Ma, Pa, I'ma Be a Rock Star

As a child growing up, you start to dream of what you want to be when you’re older. Some children will have their mind and hearts set on that one specific goal, while others, like me, will go through phases of what they want to be when they grow up.

I don’t recall the exact order of goals I had of what I wanted to be when I grew up but I do know that, for the rest of my life, I will be haunted by a single cassette that my mom had recorded of me when I was 3… 4… years old?

Mom: AJ, what do you want to do when you grow up?
Me: I want to help mommy wash the dishes!

Ugh. Dreadful. To this day my mom still brings it up and tells me what I smart child I was. Personally? I believe she forced me to say and record it; otherwise, she would ban me from eating. Okay, so maybe that isn’t true… but I still tell my mom that is what she did.

At one point I wanted to be Sherlock Holmes. Don’t ask why because I couldn’t even tell you. I guess I was a freak like that. It must have been the whole sense of mystery and adventure that I was attracted to. But believe me, you, if I ever own a basset hound I am so naming it Watson. In the end, this dream was short lived.

So I moved on to wanting to be a writer. Oh the wild and crazy ideas I had running through my young mind! Unfortunately for me that bubble was busted when my dad, I believe, told me that it’d be nearly impossible for me to achieve such a goal.

Next up, the artist. When I was younger I was a talented artist. I drew and painted like there was no tomorrow. Because of the talent, my parents and school teachers constantly entered me in local, provincial and country wide contests. I had high hopes that one day I’d be a famous artist like Salvador Dali or some other insane version. However, and yet again, that vision was shattered when I was told that artists only become famous after they pass away. Yeah… that wasn’t going to work out for me.

Soon enough I was 13 years old and realized my true calling in life. The life of a Rock Star! Oh yes… a Rock Star. Hardcore Punk Rock, to be exact. I was a rebel on the loose and there was no stopping me. After much begging, I had talked my dad into getting me a bass guitar and we were off to the local guitar store. When explaining to the sales person what I was looking for, he quickly turned away the idea of a bass and offered to show me a selection of guitars. Apparently learning to play bass would have been too difficult and that a 6-string guitar would have been easier. Now by the time I hit 13, I was a shy and meek person (not very hardcore, eh?), failed to stick to my guns regarding a bass and I ended up with an acoustic guitar. It was so not what I was looking for. I mean, if I’ll be playing a guitar, let it at least be an electric!

A year went by and I finally received an electric guitar (the exact one shown in the picture – sexy colour, I know.) as a Christmas present. I believe I may have peed myself from the excitement. I was gonna rock out like no other! Now, I admit, the guitar wasn’t quite the one I wanted, but who am I to complain? It was free! Being it was a Christmas present.

As for my dream guitar… I’m not even kidding when I say that just looking at a picture of it makes me tear up and choke. It’s beautiful… gorgeous and so damn SEXXY. It is, the Gibson Les Paul Standard. I have wanted one for YEARS, but they are so darn expensive. If I could throw at least $2,500 around, I would buy one in a heartbeat.

Now, fast forward 10 years later. I am not a Rock Star, although at times I will pretend to be. Career-wise, I am no where close to what I thought I’d be doing. I still daydream about the day I went to the local guitar store and got a 6-string as opposed to a 4-string. I do not regret playing guitar or owning one instead of a bass. I adore my guitars and would grab them in a second in case of a fire. BUT, I still have a part of me that would love to play bass and still wonders what it’d be like to own one.

WELL NOT NO MORE!@#$&!

As mentioned previously, I splurge on myself a couple of times a year. Well yesterday I made the decision to buy a bass guitar! OHMYGOD!! I couldn’t even explain to you folks right now how ecstatic I am. NO WORDS. No words to explain! I was seriously up till the wee hours playing it. I was so turned on by the sound. I also purchased an amp to go with it, ‘cause God only knows that if I played my bass on my guitar amp… BOOM. All in all, I am 100% pleased with my purchase and couldn’t be happier. Seriously. You cannot tell me that this Ibanez bass guitar doesn’t turn you on too.