sam13
Well-known member
Playing the Ukulele has brought me so much joy, I wanted to take a moment to write something special and personal for my 1,000th post since joining in Feb 2014.
During the fall of 2013, I was looking for something to help restore joy in my life … I was diagnosed with Severe Sleep Apnea in Oct 2013 and I was exhausted and joyless.
I remember feeling down and kind of offering up a prayer … God/Universe send me something to fill me up with joy again, please … I had the feeling it was a stringed instrument but thought it was Flamenco Guitar … never played a string instrument but was getting vibes … and was open to whatever showed up.
Well, I ended up seeing a video of Jake Shimabukuro “My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Hallelujah” and sat and wept.
The beauty of this instrument, Jakes playing and the songs hit me in the heart and I felt an almost immediate urge to start playing. I just couldn’t get enough of it.
(Just this year, I shared with Jake the effect of his videos and music and got emotional. He is a lovely, humble gentleman. And I tower over him … it was funny to take a picture with Jake.)
I looked on eBay and found a Mahogany Baritone Pono strung GCEA and ordered it … and loved the quality of Pono.
Soon after I found HMS, and UU and I was addicted to it the Ukulele and UAS. Thanks to UU for fueling it!
I realized I really wanted a Tenor size. In February 2014, one late evening 10:30 pm EST Andrew posted this video of Kimo Hussey playing an ETSH5 Pono Pro Classic ... I fell in love with it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FikKhJ2glww
I immediately called Hawaii Music Supply, got ahold of Andrew and bought it … and went to sleep dreaming of this Uke and so excited about it. I still have it, it is amazing and I use it re entrant with Oasis Warm strings with a Wound South Coast third.
I have bought and sold others … some of you know I love radius fretboards (although have 3 Soprano Ukes without them) and am a self declared Pono Fanboy … to date and have as many Ukes as fingers now … and yesterday, I played them all. Playing is the first and last thing I want to do each day. LOL.
Whether its jazz or pop songs, by myself or at The Scarborough Uke Jam playing the Ukulele has brought back a desire to sing again. The joy has returned and I feel blessed to play beautiful instruments and the chords and vibrations I hear and feel.
Also, UU has been a wonderful group of people to connect with and I have met and made great friends (DownUpDave) other Uke jammers and some I hope to meet someday whether they be in Canada, Florida, Switzerland, Australia, England, USA, California, Hawaii or where every you are.
Reading your posts and sharing daily this passion with you enriches my life and brings fulfillment.
Thank you for your friendship and Mahalo my Uke brothers and sisters.
During the fall of 2013, I was looking for something to help restore joy in my life … I was diagnosed with Severe Sleep Apnea in Oct 2013 and I was exhausted and joyless.
I remember feeling down and kind of offering up a prayer … God/Universe send me something to fill me up with joy again, please … I had the feeling it was a stringed instrument but thought it was Flamenco Guitar … never played a string instrument but was getting vibes … and was open to whatever showed up.
Well, I ended up seeing a video of Jake Shimabukuro “My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Hallelujah” and sat and wept.
The beauty of this instrument, Jakes playing and the songs hit me in the heart and I felt an almost immediate urge to start playing. I just couldn’t get enough of it.
(Just this year, I shared with Jake the effect of his videos and music and got emotional. He is a lovely, humble gentleman. And I tower over him … it was funny to take a picture with Jake.)
I looked on eBay and found a Mahogany Baritone Pono strung GCEA and ordered it … and loved the quality of Pono.
Soon after I found HMS, and UU and I was addicted to it the Ukulele and UAS. Thanks to UU for fueling it!
I realized I really wanted a Tenor size. In February 2014, one late evening 10:30 pm EST Andrew posted this video of Kimo Hussey playing an ETSH5 Pono Pro Classic ... I fell in love with it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FikKhJ2glww
I immediately called Hawaii Music Supply, got ahold of Andrew and bought it … and went to sleep dreaming of this Uke and so excited about it. I still have it, it is amazing and I use it re entrant with Oasis Warm strings with a Wound South Coast third.
I have bought and sold others … some of you know I love radius fretboards (although have 3 Soprano Ukes without them) and am a self declared Pono Fanboy … to date and have as many Ukes as fingers now … and yesterday, I played them all. Playing is the first and last thing I want to do each day. LOL.
Whether its jazz or pop songs, by myself or at The Scarborough Uke Jam playing the Ukulele has brought back a desire to sing again. The joy has returned and I feel blessed to play beautiful instruments and the chords and vibrations I hear and feel.
Also, UU has been a wonderful group of people to connect with and I have met and made great friends (DownUpDave) other Uke jammers and some I hope to meet someday whether they be in Canada, Florida, Switzerland, Australia, England, USA, California, Hawaii or where every you are.
Reading your posts and sharing daily this passion with you enriches my life and brings fulfillment.
Thank you for your friendship and Mahalo my Uke brothers and sisters.
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