When I was sixteen I had a longtime bass teacher who I'd see every week. At the time I didn't have many people in my life. I was schooled at home, extremely ill, and generally not feeling to good about this whole "living" thing. Nick [my teacher] always managed to cheer me up and point me in the right direction somehow. Those weekly lessons meant a lot to me.
I remember my first lesson I was sitting in the waiting room, nervous, then he pops open the door and is standing there with glammetal shoulder-length hair at about 40 years old. I remember thinking "oh sweet Jesus" and expecting him to break out into some sort of solo right then and there. When we started the lesson I had my eye on a fly the was literally getting tangled in his hair.
Anyway, what I'm basically getting at was Nick ended up being one cool and very helpful dude - regardless of how he looked. He was the definition of sly and I could never picture him without his hair. One day, I walked in and there his head was fully shaved. All that hair - gone.
Did he care? Was he like me, shy and depressed - hating what cards he was dealt? No. He was confident, laughing, talking to me about how stoaked he was for thanksgiving. I remember him even talking about this asian girl he was going to make a move on.
The point is Nick was still Nick. I didn't once think he looked awful, I was too busy having a good time. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in vanity and my hair that I forget about the things that really are important. Plus, I actually remember leaving that day thinking he looked great.
I left for summer vacation one year and never had the chance to go back for another lesson because my family moved abruptly. No goodbye's or anything, which I regret. But I looked up the company and found Nick is still kickin' it, rocking a shaved head, and teaching.
Cheers to you Nick, and I'm still learning from your slyness.
Just figured I'd share.
