When you attempt something, you don’t want to be good at it. You want to be the best. This personality trait bares its fangs most noticeably when you practice piano. And here’s the thing: your skill level has far surpassed everything I know about reading music, so your father has to help you practice. Your father is very good at everything he tries, but he’s not a crazed fanatical overachiever like I am. Like you seem to be. So I’ve had to walk him through what goes on in your brain when you hit a wrong note or can’t hear a rhythm. “Jon, that wrong note makes her think she’s going to end up homeless.” “But that doesn’t make any sense,” he’ll say. “True,” I concede. “But if you raise your voice while she’s in that spiral, not only will she end up homeless, she’ll end up homeless and then someone will steal her cardboard box.” Sometimes when you guys are practicing and I hear you getting frustrated, I’ll peek my head around the corner, make eye contact with your father and mouth CARDBOARD BOX.
