The first thing that came into my mind was music. I started playing the clarinet in 4th grade. This is where I learned to read music. I played clarinet through 7th grade. In 8th grade, I switched to the oboe. I only played oboe a little in 10th grade, including a trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado with band and orchestra, which was a blast!
After I learned to read music, I started picking notes out on the piano. My brother, Dirk, showed me the basics of the keyboard and got me started with a couple of old books my parents had. Then my mom taught me to read bass clef. I basically learned on my own from then on. By 8th or 9th grade, I could play the piano pretty well for never having lessons. I could read music and figure stuff out, but I wanted to get better. I finally started piano lessons. Unfortunately, I only took them for just over a year before I got too caught up in friends and school, and stopped lessons. I did learn some theory during that time, which was good.
I still love to play the piano, though the clarinet and oboe have only been pulled out a couple of times since I finished school. I recently was called to play the piano in Relief Society. I've enjoyed that, but it will be nice when I'm a little better at the hymns. I definitely need to practice each week. A few years ago, I played for the primary. That was my favorite calling ever.
A few weeks ago, I was asked to be one of the pianists for the ward choir. Now, that is challenging me! I got the music the day before my first practice. I'm not the best sight reader in the world, and it's hard for me to keep up when I don't know the music. I'd feel more comfortable with a few weeks to practice a piece before needing to play it for people. The choir doesn't stop when I make a mistake, obviously, so I can't either. I'm finally getting good enough at the songs that I can keep up for the most part. Another problem was that I didn't really practice playing the parts separately - I mostly practiced the accompaniment. And I didn't know my scales well enough to play for warming up. I've been practicing a ton - a few hours each week - and I'm getting better. The next songs I get, I will practice the parts alone first. Every time I make a mistake, especially when people are listening for their parts, I feel bad, and wish I were a better pianist. Luckily, I think I will get the hang of it as I play longer, and it will be easier.
As for differences, I play for different purposes now. I don't play much at all unless I have a reason - like church, a funeral (I played for John's grandpa's funeral a few years ago), or choir. A couple of years ago, I learned a Christmas song and played it for a few people, just to get myself to play something. When I was younger, I played the piano a little about every day. Now, I have to squeeze the practicing in between caring for 2 little kids. Most of my practice time is when they are in bed - luckily I have a practice pad that mutes it so it doesn't wake them up. I'm grateful I learned to play the piano when I was young enough to have the time and patience to learn.
Another thing I loved as a child, and still do, is reading. I loved curling up in bed with a good book. I used to always lay in bed in the morning and read before doing anything else. With small kids, I haven't been able to do that much at all, but I still always have a book in progress, and usually sneak in at least a few pages before falling asleep at night. I used to read almost all day when I wasn't in school and had a book I was really into. Just last weekend, I started a book that I really wanted to do that with, but had other responsibilities. It's like that with Harry Potter, and other favorites. In first grade, I remember taking Green Eggs and Ham to school and "reading" it to my class. My teacher was impressed with how well I read it, but I really did it mostly from memory. I remember reading The Secret Garden in 5th grade as an assignment. It's one of the first books I was assigned to read outside of school. I was the only one in my class who actually finished it, and it is still a favorite, on my shelf right now. Reading has always been relaxing for me.
The last thing I'll write about now is crafts, especially crocheting. My mom taught me how to crochet when I was 10 or so. This is something else I'm glad I learned when I was young. I don't think I would have learned it as an adult. I remember making a hot pad and getting frustrated with how uneven my stitches were, and skipping stitches all the time. I would look at my mom's work and wonder why mine didn't look like hers. I think children have more perserverance than adults, for many things. I kept trying, and it's a skill I'm grateful for. I don't make nearly as many things as I used to. I did crochet a shawl for Abby last month, and I'm currently working on some booties for a neighbor. Recently, my craft time has mostly been spent elsewhere. I like scrapbooking, card making, and I've done a little cross stitching. I made a Christmas stocking for Abby that I finished last year. My goal is to make Landon's by next Christmas, and start on John's and mine. One Christmas, I made a Barbie dress for John's mom. I enjoy crafts, especially looking at a project when it's all done and knowing that I made it, whatever it is.
The first activity that came to mind was witches brew. My sisters and I would get all kinds of great ingredients from the yard to mix up in our witches brew. Sometimes, our cauldron was a hole in the ground by the swingset, sometimes it was in a big black barrel, and sometimes it was in the wheelbarrow. We used sticks, rocks, leaves, twigs, apricot pits, dirt, and anything hanging out in the gutter. We mixed and stirred for hours on end. I'm amazed at how often we were entertained by such simple things. And to think of all the toys I've bought for my kids! All you really need is a little dirt, sticks, and imagination!
