I’m left-handed. It doesn’t hold me back particularly, but in Grade Six, it crushed me. There was excitement when our teacher announced that eight students would be selected to learn to play the ukulele; the rest would make do with the recorder. When my name was called for the ukulele group, it was a proud moment. The chosen eight swaggered to the back of the classroom. My delight turned to despair when the teacher remembered I was left-handed. The others were right-handed; I would confuse things and was cast out. I slunk back to my desk to join the recorder rejects. Not cool, Mr. T. Not cool.
Sweet vindication when a few many years decades later that sad story of thwarted musical ambition won me a book. When Tania Hershman released her book of short stories, My Mother Was An Upright Piano, I won a copy, by answering this question: If you were a musical instrument, which one would you be? Naturally, I chose the ukulele, outlining my tale of woe. When the book arrived in the post, the inscription made me smile: “To Downith, to somewhat compensate for the ukulele trauma – read this book with whatever hand you choose!”
The book was a delight to read – a series of short (and even shorter) stories that stayed with me long after I’d finished it.
Tania is an inspiration: her blog posts are always interesting ; as founder and editor of The Short Review, she is a tireless promoter of short stories; she is generous in sharing literary information on her blog: and fearless! She sent a copy of My Mother Was An Upright Piano to a reviewer at the Times Literary Supplement. As she said about the experience on her blog:
“It’s worth saying again, that for a short story writer with no literary agent, published by a small press, to be noticed is immensely heartening. And a note to all your unagented writers published by small presses – I took the initiative here, so don’t be shy, just do it, give reviewers a chance to consider your work!”
Holy Chutzpah, Batman!
In fact, the only criticism I have is that for some reason her blog no longer accepts my comments! But that’s probably because I’m left-handed…
Left handedness shows up in many, many successful life stories— Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Joan of Arc being good examples.
My mother-in-law established a ukulele program in Canada and I KNOW she would have taken you. She might still…
A whole ukulele program? Awesome.
A lovely piece. Let’s lift a glass to left handed writers and music players. Annie
My Mom is a leftie, too—which is why, among other things, I knit backwards. It’s a sign of great intelligence, perseverance, and humor. Or it had better be, because the world just isn’t prepared for y’all.
Missie is a leftie. The world better get ready for HER!
I loved that Recorder !!! And I was always jealous of the Left Handed group — you guys got special desks and held your books differently. You were cool.
I neglected to mention that on top of everything else, my dog ate the recorder.
I am one of four children – and the only one who is not left-handed. There must be something in the genes that I didn’t get. But I don’t know a lot of other people who are left handed. I have always thought being left-handed was special – and whenever I think of the ukelele I think of Tiny Tim tiptoeing…you wouldn’t want to be associated with that. But didn’t you also have a short turn as an accordion player? How’d being lefthanded affect that?.
Thankfully, I have (mostly) blocked out my accordion playing days!
Tania is great! It’s true she is generous and inspiring and the Short Review is a great site.
Piano??
She’s an inspiration for me! Love it.