The Music Man

"Originality is... a by-product of sincerity." ~Marianne Moore

I ventured out into the cold today with Mom, Loramy (my roommate), and Chelsea (Ryan's fiance). We ate at Brickoven Pizza and then decided to go downtown and look around at some of the shops.

Downtown districts have so much character. I love them. We went into Stott's Drugstore, which is pretty much like walking back in time. They even have glass Coke bottles, which remind me of my great-grandma Huddleston before she passed away. I remember, as a child, always opening her fridge and having an ice-cold bottle waiting for me!

We also went into this quaint music store on the corner. Selling everything from guitars to string basses taller than me, it's a neat place. It's one of those places where I could see a now-famous musician pointing to as the place where he first fell in love with music: "I remember walking by that window as a kid and seeing that guitar in the window. I saved up all my pennies and bought it one day. I've been playing ever since..."

As we're looking around, this old man with no teeth approaches me. He begins to sing "Pretty Woman" and every other song he can recall that involves beautiful ladies. He shows me the new lime green, sparkly strap he has just purchased that will draw attention when he plays "at the clubs." I listen intently as he talks about the days of George Jones and Merle Haggard, and talks as if they are old friends.

The owner of the store, standing behind the man, smiles at me and shrugs his shoulders as if to say, "I'm sorry. I can't help you." The younger, cuter employee also sends a smile my way. Somehow those smiles are always sent to me out of pity instead of a come-on line.

What they don't know is that they don't have to pity me. I LOVE meeting people like this. Whether he is a washed-up old rocker or a man who doesn't even own an instrument but buys all the supplies is irrelevant. HE feels like a rock star. HE thinks he is second to George Jones. HE looks like a handsome musician with his new lime green guitar strap. And that is what I love. He is an original. I want to know his story.

In a world where no one is true to themselves, it is refreshing to see a guy who knows what he wants to be; he knows what his passion is. He isn't afraid to walk up to a girl 50 years his junior and act like he's still "with the band." I'm going to call him...Earl Laggard...

Rock on, Earl. Play on, Earl. All my love, Ashton

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