid off once again this past Saturday. Low 70s weather in mid-December found me outside, participating in a marimba demonstration.
I’d volunteered to work the Sustainable Food Center’s information table at the Cherrywood Art Festival, which I knew would be a wonderful experience since I’d be surrounded by art, music, food and a creative buzz all around. I hadn’t counted on participating in a marimba demo.
As usual, my coordination challenged my playing ability. My dancer’s ear was my only saving grace. Once I let my body move with the groove, I could play the rhythm the real musicians had taught.
After a few minutes, I’d worked up a sweat. For the brief time I played, the group of us actually sounded pretty good while we amateurs held down the rhythm.
Even though I volunteered for four hours, I was starving by the time I got home. Typically, I took a power nap after eating a late lunch (or what my parents would refer to as “dinner”). I cleaned up my tiny apartment, read and got cleaned up myself to attend an art opening.What an incredible collection. I’d seen several of the artists’s work before. Moreover, I met some interesting people and became entangled into a couple of good conversations. Of course I gave them my card. My ulterior motive for attending such events was to recruit for the Austin Writers Roulette, regardless of whether they were writers, musicians or just enthusiastic audience members.