My brother Philip was 4 years 8 months older than me. 4 years and 8 months that my mom squeezed out 4 kids. Philip was the first, I was the last. Phil was born in 1951.
Mom made us both take classical piano lessons. Phil could probably still pick out a song on the keys, and I have a basic understanding of the instrument, but it wasn't either of our primary love. That was the guitar.
Phil died in 2012 at age 62.
When I was 7 years old, Phil gifted me a 4 string youth guitar. Not a ukulele, a guitar with 4 strings. A few years later he passed alonghis next guitar, a Gibson youth 6 string. I played that until my dad got me a Japanese copy of a Gibson Hummingbird. $120.00 in 1969. I still have and play that guitar, it's nearly 54 years old.
What is the point of this story? Well, a little background. When Phil was dying he said he wanted me to have his guitar. He had 2, an Ibanez Bob Weir from 1976, and his Guild acoustic. I took and played the Ibanez, and his daughter held on to the Guild.
Now we are at 13 years later and Tess and I have traded guitars, she now has the Ibanez (a badass electric guitar) and I have my brothers acoustic. I am forever grateful to Tess for trading the guitars...Phil almost always played the acoustic, I believe he bought the Ibanez when he had a band for a little while. It is increibly special that I have Phil's acoustic guitar.
I restrung it tonight. Anyone who plays knows that strings stretch and it takes a while to get them settled down. But this tuned up right away! Was Phil touching that axe?
Ok lets not get carried away. Truth is, it is the best acoustic I have ever played and it's worth a lot. For me, the worth is it was my brothers guitar. Played a few songs for the guys at the bar, my friend Ike did a few, and all was good.
At a time when we all want something to be thankful for...this was it for me. Thank you Tess. Love you.
And thanks to the Kos community for letting me wax poetic.