Response to "Inheritance of Tools" by Scott Russell Sanders
Just an English assignment that I sort of wanted to share. We had to answer the question "What is something you've inherited from your father, and how has this inheritance affected you?" I haven't posted in a while, I figured I'd put something up here. :)
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I have received many material gifts from my parents in my lifetime. I’ve been given instruments, books, movies, cell phones, and of course socks. In all honesty though, I have not been given an inheritance I can hold in my hands. I do not have any of my mother’s jewelry nor have I been given tools from my father (although he does have quite a lot of tools). However, I consider several things I have to be inheritances from my parents: my entire concept of money and its value and uses in one’s life, my romantic side - that’s definitely from my mother, and my deep-rooted love of music. It’s that last one that I feel is the greatest inheritance I could ever receive, and that is the one that came from my father.
I have been surrounded by music since I was a baby. One of my first toys was a stuffed giraffe that played “It’s A Small World” when wound, and some of my earliest memories involve dancing in my dad’s arms to the sounds of The Beach Boys. Some of my most favorite moments were the evenings I would sit on my father’s lap after dinner, in our old wooden rocking chair, and watch a Harry Chapin concert or a compilation of ABBA music videos. The next day I would be out on the swing set, pumping my tiny little legs as hard as I could and singing “Flowers Are Red” at the top of my tiny little lungs. My parents would beg me to sing for them, but at the time I do not have the confidence I do now, and often refused.
This inheritance affected me so deeply that I chose to make music my career. I began playing flute in 5th grade and haven’t stopped since. I have been involved with music so long, that when it came time to choose a major for college I realized I could never leave band - it was then that I decided to become a high school band director. I’m completely satisfied with my decision, and I know that it was my love of music, inherited from my father, that inspired me to continue to surround myself with music for the rest of my life. It will secure me for good, of that I’m sure.
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I have received many material gifts from my parents in my lifetime. I’ve been given instruments, books, movies, cell phones, and of course socks. In all honesty though, I have not been given an inheritance I can hold in my hands. I do not have any of my mother’s jewelry nor have I been given tools from my father (although he does have quite a lot of tools). However, I consider several things I have to be inheritances from my parents: my entire concept of money and its value and uses in one’s life, my romantic side - that’s definitely from my mother, and my deep-rooted love of music. It’s that last one that I feel is the greatest inheritance I could ever receive, and that is the one that came from my father.
I have been surrounded by music since I was a baby. One of my first toys was a stuffed giraffe that played “It’s A Small World” when wound, and some of my earliest memories involve dancing in my dad’s arms to the sounds of The Beach Boys. Some of my most favorite moments were the evenings I would sit on my father’s lap after dinner, in our old wooden rocking chair, and watch a Harry Chapin concert or a compilation of ABBA music videos. The next day I would be out on the swing set, pumping my tiny little legs as hard as I could and singing “Flowers Are Red” at the top of my tiny little lungs. My parents would beg me to sing for them, but at the time I do not have the confidence I do now, and often refused.
This inheritance affected me so deeply that I chose to make music my career. I began playing flute in 5th grade and haven’t stopped since. I have been involved with music so long, that when it came time to choose a major for college I realized I could never leave band - it was then that I decided to become a high school band director. I’m completely satisfied with my decision, and I know that it was my love of music, inherited from my father, that inspired me to continue to surround myself with music for the rest of my life. It will secure me for good, of that I’m sure.