Crunchy Mustard

Graduating from the Conservatoire, I decided to stay in Paris a little while longer. I thought I’d learn the music of the streets from the people who write music from the heart. Nearly broke and out of inspiration, I wandered the streets looking for some - inspiration.

I ran into one of the loveliest women in all of Europe. Literally. Knocking all of her belongings to the ground, I was never so embarrassed before. I helped her gather her things. When we stood up she yelled at me and I didn’t understand a word of what she was yelling. But I didn’t care, I was infatuated with her. She got into her cab and that was the last we saw of each other. Our brief but passionate romance had come to an end.

Later that evening, I found myself alone, again, on the balcony outside my apartment window. A gorgeous New Moon and the stars couldn’t have been brighter. With each puff of my cigarette, I created rings of smoke encompassing the moon and the stars. “If only life was like that…” I recall thinking to myself. But the fact of the matter is, life isn’t always that ring in the sky. Sometimes you just have to settle for Cracker Jacks.

After a month of judicial indiscretion, I’ve managed to compose most of my piece. However I was still lacking that climactic moment. Beginning, middle and end I had. Just that one moment I was lacking. I decided to return to the Conservatoire and visit the brilliant woman under whom i studied. I arrived there only to learn that she had passed away the previous night. Listening to her records, you’d never have guess she had a weak heart, but such is life, the French say.

After three more weeks in Paris, I decided it was time for me to leave. I’ve grown so accustomed to my lifestyle there, I hated myself for even considering leaving. Nonetheless, I was on the next ship to Berlin. It was in a small farm just outside Berlin that I found my inspiration and finished my piece. As I sat under a tree in the marley fields, music began to pour out me from every opening. I bled music. I got a job working in the marley fields to really get the feel of what it was like. I don’t know how those old ladies did it on a daily basis, but after a day’s work I was ready to die, skipping supper.

When my Visa expired, I knew I had better return home as soon as possible. My experience in europe had taught me so much and I do hope to return there someday. I’ve made a great a deal of friends and family there. It would be a shame not to.