Carter Dewberry

I just printed out the last sheet five minutes ago. I haven’t fully processed that I am really done. I have completed the sheet music for my “Dawn” album.

I recently received a letter from my insurance agent notifying me my personal information has been compromised. Someone broke into his office and stole a computer that included sensitive data.

Being self-employed as a musician in the summer is quite the ride. After weeks of an intense recording and teaching schedule, I awoke last Friday morning to an empty calendar… for three full days! On my way to a trail run in the hills near my house, I started imagining what I could do with this time. By the time I arrived at the trailhead, I had my plan.

The 4th of July weekend always looms large in my mind. I ask myself, do I want to attempt to recreate a grand adventure like the year I ended up in Lake Placid, eating way too much fudge with friends and watching a grand fireworks display with 10,000 other people? Or will I be stuck at home nursing a scared pet?

I am embarrassed to admit it. I released my Dawn album 15 months ago, and I have yet to complete the sheet music for publication.

Growing up, I never understood how my grandmother could cook such delicious meals using her “dash” method. A dash of salt, a pinch of this, some of that… How did she know it would turn out?

I did not expect to hear these words from a room full of high school students, even if they did play string instruments. Yet, last week when I visited Santa Ana High School’s orchestra class, they chose Bach and Mozart over pop and rock songs.

One thing that I am continually inspired by in my students is their commitment to themselves. They recognize that even after long days of work, family and other responsibilities, making time for themselves in the form of their music study is critical. Even with the best intentions, however, this sometimes just doesn’t happen.

This weekend was a perfect example of how my greatest happiness comes from the “little” things.

Maybe my “clock” is broken. Some people certainly seem to think so. But I ask, is it really so weird to be a woman in my mid-thirties and not want children of my own?