Listening to the Music

Music was playing,
so I sat there, quietly.

She walked into the room and noticed me. With deep interest and a bit of urgency, she asked: "What are you thinking about?"

I've learned that "nothing," as an answer, isn't good enough. So I searched for the truth. What was I thinking about? What was the truth?

I was thinking about the bass, how thick and round it sounded. I was thinking about the guitar riff, wondering why they'd placed it there, instead of there. I was thinking of the effect used on the vocals, imagining that they'd applied it in order to conceal some limitation. I was thinking about our band, questioning whether we would do things differently. I realized I'd better answer her fast.

"Nothing," I said. "I was just listening to the music."

"Oh," she nodded and walked on.

***

Home Entertainment 2006 is approaching. My e-mail inbox is filling up with invitations to listen to this and that — headphones from Ultimate Ears and Shure, cables from Belkin, speakers from Neat, electronics from Exposure...

I hesitate to make appointments. I still feel new at this, and find myself thinking that, upon meeting with a manufacturer representative, I wouldn't know what to do or say or listen for. For a split second, I hear myself reply: "Don't waste your invitation on me."

And then I remember who I am and what I do, and I realize that I should accept as many invitations as possible.

COMMENTS
Todd Steponick's picture

Still waters run deep.

Stephen Mejias's picture

>Still waters run deep. Love the brother.

Gerald Clifton's picture

Stephen," the zoomies call this ""networking."" They know 99% of it will involve aimless movement", like changing lanes on a crowded freeway, but occasionally some progress occurs. Bring comfortable shoes. Wear something loud and silly so people can spot you in crowded rooms. It beats being out of the loop.

Stephen Mejias's picture

>Wear something loud and silly so people can spot you in crowded rooms. My hair (what's left of it) is loud and silly.

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