Just not fair

So, I'm on a cross-country flight and they show this interesting documentary that brought together Jack White (of the White Stripes and now The Racounteurs), The Edge (U2, of course), and Jimmy Page (Zepplin, natch) to talk about playing the guitar, their unique styles, influences, etc. It was pretty compelling and really gave me an increased appreciation for White. I have been a fan of White Stripes for quite some time, but now I understand his influences in southern, bare, rough blues and see how they led him to create this very spare, honest sound. Luckily, I had my iPod with me and could listen to all the White Stripes music I have in the isolation of a tin can hurtling through space and noise-canceling headphones.

Okay, so that was pretty cool. And, it made me think of my boy, who is a huge music fan. And, for a 3 (now 3-1/2) year old, he really has definite tastes and preferences. Blue Note era jazz -- wonderful; Pearl Jam, Green Day, Wolfmother, White Stripes -- great "rockin out" music as he calls it; 80's new wave -- usually likes it, calls it "Squeeze music"; The Beatles -- he has yet to develop a taste for them...oh, but he will...yes, he will. He has of late developed an unfortunate (in my view) appreciation for a current Miley Cyrus hit, but he is 3 after all, so that can be forgiven.

Anyway, all this led me to think about how he'll never be able to play the guitar. I don't know that he'd ever want to, but watching those three incredible, innovative musicians, and their love for music and drive to create something of their own, I can imagine my boy would have the drive to do the same. But, he'll never have the strength to really hold a guitar, much less mash down the strings. And that just sucks. I try my damndest to think -- "So what? He can appreciate music, he can maybe even play an electronic drum set for kicks" -- but sometimes the unfairness of it all overcomes the sunshine attitude. And, sitting on that cross-country flight, alone (in the real sense at least) and in the dark, I could not escape the reality that it is just not fair.

So, readers (if there are any), this life is not all wine and roses.