I want to talk about music.
How every note
sends you flying out off your seat
and how every rhythm matches
with the beat of your heart
How no matter who you are
there is some kind of music
waiting for you,
to find it
like a game of hide and go seek.

Talk about how many people are affected by music
how 54 percent of households
have someone playing an instrument.
Talk about in the U.S. alone
There are 84 million people
that have the blessing of music in their life.

I want to talk about how young some children are.
When they first begin to eat and breathe music.
How I started twinkling my fingers
Along those skinny black and white keys at age six.

I want to talk about how
I am one of 54 percent.
I am one of 84 million people.

I want to talk about
How my life is an unknown melody,
unfinished,
waiting to be added to.
How so many rhythms
come together and make
a song,
my song,
The song of my life.
And sometimes,
there is a crash, two symbols banging together
two notes
so dissonant,
when played,
it feels like the walls will tumble
if the terror does not stop.

I want to talk about music,
my music,
because through good
or bad
thick
and thin
it was a constant
never leaving when the coaster was going too fast,
never leaving when I changed schools,
never leaving when I needed friends,
it was there
with me
pain after pain,
step after step.
Dream after dream.