Today I’m very proud and delighted to be hosting my first ever guest blog – meaning, I’m handing you over to my son, Nick (Nicky to family and old friends!) He was so greatly encouraged and inspired by your responses to his music as shared in Monday’s post Smoke & Mirrors – My Son’s Way Back that he wanted to express his gratitude to you all.
I would like to thank you too, my dear readers, from the bottom of my heart for all your amazingly kind and supportive comments, offers of help for Nick and also for taking the time to share your personal stories and experiences.
So that’s enough from me, over to you Nicky:
Nick & Eddie
(c) Sherri Matthews 2013
“I would just like to express how appreciative I am of everyone’s kind and inspiring words. Never has my music received such overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Even though I may be going through a bit of a rough patch, it’s shed light on two very positive things. The first being it’s clearly displayed how loving and supportive my friends and family are.
The second being that it’s started to light a bit of fire left in me to make music. For years my passion has always balanced on a knife’s edge, but if this whole situation I’m in didn’t come about, I probably never would have seriously made an effort to try and motivate myself to play guitar again. What you have all said has helped light that fire a bit more, so thanks again.
Despite what has happened recently, I still consider myself a very lucky person. Some of the best music ever written has come from people that have faced circumstances far more difficult than anything I’ve ever dealt with.
For instance, blues music is one of the most important cornerstones of modern music, and originally it was written by people who weren’t exactly living the best quality of life. It’s because they discovered what I’m beginning to see: When faced with obstacles, you can always turn to whatever creative outlet inspires you, and you can always depend on it to lift you up unlike so many other things in life.”
A View From My Summerhouse 
What a lovely tribute to all those who encouraged you. It is so good to know that the world is not such a bad place after all and there are a lot of really knd and caring people out there. It is surprising how often, almost always in fact, good things come out of bad. Well done you for following your dream, may it be fulfilled just as you wish and bring you all the acclaim you so richly deserve. Thanks too to your mum for having you on her blog as a guest. Much love xxx
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This piece is well written Nick I hope you reach your goals in life and glad to hear you have decided to start playing again
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I was hoping you’d introduce us to your son, Sherri. Now we can put a face to the awesome music. Nick, you have amazing talent and an amazing mother! Keep that fire going!
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Firstly – Nick: It is a pleasure to meet you. Your music, as heard through Sherri’s blog, is awesome – I genuinely want to hear more. (Once a rocker…) It is lovely that you’ve taken time out to thank us for our support – no need really, but just shows what a kind and sensitive soul you are. I think I’ve had the conversation with your Mum in the past that creativity can be sparked from the deepest of sadness. Maybe this was meant to be and this is where you are meant to be – however painful the journey has been thus far. Keep going, keep creating wonderful sounds like this and you will discover your dream.
Secondly – Sherri – don’t tell Nick I said this, but he is drop dead gorgeous. And no, my real name is not Mrs Robinson. 😉
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LOL! I didn’t want to come across as a Mrs. Robinson (love that movie) either, Jenny, so I refrained. But now that it’s out there…I thought the same thing about Nick…WOW! 🙂
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Ha Ha! Jill, I’m still laughing out loud from Jenny’s comment and now yours too!! So funny, I can tell you Nicky will love this!!! Looks like he’s got a whole new fan club out there, think he will have to set up his own blog, except I’m worried I will lose you all, lol 😉
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Ok, so I was going to leave these comment for Nicky to respond to but how can I not respond to this!! Jenny, I am literally holding my ribs after reading the ‘Mrs Robinson’ quip!!!! I just can’t get that song out of my head now, and the image of Dustin Hoffman…no, I will say no more!!!!!
Seriously though, yes, my boy is a looker that’s for sure (and I mean as in son, not cat, although Eddie is quite cute too 😉 )
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I just wish I had legs like Anne Bancroft.
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Okay, now my imagination has gone into overload…
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It’s so heartwarming to read that our enthusiastic shouts about your music have been an inspiration. And I agree that there’s nothing quite like dark days to inspire creativity. Good luck!
[Sherri: your son is cute!]
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Thanks Rachel 🙂
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Great post. You’ll be fine, Nick, you can’t keep talent like that down. Do as your mum says and you won’t go wrong 😉 It’s great to see that you’ve salvaged two huge positives from such an awful situation. I hope you can keep the inspiration and fire going; I’d love to hear more from you. All the best!
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Wonderful post! Keep fanning that flame Nick because you truly have such an amazing talent for the world to enjoy!
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Your talent is awesome, clearly you have the dexterity and ability, (I wish I did!) and the skills to make it happen. It reminds me of Stanley Jordan from some years ago. Looking forward to hearing about your very likely future success. Your Mom should be proud. M
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Hi Nicky. I feel as if I have known you for a while. I’m a musician, and you my friend, execute well. Your have good patterns. Continue to practice, develop your own signature(your own style), approach your instrument like you own it. Don’t be shy, but aggressive, as you strum, or pick. Listen to other well established guitarists, and pay close attention to detail. You can glean from their styles, which you can in turn, assimilate in to your reportoire, but always maintaining your own style. Try different Genres, and expound on your abilities. You are going through a storm, but you’ll get to the other side. You have a pillar of strength in your mom. Keep me posted. If can be of any assistance, please, do not hesitate to ask.
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You have a handsome son with great talents!
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Thanks so much Andy, I am so very proud of my boy 🙂
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And you should be! I hope is as proud of his mum!
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🙂
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Nice to meet you and glad to hear the encouragement helped. Always follow your passion; it’s what will nourish your soul. Stay true to it and you will be a happier man. I tend to go on and on sometimes so I’ll stop now. Anyway, any young man who loves cats is tops in my book. 😀 Go forth and make great music.
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Hi, Nick
It’s so strange reading all this because when I listened to your pieces, I just heard amazing talent and passion. I would never have guessed at your doubts and the dark places because the music was so accomplished and confident.
I hope you find someone who supports you in your creativity. I do think there is a period after a relationship ends when you learn more about yourself and this feeds into your creativity. After that, we learn even more when we connect with people again.
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I can’t even play a wazoo. I’ll just have to become a lyrics dude, I guess.
Or a plumber.
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🙂
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I’m so glad something positive has come about from your situation. It’s good that you’ve got your “fire” back. Sometimes to pursue our dreams we need either the right motivation or better yet a major “life experience” to draw from that pushes that creativity to the next level. This is only the beginning of good things to come.
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I’m so glad the positive feedback you got has helped light that fire Nick. Good luck for the future and hope we all hear more from you soon.
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Soldier on. Let out the music languishing inside of you. 🙂 All the best.
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I think sometimes we can get distracted by life and what it throws us, and that’s not always a bad thing for a while! But if something leads you back to your true passion – I think we’re lucky if we always know what that is – then no matter how bad things seem at the time, it can only be a blessing in disguise. Whether it’s music or writing or whatever, it’s something that’s truly ours. You’re an amazing guitarist – best of luck with the music!
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