i've been stumped for any idea for this prompt. i really wanted to take a photo of my neighbour because she's always loud but she's a large woman so i can't even approach her to ask if i can take her photo. plus i really don't like her, as i said because she's loud. loud like that yellow colour of the volkswagen parked outside the violin maker's shop.
aha! so this morning, i went for my usual walkabout to look for anything interesting to photograph. then i thought i'd check out the violin maker's window. it was open and there were five violins on display. i saw an old man moving inside so i decided to go in and be a nosey parker. he saw me and motioned for me to wait and he would unlock the door. he did and asked me to enter.
masa inokuchi is the violin maker on the danforth. i introduced myself and greeted him in japanese with a slight bow and he was quite pleased. i was right, the shop used to be a japanese restaurant operated by his wife. he came to canada with his wife and two daughters and a son in 1968 and been in the business for so long as he can remember.
he makes his violins on order by members of the national symphony, american and canadian. he has a bigger shop down east. he used to make violas and cellos but now he almost exclusively makes violins. and small airplanes. yes, the kind that actually flies and piloted by human. i got that info from asking too many questions. this man is so humble and down to earth. but he is damn proud of his craft and his family.
as we talked there was soft music coming from his receiving room beyond the shop. bach. i told him my favourite is chopin and he slightly bowed and told me wonderful choice.
then as i walked to the park after i left masa-san's (yes, i am on first name with the gentleman, cool eh?) shop, there walked past me two young men, with big headphones on their heads, their kind of music blaring loud while they talked practically yelling at each other.
ah, there's my sony walkman, which i very rarely use because i hate ear phones and ear plugs. i use the ear plugs in the winter so cold air can't get into my ears. actually, i'd have the ear plugs on but it's not really connected to anything. and when i don't want to talk to anyone, i pretend it's so loud i can't hear anything else. :-)
How wonderful . . these violins are gorgeous. Wonderful photo and even better, you got to meet the craftsman who did these. He sounds like a real gentleman and a wonderful person to know. I admire you for going out of your way to meet him. I am smiling at your wonderful zest for living life to the fullest. You're a delight my friend. :)
I fave'd this, not only for the excellent, detailed shot you took, but also for your story, it made me smile. I am afraid is this electronic, text your friend, when they are sitting next to you world, we have lost and art of conversation. Let alone the music that is so loud. I love the violin and its sound. I am so proud of you for going in and engaging the man in a conversation and let him beam with pride while he tells about his skills. That to is not done anymore. Thanks for the smile
That sounds like a wonderful shop to visit - great that you're on first name terms with the violin maker now too! I like the different coloured violins in his window - and your sneaky ploy for avoiding unwanted conversation!
@karenann - thank you, karenann. 'zest for life'? well, in a way, yes. yesterday was one of those times when i was in the "if i don't do it, i won't know" thinking mode. so no kicking myself in the rear this time. :-)
@sarasdadandmom - thank you, terry. i appreciate what you're saying, that's why whenever the grandsons are here, i make it a point for us to have a conversation and i do that by telling them stories. at first you can see that they're itching to get back to their computer games, but once engaged, they'd enjoy themselves. i think that that is our problem: we don't take time to make the conversation. it's always "text me" or "i'll send you an e-mail".
@alia_801 - thank you, alia. it helped to know a little bit of someone else's language. (in my last job in manila, we had a few japanese expatriates and they were very excited to teach us the basic terms and greetings.) the japanese people are very proud people especially when it comes to their culture and they love it when you show interest in their country, culture and language.
hahaha! oh, the things people say about me when they think i can't hear or not listening!
@steeler - thank you, howard. i've been feeling a little bit down in the dumps the last few days and that visit to the violin shop and talking to the violin maker just lifted my spirits that i was able to do a lot of things, in between venturing to the laptop to look at people's 365.
Great story- Love that you did it. So many time we want to do things like that and hold back. We miss so much. I think alot of people go into "hiding" with ear plugs and pretend cell phone conversations.
Nice story and great contrast for loud! I think it's great that we can interpret this list any way we want. I like your collage and even more so the story that goes with it.
@olivetreeann - thank you, ann. if i had known your phone number, i'd have called you first in my excitement. haha!
@beba8162 - thank you, roberta. those violins on the window, it turns out, are a different one everyday. they're final products and being treated to get their show colours. it is amazing, and really a very tough process. from sheet of wood to finish product.
hahaha! oh, the things people say about me when they think i can't hear or not listening!
@beba8162 - thank you, roberta. those violins on the window, it turns out, are a different one everyday. they're final products and being treated to get their show colours. it is amazing, and really a very tough process. from sheet of wood to finish product.
@cscecil - the violins were really delicate and beautiful close up. almost makes me want to take up violin lessos. almost, not quite. thank you, CS.