The Loves of Our Lives

Last night was a first. I was the warm up act for the Frank Marocco Accordion Event Friday evening festivities. The crowd was all of the accordion attendees for this workshop along with their spouses or significant others. Being one of the spouses, I wanted to address the rest of the dedicated troupers in the audience. Sitting around the dinner table with accordion players can get quite boring. They are totally involved with accordion lingo and name dropping of such that will never be an answer in any People magazine crossword. But I have devised a technique to help me get through the evening. When someone starts talking accordion; and of course what they are saying makes no sense to me, at the end of their sentence I just think in my head "if you know what I mean." It can be very entertaining and puts a slight grin on my face which makes me look like I am involved and enjoying the conversation. For instance the sentence "I told Elka that she has to fix a hole in my bellows"...if you know what I mean.

For my presentation for the wives I read from writings that I wrote earlier in the day.

The Loves of Our Lives

"I love the rainy nights, I love the rainy nights, I love the rainy nights"...Ok, Eddie we get it. That phrase seems to multiply as the song goes on. Maybe it's just the nature of the writer: Eddie Rabbit.
I grew up in Seattle and I must say that I DON'T like the rainy nights or the rainy day after day after day. I don't like walking in the rain or singing in the rain either. But for some reason I do like the sound of rain when it comes from my sleep sound machine. Go figure.

"I love _______" It's a phrase we hear all of the time; things like "I love the snow" or "I love the sun". People actually say of me "she loves dogs".  Let it be known that I also "love" chocolate, cheesecake, and a good cup of coffee. At least all of my vices are healthy. You see, chocolate and coffee are made from beans and beans are a legume. So really they are a protein and should be consumed every day. I think that goes for jelly beans too but I'm not sure. Cheese cake is made from cheese which is a dairy product; also a daily requirement. And if there is any kind of fruit on top I have fulfilled yet another food group for the day.

Perhaps the word "love" isn't quite right for such things. For instance, some people love the bagpipes, while others may say that they "love" the accordion. Often the term "love" is really a person's passion.
My husband loves me and has a passion for the accordion. So much so that on our twenty fifth wedding anniversary he was in the town of Kimberly BC for the annual accordion festival. Because I love him and I relish in the fun he has when he is playing the accordion. That's the difference between love and passion. Passion is a personal thing that you do for yourself. Love encompasses having a passion for someone else's joy.

Being married to an accordion player, writing comedy comes easy for me. Especially after I've had more than a few Gin and Diatonics. But seriously, accordion playing is both a skill and an art, and for some even a gift. After thirty three years of listening to all kinds of accordion music I have come to appreciate the happy music only an accordion can deliver. But what I appreciate more is when I see the therapeutic joy my husband experiences when playing the accordion or when he gets together with his fellow bellows brothers.
Yes, I have become an accordion widow. For my husband playing the accordion is his passion; I am the one he loves, and we intend to share our passions together for the rest of our lives.