Carolyn

Here is the Maestro's Cello. The Teacher went to the instrument rental shop Friday, and found it for us. Of the Shops in town, only one had any cellos smaller than 1/2 size. The Maestro needs a 1/8th. When she went in to take a look, she asked if they had any Eastmans, and was promptly laughed at. Apparently, Eastman is THE brand of cello, and its ridiculous to think you can ask for an Eastman, and just get it. It seems to me the clerk thought that is like ordering a medium-rare Bison steak at Arby's. I'm not sure the rental shop wants to be compared to Arby's, but the clerk was the one who laughed at the idea of an Eastman, not the Teacher.

It turns out that they had exactly 0ne Cello in 1/8th scale, and it was an Eastman in Pristine condition. It is beautiful. When Hildr looks at it, she points to the grain, and in her 14 month-old patois blurts out "Water!" It certainly is a step or dozen above some rental Cellos we've seen at concerts around town.

The Maestro was especially excited to have a bow with actual horsehair, and a block of Rosin. He has an old, decrepit violin he plays with that I have glued back together more times than I can count. The corresponding bow has three hairs remaining at this point. He blames the fact that he cannot get a sound from the thing on needing Rosin for his three bow hairs, so he was particularly happy to have a good bow with Rosin. That is part of the reason it was soooo tragic that the Teacher took his bow. One of the most essential parts of what he had dreamed of had just been confiscated.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he decides to sing "I love my cello" soon, so he can get his bow back. Unfortunately, he has never liked singing for people. At all of the concerts at the library that we go to, when the performer gets the kids to sing along, he is always the only one not singing. Sometimes you can catch him singing to himself, but if he knows that you noticed, he usually stops. He's a player, not a singer.

The Teacher wanted him to name his Cello. After a number of trial names through Saturday afternoon, he decided on Carolyn. According to him, that is the PERFECT Cello name. Of course, since he pretends to be the Teacher so often, Carolyn spends a good portion of her time pretending to be the Teacher's Cello. I think she doesn't mind though.