WRITTEN BY SUZANNE ANDERSON
Participant in the Rusty Musician Experience
I opened the case to my old flute. It still has my address on a piece of tape stuck to the inside, the address where I lived 32 years ago when I first got my flute in high school.
“Rusty Musician, indeed,” I thought to myself as I looked at the wear and tear on that poor old flute. But once it’s assembled and I start to practice, it all comes rushing back to me.
I was a semi-professional player years ago, before I started my pharmacy career. I can remember the day I made the choice to go to pharmacy school instead of pursuing music. It was a tough decision, but I remember telling myself “I will always have music no matter what.”
That was 30 years ago! A lot has happened in those three decades. After surviving a serious surgery, I spent my time in the hospital reflecting on my life. I made a list of what I’m grateful for. I made another list of things I wish I could do. On that list was performing at the Holland Performing Arts Center.
The Holland Center hadn’t been built yet when I was in my prime flutist days. It is an acoustic wonder! It is beautiful, elegant and every performer’s dream venue. Every time I am here to see a performance, I think about what it would be like to be on that stage…
Fast forward to today. I have the extreme honor of participating in Omaha Performing Arts’ second annual Rusty Musician Experience. Am I seriously going to get to play with members of the Omaha Symphony on stage at the Holland Center? If I’m dreaming, please don’t wake me up.
On my drive downtown, I just started smiling. I wasn’t thinking about the notes I could no longer hit, or the airy tone on certain notes that used to be crystal clear. All I could think about was how grateful I am to be able to do one of those things on my list.
