Cubdriver

Years ago I was a talented young musician. I had a full scholarship at a world class music school, tended to win awards a lot, I had as bright future as anyone in my instrument (saxophone). But after a couple of years I realized that real success in the music biz does not necessarily follow hard work. Music legends I emulated reported they often have years where ends barely met. I got the picture that it was a lottery more than a job. The real job included grunt sidework, relocating, cheap dwellings, poor work environments, no benefits, unsteady income, the works. All this just so one has only the ticket to play the lottery.

I get this feeling from aviation. "Many are called but too few few are chosen." That a few are chosen simply underscores the truth of a harsh reality.

When the realization music is a lottery finally hit home, I quit playing and spent a long time doing missionary activities. It was a bittersweet thing to do having loved music so much before and having pinned so many dreams on it. I have never known such bitterness, since or prior to that experience.

Some would say, and are partially correct, that I was a quitter. I do not share this view, I think that as human beings we have the sense to know when something is foolish and lotteries, aviation, music or whatever, are foolish for those who have other options. And to those who made it in either field, I say all glories and I celebrate your work.