Share my Passion on YouTube

Sharing my passion on YouTube was an item I hadn’t planned on doing yet in 2024. It was a rather impulsive decision actually. Gratefully, my music coach, Nicole, is pretty darn go with the flow. Without her, I couldn’t have done it. The story of how I chose to cover the song I did and why now is a two parter:

Let’s start with why now? 2024 was a hell of a year for me (pun very much intended). Early in the year, I had a close friendship dissolve in a very dramatic way. The whole thing was difficult for me in more ways than one. But it set me on a journey of growth and healing wounds both recent and very old that I’ve never been on before. Meanwhile, a handful of people that I care deeply for went through their own truly heartbreaking events this year. Some of which, I’ve seen working in what I do, but never seen the impact affecting someone I know personally. I wanted to complete this project THIS year for myself, pouring allllll the emotions into it. Equally so, I wanted to complete it for the people I’m referring to in the previous sentences, who gave me the drive and courage to do it. I know one song doesn’t change anything for these people or their situations. It is my hope that knowing they inspired me to complete one of my dreams will mean something though.

On a lighter note, the song choice would have been the same with or without the events of 2024. And the “why” is quite the tale. I’ve loved Parker McCollum’s vibe since the first time I heard his song playing in my friend Brianne’s car during one of my trips to visit her in Texas. I’ve seen him perform three different times in three different states, with tickets to see him a fourth in 2025. At the second concert, as the fates would have it, I got to meet him. It wasn’t planned, at least on my end. During the show he announced he would hang around after and meet anyone who wanted to stay. I don’t know if people didn’t believe it or if they were in the drink line when the announcement was made, but about a fourth of the concert goers stuck around. And the man kept his word. To allow time to make it through everyone, he declined to take photos with fans but would instead sign one item per person. I can’t remember if I’ve already told you or not, but I am a collector of guitar picks from artists I enjoy or admire. So, as I stood in line, the only thing I could think of wanting him to sign was just that. Insert fate again… in the form of a security guard who probably just wanted to go home. As he walked along the front of the stage, he found a random pick on the ground. The people closest to him fan girl freaked, screaming, reaching out, all wanting this random treasure. I was several people away from the guard. I didn’t move. I didn’t ask for it. We locked eyes and I hope I smiled. He walked directly to me and handed me the guitar pick. Goosebumps, right?!?!? Now, someday I hope to meet Parker a little more officially (if by some miracle force of nature you or your representatives are reading this, I’ll be at your Duluth show in February)! But standing there I knew this very well may be the only chance I had to tell this person what his music meant to me. So for those 20ish seconds I’m told I talked his ear off. It’s a bit of a blur, but I imagine it contained a lot of umms and rapid mumbling. What I do remember is telling him that I was an amateur guitar player and that his song “Hell of a Year” came easiest for me to learn/play. He in turn told me it was the easiest song he’d ever written. I’m guessing he’d had his own hell of a year.

So here it is folks… item #53 on my 100 Dreams List; share my passion on YouTube. It took four sessions with Nicole, and a lot of learning on both our ends. It’s very simplified per my request. It isn’t perfect. I am proud of us for completing it though. CHEERS to a HELL OF A YEAR!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=8YYwDzUq0xA&si=MJat0-lQ-eBezsde