My story has no ending yet but here is where I'm at. About 4 years ago my daughter, a high school violinist in a local youth symphony, convinced me to pick up my trombone again because their lone trombonist graduated HS and left a void. 34 years ago I was good in high school, but not great. I did make state honor band on my lowly Olds Ambassador my senior year. But I digress. Playing trombone with these kids filled a hole in my sole that I didn't know existed. I found a really good deal on a Conn 88H on Facebook and joined the local community college jazz and concert band. I got to know and sit next to another recently coaxed-out-of-retirement trombonist and we've become dear friends. I'm 56 and he is early 70's. A few months ago he told me that when he's done playing trombone he wants me to have his beautiful, immaculate even, 1960's King 3B Silversonic that he's had since high school. I'm a little overwhelmed! I can't wait to play his horn, but I can't bear the idea of not getting to hang out with him every week at band rehearsals. What an amazing friend!
Now another side story... at this community college we were looking at what trombones they have available for students to use. One of our trumpet players was wanting to learn some trombone. We found a very tarnished early 1950's King 2B Silversonic in substantially decent condition in its original but very beat up case. I've got to figure out how to talk the school leadership into letting me swap this old trombone for a couple of newer student trombones so that it doesn't get beat up by a freshman that doesn't know what they've got in their hands.
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