I did it!
Today I bought a drum. It's absolutely beautiful. Maple wood, steer hide. 18 inches. It has a black bird diving into the sky with a couple other birds flying in the background. I'm going to be curled up in a fetal position for a while crying over the price tag, but there was no way I was leaving that store without it.
When I saw it on the wall I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach. Before even touching it I appreciated how beautiful it is. Then when I held it and began to play it I began to get very, very attatched. The wheels started turning in my head as I tried to figure out how the hell I could afford it.
I could have put it back. It would have hurt, and the thought of someone else coming along and buying my drum really pissed me off. But I still could have put it back at that point...
Until one of the salesgirls showed me how to cleanse one's energy with it and did it to me. I felt the sound in every inch of my body and that did it. I was like "Yea I'm buying it." and she laughed. Tricky little minx...
Both salesgirls were talking about how much they loved that drum and had wanted it but they never bought it because it wasn't "theirs". It didn't call to them the way it called to me. It's funny because when I've tried to imagine what my drum would look like, the colors, the painting...I never envisioned this drum. I figured I'd get something with a horse, a fox, maybe an eagle. But there's no doubt in my mind this drum is MY drum. It was made for me. It feels like falling in love. I don't know how long it's been hanging on the wall but the date inside written by the artist who made it says "05".
Now I just need to find a drumming circle. Unfortunately the beater that was made for it fell behind their shelves and they couldn't get it so they gave me another one in green and yellow leather. It's nice and I went with it because I was in such a daze from buying this insanely expensive, beautiful thing. But then when I got home I realized it actually is important to me that I have the beater that was made for it. So I called the store and asked if they can get it from behind the shelf and call me when they do and I'll come get it. They did and they're holding it for me for when I can go pick it up.
Well at least I got $200 for Christmas so MOST of what I paid for the drum was gift money anyway. The salesgirl cut me a decent deal too, knocked about $15 off and gave me the beater free. That store was amazing, there was so much I wanted to look at I could have been there all day but I just didn't have the time.
Meanwhile my friend John let me borrow his wife's Tibetan drum the other day. It's gorgeous. Brass bottom with leafs and flowers engraved in it. My son and I have been playing it together. I like it a lot but I don't get as many different sounds from it as I do with the drum I bought. Still a Tibetan drum is something I'd love to have someday.