Klarinet Archive - Posting 000402.txt from 1997/07

From: jclark@-----. Clark)
Subj: piercing
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 1997 17:04:10 -0400

Greetings, folks -- you won't have seen me on this list before, but I've
been lurking for a few weeks. I'm favorably impressed with the list, and
with the quality of the posts. That's why it's semi-surprising to read
what could be considered rather unkind comments addressed to the kid with
tongue-piercing question.

I distinctly remember my father raising the roof when I got my ear pierced
at age 18 in 1975. I wore various earrings, had long hair, dressed
flamboyantly, and made a bare living playing music for a total of eight or
nine years. Today, I'm a responsible parent and educator, church choir
member and deacon, with a couple of degrees, a couple of cars, a mortgage
-- and you know what? I still love playing and singing.

That love of music is what binds the folks on this list together,
regardless of age and temperament. I know that it probably seems crazy to
almost everyone for a clarinetist to pierce his or her tongue, but simple,
straightforward advice will suffice. At least this young man was asking,
right? Just take a moment to remember what it was like when you were a
teen-ager, and then try to imagine yourself being invited to pierce your
head with a .45 after asking for advice from what you consider to be wise
counsel.

There's a great old tune by Nick Lowe (British pop-rocker) called "What's
So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding?" That may date me, but
still think it's a good question.

Later, JFC

John F. Clark jclark@-----.edu
College Technology Coordinator
College of Communications and Information Studies
121 Grehan Building
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0042
PH: (606)257-2810 FAX: (606)257-7818