The Story of My First Ukulele

  "One day I'm gonna have my own ukulele," I remember telling myself growing up. My siblings and I would listen to radio show called, "Adventures in Odyssey," and one character played the ukulele. From that episode on, my love for the ukulele was born. I'd imagine myself playing along and smiling in my own world with flowers and sunshine. Occasionally, I'd remind my parents that I wanted one but I always said I wanted something! My poor parents probably learned to tune me out after, "I want". (Yes, I was a silly kid.) The older I got, my want turned into a need. "MOM, DAD, I NEED A UKULELE!!!" It was on my Christmas and birthday list for years in a row, along with a camera I had long sense forgotten about, a bike I gave away, a cell phone I lost, and purse I sold. The reason no one bought it was quite obvious but I swore this time I would stick to it. 

  After I moved to Texas last year, I found a little guitar store in the next town. I decided to stop in one day out of curiosity. Right in the front was a whole wall of ukuleles. Uh oh, I turned into a kid in a candy store! After perusing, strumming and caressing each one, I finally settled for a little, sky blue soprano. The owner warned me it wasn't a pro but I assured him,  "I'm only a beginner and it doesn't cost that much so if I do decide I don't want to play, I won't be wasting too much money." (I've gotten smarter in my old age.) "After I master this one, I'll buy my own professional ukulele," I told him. This soprano was perfect for now.

   This year for my 19th birthday, I put it at the very top of my birthday list. If I didn't receive anything else, this was what I wanted. Finally, my birthday came and I was headed to my birthday dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant in Tyler. When I walked in, I was handed a little, odd-shaped box. I opened it and cried. After all these years, I had my first ukulele. It was my turn to play the beautiful melodies and escape to my own little world...

After three months, I'm playing for people. I know most chords and strum patterns. I've written a few songs of my own and I've decided something. My journey with the ukulele has just begun! My family should be proud; I'm sticking to it!