I never really thought I was good enough to have a professional flute player teach me, but my band director told me that I was ready. The first day I met you I was quite nervous; I really didn't know what to expect. You were so bubbly and happy that it was easy to relax and feel comfortable. You told me that you were quite impressed on how I played my flute and you were glad to have me as your very first student. With the music I had brought from band class, you helped me with tough passages. You gave me a scales packet and told me that I was to practice them every day. The packet even came with a fill-in chart for each scale. When my mom picked me up after our half hour lesson, I was happy to report that you were amazing.
You got the gig as being the MSU student staffer for my first year at Band Camp. I was the only one who knew you and were pleased to introduce you to the flute section. I remember everyone absolutely loving you; who couldn't? Your husband came to flute practice with your daughter who ran around saying, "Marching Band...Marching Band" while we would practice underneath our tree. You were pregnant with your second daughter at the time and we all enjoyed listening to baby stories. For our last day at Band Camp you brought us all cupcakes that you had made the night before. They were absolutely delicious, if I'm remembering correctly.
We became really close over the next year we had together. I started coming to lessons by myself and we would talk about life. I recall we talked about Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio for a whole lesson once. We worked extra hard the next lesson though. You helped me learn to play the piece, Pan! and I fell in love. It fit me perfectly for Solo and Ensemble. Unfortunately, I messed up during my performance and I didn't move on to States, but that's okay. You were proud of me for just getting up there and performing a solo. I never would have had the confidence to do that without you. I did yet another solo my junior year and two duets with my red headed friend my junior and senior year. My friend and I got the highest score you could get at Solo and Ensemble and at States both years. That was really amazing and all because of you.
My mom stopped paying for lessons after a while and so our meetings came to an end. I didn't want that though so I offered to babysit your kids while you went out with your husband for a date night. You let me have lessons for watching your kids, and I was extremely grateful. I will never forget you coming out in a black dress, your hair all done, make-up to perfection, and wearing these thigh high black boots. You were looking super snazzy! I loved babysitting your kids. We would pop popcorn and watch movies until bedtime. I would make them peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner since that's all they wanted. They would go to bed when I told them to which was really nice. Only once, do I recall, that your youngest (at the time) cried because she missed you. I laid in bed and held her until she fell asleep. Your kids were such angels and I loved babysitting them.
Not only did I babysit your kids but I became close friends with you. Some of our lessons were just spent talking about my life. I have cried many times talking to you about my hard times and you always comforted me. We messaged each other on Facebook a lot too. I remember one time after my lesson you and I went out to Applebee's for dinner - your treat. We sat and ate so much food and talked. This was where you told me that you were pregnant with your third child. I was so happy for you! We didn't leave the restaurant until almost three hours had passed. I really enjoyed talking to you and hearing what you had to say for advice. You always knew what to say, it seemed.
You invited me to a Pure Romance party at your house once too. Your sister was going to become a consultant so she had one of her friends in the business throw you a party. I was the youngest one there but I fit right in with the late twenties and up group. I really enjoyed being there and laughing with not only you, but your friends as well. They seemed pretty surprised when I told them that I was 18 and completely open with sex. I mean, you were one of the first people I told when I had sex with my boyfriend for the first time. Anyway, we had an awesome time playing with all the toys, tasting different things, feeling different things, and just overall laughing. You bought a few products from the catalog and my boyfriend gave me money for something for us to use in the bedroom. That was a really great night. I wish we could do that again.
I will never forget this one time when my mom brought me to my lesson one evening even though she didn't pay for them. She smiled her fake smile and talked to you for a tiny bit. I tried really hard not to lose it while my mom was there and as soon as she left I started sobbing. Life was getting really stressful and my mom had just gotten done talking to me about being ungrateful and such. You hugged me and let me cry the whole lesson. You didn't have anyone after me so you and I talked for maybe two hours. I talked about marriage, sex, my mom, my dad, and school with you. The two of us shared stories and cried. I loved having you to talk to; you were so understanding.
I met a lot of people through you since you started teaching a lot of my friends and then people from other schools. I met my now gay best friend because of you. So I thank you for that, of course. We practiced Christmas carols for us to play at a nursing home and got to know each other better. Despite the fact that the Girl Who Put Me Through Hell was taking lessons from you, we all got along swimmingly. The holiday party at your house was amazing. I mean, that's where I really met my Gay Best Friend (more on him later). Most of us helped at a Women's expo one year too. We practiced duets, trios, and solos to play in front of people to try and get more students for you to teach. One other thing that I did with you was the Pied Piper performance with your instructor. I learned how to play a piece along with many other students from different flute teachers. We performed in front of a large audience and on one of the best stages on MSU's campus.
I will never forget the day we had to perform at a Marshall's Music store. It was a small concert but important, none the less. After all, it was our last performance as you being my teacher. I was working on this piece for a while now but there was a tiny passage that I kept messing up at. I practiced it over and over again with the pianist and still couldn't get it right. When it was my turn to perform I just took a deep breath and started playing. I thought about so many memories with you and how sad I was to be ending my time with you. I played with such emotion and moved my body around as I felt the music flow through me. When I got to the spot that was tricky, I aced it. I couldn't have been more relieved and happy. I poured my heart out into that performance and once I was finished so many people clapped for me. You came up to me and started crying in front of everyone. You handed me my certificate of being an awesome diva and a very long hug. You let everyone know that I was your very first student and how it was an amazing journey to see me grow as a flutist. Did you know how many compliments I got after the performance? I was even told that I needed to go to school for music since I had such a way with playing my flute. I felt so proud and honored to be not only one of your students, but your first student.
We don't talk as much anymore and this saddens me. I went away to college, you moved to another city in Michigan, and we grew apart. We never went to a movie together to get fat off of the movie theater popcorn even though we said we would. We haven't had one of our long talks in probably a year. You had your new baby boy a few months ago and he is really adorable. I haven't met him though since we have parted. You helped me through so much and for that I thank you. I will never forget how you would laugh, cheer me up, and talk about marriage. You supported me in ways that my parents never did and I am so glad that we grew to know each other. I can only hope that we can see each other in the near future and catch up. You're an amazing flute player and I wish you all the best. I will always remember you not just as my flute teacher, but as one of my greatest friends. I miss you.
With love,
Samantha
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