blisters on my fingers, aloha in my heart

How long has it been since you picked up a musical instrument? The last time I played a note was when I was 12 years old. Guitar lessons at the YMCA. I wasn't that bad, but I wasn't good either. I did enjoy it though.

30-odd years later, inspired by a couple of very enthusiastic expat bloggers, I decided to challenge my questionable musical abilities once again and bought myself an interesting Christmas present. A ukulele. Yes, one of those little 4-stringed cuties that looks like a guitar that shrank in the wash. But don't be fooled. Once you pick up a ukulele, you'll never want to put it down.

Here's my new baby.



Can you tell it's a girl? Since I'm not yet sure how far I'm going to get in this new adventure, I mostly chose her for her looks. She was green (my favourite colour), cute, and cheap inexpensive. What more could you want? And what did I have to lose, anyway, besides (as I would find out later) a fingernail or two?

Of course every ukulele needs a name. After some consideration I decided to call mine...Patience. A nice, old fashioned name that reminds me to take my time and keep trying until I get it.

Because I'm not sure if I'm really getting it yet. My first reaction after playing for a few days was, "Wow, my fingers are hurting like crazy! I wonder if this pain is going to go away?"

Well, the pain eventually gave way to numbness. And callouses on my fingertips. Very UNladylike callouses. My Virtual Ukulele Instructress, a uke legend in her own time, informs me that those callouses are here to stay and that I should wear them proudly. OK, Pam, if you say so.

I've got a long, long way to go before I can produce anything anyone could recognize as a song with proper chord changes and rhythm and all that, but I sure am having fun trying to figure out this adorable instrument of mine. I love it. It's addictive.

And just looky here - former boy band Take That (who should probably now be called a slightly scruffy-looking middle-aged men band) custom-wrote this song just for my ukulele.

Oh, OK, the song has nothing at all to do with ukuleles, but I re-wrote the lyrics as an ode to my little Patience.

Go ahead, sing along, I know you want to.




Oh, my little Patience

I'm still hurting from a nail I lost
You're feeling my frustration
But any minute all the pain will stop
I'll hold you close inside my arms tonight
Don't be too hard on my manicure

(Chorus)
'Cause I need time
Fingers are numb, they've no feeling
So while they're still healing
I'll try and have a little patience

I'm gonna have to start over again
I know you wanna be my salvation
The uke that I can always depend on

I'll try this next song
Believe me, I'm trying to move on
It's complicated but understand me

'Cause I need time
Fingers are numb, they've no feeling
So while they're still healing
I'll try and have a little patience, yeah

Oh, my little Patience, yeah

'Cause this uke was so cheap
It's been hard, but I have to believe

And have a little patience
Oh, my little Patience

Owww, 'cause I, I just need time
Fingers are numb, they've no feeling
So while they're still healing
I'll try and have a little patience

Have a little patience
Fingers are numb, they've no feeling
So while they're still healing
We'll try, oh, my little... Patience