I bought a really cool violin from one of my brother’s friends about a lifetime ago. I was shrewd. Bro told me what the person was asking for, and I offered 40% less. I got the fiddle, and a feeling of guilt for taking advantage of Bro’s friend. It was a slightly elongated shape and had the character of a fiddle that an old timer would play. Over the years, it had fallen into disrepair. I took it to a violin repair shop today, very excited about the prospect of getting my old fiddle repaired, and re-learning the Irish and old timey American music that I used to play. I am now an old timer myself, and am in need of a prop to play the part.

I brought my good violins in to the luthier as well, to make them playable again. It had quite a while since I’d been in the world of musical instruments. There were dozens of violins arrayed, lining the walls, and a green, felt-lined table upon which the instrument in question was to be examined. I brought out the violin which I hoped would be my playing companion. He examined it and told me, “Whatever you paid for this, it was too much”. Damn! Now my dreams of being a newly-discovered old timer along with his old fiddle, were dashed.

I’ll just have to play it straight and practice on my good violin until I become a better player than I’d ever been. No props.