[Critique Group 2] submission for July 23 critique session, 1089 words

Thu Jul 16 22:32:21 EDT 2020

NOTE:  I have revised the following 1089-word essay to try to secure a 
publisher for the piece.

* * *

*Thank You, Mister Rogers*

by Alice Jane-Marie Massa

When I was in the midst of those years of grading stacks of personal 
essays, documented essays, term papers and speeches—I procrastinated 
about some non-school to-do items.One of my regrets of that 
procrastination period is that I never wrote a thank-you letter to 
Mister Rogers while he was still living.My family and I certainly owe 
more than a note of gratitude to this quiet, mild-mannered man who 
taught so many children so much.Unbeknownst to Mister Rogers, he gave 
the gift of music to my younger nephew and, thus, to my family and 
especially to me.

At the age of four years, my nephew Eric was watching the television 
program /Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood/in March of 1988, when Mister 
Rogers was telling his audience about the wonderful musical 
instrument—the violin.On that program, the friend in the Neighborhood 
was the renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman.As soon as Eric watched this 
inspirational segment, he shouted to his mother (my sister): “Get me a 
violin!Get me a violin teacher!I want to take violin lessons!”

One week after Eric’s introduction to the violin—thanks to Mister 
Rogers—my younger nephew asked his mother, “Have you found a violin 
teacher for me?”.Within one week my sister arranged violin lessons with 
Hei-Ling Yeung, who played the violin with the Denver Symphony and the 
Colorado Springs Symphony.At this very young age, Eric had found his 
instrument; learning by means of the Suzuki method, Eric quickly could 
play a number of tunes on his sixteenth-size violin.Since that smallest 
of violins sounded like a toy to Hei-Ling, Eric promptly advanced to the 
eighth-size violin.As Eric grew and his musical skills progressed 
rapidly, he moved from the eighth-size violin to one-quarter, one-half, 
three-quarter, and finally a full-size violin for the teen-ager who was 
also playing high school football when he became an Eagle Scout.

Eric’s lessons eventually evolved from the Suzuki method to reading 
musical notation.In the third grade, Eric played the violin on stage for 
his elementary school’s talent show.From this young age onward, he never 
had butterflies:he enjoyed being on stage.Not only was he musically 
gifted, Eric played his instrument with expression.As a result of his 
playing for the talent show, a teacher suggested that he try out for the 
Junior Strings of the Front Range Youth Symphony (Arvada, Colorado).From 
fourth grade through all of high school, Eric was a member of this 
outstanding musical group—most years, as first violinist.During this 
period of developing his musical talent, Eric progressed from the Junior 
Strings to the Chamber Strings, Symphonic Strings, and finally the Front 
Range Youth Symphony.

While Eric was in the Chamber Strings, he was one of three musicians 
selected to join the Front Range Youth Symphony to perform at Disney 
World’s Magic Music Days.Then, the group’s tour continued on a Disney 
Cruise.With the Front Range Youth Symphony, Eric, at age 13, performed 
at the Nassau Town Square, in the Bahamas.

While Eric was in the eighth grade, his grandpa (my father) very 
unexpectedly died at age 84; of course, we all were extraordinarily 
upset.Although Eric had played his violin so many times for our family, 
I wondered if we expected too much of him to perform at the funeral 
service, under these circumstances—when he was at such a vulnerable age 
and when he had never before attended a funeral.Despite this 
overwhelming loss—Eric managed to play on his violin two pieces for his 
beloved grandpa.

During my nephew’s freshman year, he was chosen concert master of the 
Symphonic Strings.Not only did his musical abilities expand, but also he 
had opportunities to develop leadership skills.

The entire family was so proud of Eric when he was selected concert 
master for the Front Range Youth Symphony’s 2001 tour of Europe.After 
playing for a nursing home and an International School in Munich, 
Germany—the Front Range Youth Symphony performed a magnificent concert 
in an old church in Heidelberg, Germany.While Eric’s dad was a chaperone 
for the entire European tour, my sister flew to France for the youth 
symphony’s performance in Luxembourg Gardens in Paris.After an emotional 
visit at Normandy Beach, the symphony members gave the final performance 
of this European tour at Mecklin, Belgium—the sister city of Arvada, 
Colorado.This remarkable experience increased Eric’s leadership skills 
and instilled in him a love for travel.

Shortly after Eric returned to the United States, his grandmother (my 
mother) passed away on July 3, 2001, at age 87.Although my mother had 
lived her final three years in my sister’s home in Colorado, we were 
confident that Eric could play his violin for his granny’s funeral 
mass.Of all the times I have heard him play his violin, I have never 
heard him perform more beautifully and expressively than when he played 
at Sacred Heart Church, in Clinton, Indiana—the “Ashokan Farewell” for 
my mother.After the funeral and the dinner at our home parish, we 
convinced Eric to return to the church so that a few of us could hear 
Eric play the “Ashokan Farewell” once more.Once was not enough, so I 
sometimes listen to an audio recording of his playing the emotional piece.

When Eric turned the tassel on his mortarboard at his high school 
graduation, he turned away from his dedication to the violin and 
followed other pursuits.Besides being graduated from Colorado University 
with a degree in history, he was a member of the CU triathlon 
team.Before joining the Army, he completed two Iron Man events.During 
his five years in an Army airborne unit, he served eleven months in 
Iraq, became an Army Ranger, and served three months in Afghanistan.Now, 
he still serves in the National Guard.“Macho Men” do play the 
violin—just not as often as this aunt would like.

In June of 2013, when my cousin, my guide dog, and I went to Michigan to 
visit Eric, his wife, and their three-day-old baby girl, I was 
especially pleased to take to his new home both of his violins—his 
school violin and his concert violin.Seven years later, Eric and his 
wife have two children:in addition to Lanie, Caden, who will soon 
celebrate his fifth birthday, may one day have the hand that holds the 
bow--precisely like their daddy did.

Thank you, Mister Rogers, for 32 years—and counting—of precious music.

Number of words:1089

# # #

*Thank You, Mister Rogers*

by Alice Jane-Marie Massa

When I was in the midst of those years of grading stacks of personal 
essays, documented essays, term papers and speeches—I procrastinated 
about some non-school to-do items.One of my regrets of that 
procrastination period is that I never wrote a thank-you letter to 
Mister Rogers while he was still living.My family and I certainly owe 
more than a note of gratitude to this quiet, mild-mannered man who 
taught so many children so much.Unbeknownst to Mister Rogers, he gave 
the gift of music to my younger nephew and, thus, to my family and 
especially to me.

At the age of four years, my nephew Eric was watching the television 
program /Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood/in March of 1988, when Mister 
Rogers was telling his audience about the wonderful musical 
instrument—the violin.On that program, the friend in the Neighborhood 
was the renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman.As soon as Eric watched this 
inspirational segment, he shouted to his mother (my sister): “Get me a 
violin!Get me a violin teacher!I want to take violin lessons!”