It Left and then It Returned
Sammy's life was forever changed at a Bruce Springsteen concert in 1979. At the end of the song Thunder Road, he heard Clarence Clemons' spine chilling saxophone solo, played with unrestrained exuberance. Sammy knew then and there that he would spend the rest of his life playing saxophone. This was the instrument that could express his spirit – his soul.
First step was to find a job and start saving money to buy a sax. Sammy found a series of menial jobs. They did not pay much, but he saved every dollar he earned. He had his eyes on the prize – a beautiful saxophone. It took him more than a year to save enough money to buy his first sax. For Sammy, $1,500 was a small fortune. Yet, this instrument would unlock his spirit. You cannot put a price on the fact that your spirit is now free.
On a cold, gritty day in January, Sammy trudged over to the music store to buy his first sax. He did not have enough money to buy a case for the sax, so he brought a duffel bag with him. It was sleeting outside and the duffel bag barely protected the gleaming sax from the yucky sleet. When Sammy got home, he lifted his beloved sax out of the bag and spent a few minutes just gawking at it. He gently picked it up and played his first notes. The instrument sang out as if it were a part of Sammy's body.
That first year of sax playing brought tremendous joy to Sammy. But then, calamity struck. He lost his job and at the same time ran into some health issues. The medical bills started piling up. Sammy looked at his bank balance and then looked at his beloved saxophone. He would have to sell the sax to pay his rent. This was an excruciatingly difficult thing to do, but Sammy had no choice.
He listed the sax for sale, was able to get a reasonable price, and paid his rent on time. Luckily, he found a new job before the next month's rent was due. But, living without his sax was tough on Sammy. His saxophone not only brought him joy, but also reduced his stress. Coincidentally, the person who bought his sax was a friend of a friend. So, his sax was gone, but it did not go far. Imagine his surprise when a year later he heard that the new owner of the sax was in a car accident where his car got totaled. Luckily, nobody got hurt, but this person found themselves in a situation where they needed to sell the sax to purchase another car.
Sammy's heart skipped a beat. Would he be able to buy his beloved sax back? He did not quite have the money to buy it back, but he had sax student who might be persuaded to pay for music lessons ahead of time. Where there is a will, there is a way.
Sammy broached the idea with his music student. He sweetened the deal by saying that if this student paid for three months of lessons in advance, then Sammy could offer a 20 percent discount on his standard music lesson fee. His student was only too happy to get that discount – and was able to advance the money.
With cash in hand, Sammy went to buy back his beloved sax. He bought it at the same price he had sold it a year earlier. However, his situation was now much improved from the year before. He was now a member of a band that could earn money every weekend with musical performances. His beloved sax was not only an old friend, but it was a way of earning income.
Sammy's reunion with his saxophone felt like destiny, as if the universe had conspired to bring them back together. The first time he played it again, the notes flowed effortlessly, filled with the kind of raw emotion only a deep connection could produce. Every sound was richer, every melody more vibrant, as if the sax itself had missed him too. It wasn't just an instrument; it was a piece of his soul that had returned, and Sammy vowed never to let it slip away again.
With his sax back in hand, Sammy threw himself into his music like never before. His bandmates noticed the change immediately—his playing was more inspired, his improvisations more daring. The band, now fueled by Sammy's renewed passion, started gaining a following. Local clubs began booking them regularly, and soon, they were earning enough to not only cover their expenses but also to save for recording their first album. Sammy's life, once filled with uncertainty and struggle, was now on a path he had always dreamed of, with his beloved sax leading the way.
(This story is in the public domain and may be redistributed for any purpose.)
"Wisdom begins with wonder." - Socrates
"Learning happens thru gentleness."
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