My father-in-law always says, “You’re never too old to learn something new.”
And he is living proof.
This past December, he decided he wanted to learn how to play the guitar. At the ripe young age of 94. Or is it 49. We’re never quite sure.
I thought that was a great idea and brought my old guitar upstairs and plunked it in his lap to see how it ‘fit.’
Well, the guitar was too big and awkward for him to reach the frets.
So we went for the next best thing – the ukulele! It appeared under the Christmas tree this year for him, wrapped in bright paper. Plus a songbook with some of his favorite old-time songs. He was absolutely thrilled!
This is the same ukulele his grandson played when he was 3 and 4 years old. And it is just the right size for Dad.
Dad started his ukulele lessons a couple of days after Christmas and is making remarkable progress. He practices both at home and at our place daily when he is over for dinner.
The progress is remarkable for a number of reasons.
He has never played a musical instrument before.
For the past few years Dad has struggled with significant memory loss.
He was deeply saddened by the loss of his wife of 62 years about 3 years ago. We don’t see many happy smiles on his face.
He is a star pupil. He remembers what to practice and how to place his fingers. He remembers (with the help of some stickers on the frets) where to place his fingers.
He is discovering all kinds of rhythmic strums and chuckles gleefully as he plays. He remembers to bring the ukulele along, tucked into the basket on his walker, when he comes over for dinner.
He is looking forward to strumming along with some of his favorite songs.
Dad is a true inspiration and, for me, a testament to the joy that music and playing music brings.
And to the old saying that “you are never too old to learn something new.”