I suppose I’ll be cliché today and write about a topic that generally springs to mind when one hears the letter U. No, not umbrella. Or uvula. Tho there’s a funny story there, about a friend who had his uvula removed and really confused people when he told them.

I’m also not writing about umbrage. Or ushers or the undead or unicorns.

And not about umpires, uteri or updrafts, and most certainly not about uniforms, which I had to wear in high school. Such attractive polyester creations they were, too. {Shudders.}

Nope, it’s for everyone’s favorite little instrument:

U is for Ukelele

One year for my hubby’s birthday, I bought him a guitar. Which he wanted. And which he hasn’t played. A perfectly lovely guitar.

My lil ukele, on top of my collection of Collier’s Encyclopedia.

And at the same time, at the same store, I found a ukelele and fell in love with it. She called my name and called my name and called my name until I bought her too.

Can I play? No. Have I played it? Yes, if you call randomly strumming strings ‘playing’. Do I have the first clue where to start? Sort of. My birthday twin gave me a book a few years back as a gift, Play Ukulele Today!: A Complete Guide to the Basics Level 1. Have I cracked the book? Why yes, yes I have. Have I read it? Have I used it? Erm… not really. Enough to know there’s helpful pictures and a CD with tracks so I can play along. But I haven’t even opened the package the CD is in, nor have I done any real attempts at learning. Tho I want to. I want to be able to at least play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, or perhaps the humorously named “Gee, My New Friend is Sharp” that’s on page 20.

And that’s the thing, isn’t it? So many of us say we want to do something, or we dream of being X, but we never do what’s necessary to get there. I can’t magically, miraculously start being able to play the ukulele unless I actually learn how the instrument works, and how to play chords on it, and where to place my hands, and spend time practicing.

And soooo soooooooo soooooooo very many people say to me “I want to be a writer.” Well, it’s simple. To be a writer, you write. You sit down, you pull out a pen or typewriter or computer, and you start putting words down. You start learning the craft of writing, you learn how to create characters and plot arcs and settings, and the way to craft rhythm with your words.

The fulfillment of dreams doesn’t just happen. I’m sure I’ll get some laughter when I attempt to play my ukelele in public for the first time. I’ve got a whole folder full of rejections for my writing. But I’m not gonna stop writing. And I won’t stop playing either.

So, I guess, instead of ukelele, today’s letter actually stands for this word, because I plan to be this, in the face of rejection, laughter, and being overwhelmed at the hard work needed to make something happen:

U is for Undeterred