Nun sells a double-reed piece of her past.

[sistawendy]

Most of you might not have known that I was a teenage oboist. I played in my local youth orchestra for, what was it, five years? (Remember, I grew up in a college town.) I even made the all-state orchestra a couple of times in the fairly populous state of Florida.

The thing is, I've played my oboe four times that I can recall in the last twenty-three years, and I'm in need of cash for electrolysis. So, onto eBay it has gone. I played it last night one last time, and I have to say it felt good. If I really couldn't live without it, well, I wouldn't have effectively lived without it this long, would I have?

If it makes you feel any better, motherofangels, this wasn't easy. I still have the piano, which has a much bigger literature. On the other hand, if this is the biggest sacrifice I make for my transition, I'll have gotten off lightly.

Comments

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

I hope it is the biggest sacrifice you have to make when all is said and done. :)

[mahariel.livejournal.com]

I still have my clarinet, although my saxophone was sacrificed to the bill altar while we were still living in NO. I was, as in so many things, good but not great. I've got a box full of ribbons from solos and such kicking around still.

I'm holding onto the instrument mainly "just in case" for Miss G, if she decides she's interested in playing. It's a sweet lady, and I got it for a song when I was a HS senior, from a guy who fixed up old instruments and sold them only to students.

[ms-vermilion.livejournal.com]

I pretty much stopped playing after graduating with a degree in oboe performance, so I understand that feeling. My oboe and English horn may never get played again, but they'll stay in my closet making me feel bad whenever I think about their neglect.

If you decided to play again you could always purchase another instrument.

Question

[(Anonymous)]

Why don't you just have the sex change and skip the costumes. They are appalling...and scary? I've decided to hold a wake for my son when the transition occurs.
Well, off to the beach.

Re: Question

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming this is you, Mom, but you forgot to log in, so I can't tell. Why not start right away? To give my wife and son some time to get ready. His Bar Mitzvah is in June of 2010, and I've agreed not to make serious changes to my appearance before then.

As for the costumes, you're the only one who's ever called them appalling. Is it the costumes themselves or the person wearing them? I'll keep making them as long as I like.

As for the wake, you do what you have to do.