Times are tough. Blah Blah Blah. You hear it everyday. But it's true! Money is tight in almost all families. Everyone says "Oh I want this, I need that!" You don't need everything...But this thing I did.
This weekend my grandparents took me down to Peter Prier in Salt Lake. At Peter Prier they make Violins. I have been playing the violin for 6 years. And when you buy a violin, you buy a size that fits your body. My violin was a 3/4 and it was just way to small for me. But like I said times are tough. And buying a violin is a lot of money. The new size I needed would last me the rest of my life.
My mom had talked to my grandparents about how I needed a new size, my teacher said we couldn't get the sound out of my 3/4 on. So Saturday came. My grandpa said we would go look at violins, find a good one, but not buy one today.
We got to Peter Prier and they started setting out different violins. 3 at a time. I would play a G Major scale and then a few measures of a piece I was working on. Then we eliminated the one I liked the least. I did that about 6 times until I narrowed it down to two. One was a reddish orange color with a higher sound and the other had more of an antique look with a lower sound.
While I was deciding my grandpa asked if I could see this certain violin that Peter had just finished making 3 days ago. It's a $28,000 violin with an amazing sound. The lady got it out and let me play it! Of course I wanted the $28,000 one. But that probably wasn't an option that day. While I was playing that violin the lady asked if she could bring out another one. And so she did. She brought out the nicest violin in the world! It's called a Straitavarious. Made in the 1700's and it's so incredible they have never been able to make one like it again. The lady played it and it was an incredible sound. She then asked if I would like to play it. "Well of course I would!" I said. In my hand I was now holding an 8.2 Million dollar violin. The nicest in the world. Weighs less then 1 pound. That is an amazing instrument I got to play.
Then back in the real world. I chose the most beautiful violin. It's antique look made me turn away from it at first, but I have fallin' in love with it. It was a very deep tone to it which I love.
I have fallen in love with my violin. I can't seem to put it down. I will probably play this violin for a very long time. I dream about the sound each night and can't wait to pick it up and play the next morning. It's so beautiful. I can't wait 'till the new day to play.
Wow! Doesn't time fly? It seems like just yesterday I was giving the announcements, I was getting out of class to support the school, I miss dancing to "Single Ladies" every morning, I was a role model. I was told everyday "You kids are the head of the school, people are looking up to you. BEHAVE!" It seems like it was just yesterday that I was wearing my letterman jacket. And do I still wish I was? Of course! I was having the time of my life. But that dream is over, a new year has started, new classes, teachers, friends, and now no letterman jacket.
But that's ok. I've moved on. Of course I wish I was still the head of the school. Ya, I wish I was still getting out of class. :) Do I wish people stopped telling me "Remember last year when you were popular?" Well, yes! But I've moved on now. I didn't think I would miss officer at all. I didn't think I would really miss the people, or the title. I knew I would miss Mrs. Money but I thought it would be ok.
The beginning of the year came, I was happy, excited, ready! Until the first day of school. I had no friends in any of my classes. I am an outgoing person, I talk to people easily, but not in these classes. I was worried. The first week finished, I was so down. I couldn't believe the first week of school had come and gone. I didn't enjoy it one bit. Sure, it was great to see my friends again, but day after day I wasn't excited to go to school. I didn't understand my math homework, I didn't enjoy some of my classes. I couldn't even imagine what the rest of the year would bring. People told me "8th grade was the worst year of my life! 9th was the best!" I didn't really want to believe them. I loved my 8th grade year. How could 9th get any better?
But the year kept going, I got my schedule switched 3 times. Did I appreciate that? No, not really. I was getting tired of switching what period my history class was everyday. But guess what? Each time my schedule changed, it got better. I found some people in my classes, I liked where I sat more in my new classes. I got transferred into some classes that are now my favorite! I suddenly started to like it. More and more each day.
And now here I am. 4 weeks later. Excited to go to school. Enjoying almost every minute of it. Of course I still have my not so fun classes, or you know the ones you dread to go to. "Ugh! Oh my gosh! It's A day again!" Do I prefer one day over another? Oh ya! But I am still happy to go to school and see my friends!
Am I enjoying the drama? No! But of course that is going to happen. Do I love running the mile every other week in gym? Not really, but I am with my friends so that makes it a lot better! Do I hope that this year still gets better? Of course, I am ready for a challenge! Ready for something new! And then maybe, just maybe, 9th grade could be the best year of my life.
