This story has been a while in developing, but now, it’s time to reveal the truth!
A long, long time ago…
A wedding proposition failed.
September. It was beautiful. I was swaying uncomfortably from my seat on the bus, knees locked in the seat ahead while I managed to uncover my phone. She had a problem. I agreed to meet her.
“Will you marry me?’
…she asked
Now let me explain. As a former international college student, my dear friend had been attempting to decide what to do with her life when she was discovered working illegally as a babysitter. Options were limited, and what seemed to her to be the last available chance to remain in America was to marry to acquire a green card, and legal residence in the country.
So…being someone naturally afraid of commitment, I said
“No, of course not!”
“I could employ you possibly…perhaps a work visa could solve the problem? A music school perchance?”
In no position to start anything outside of a pending homework assignment, this certainly seemed like an interesting idea. And I got very excited.
6 months later I had graduated college, and happened to find myself sitting in the elementary school principal office. I shifted nervously in my seat, staring intensely at fresh artwork on walls, straight from the hands of the establishment of 9 year old children.
“School of Groove is a contemporary music school providing students with an environment that is conducive towards exploration.” Concise, simple, very beautifully put I thought.
It puzzled me when in late November, I received a call from the Superintendent’s office effectively ending all possibilities for the future of School of Groove. To explain, School of Groove was initially meant be launched in a public or private school or church. This would allow us to build slowly and securely within a facility without the risk of renting or purchasing our own facility.
This seemed to be the end of a story very eloquently written.
I was traveling in a very plush RV frantically making phone calls. I had one realtor on call waiting, while I explained my pending needs to another. Meetings were quickly scheduled, and I took the plunge.
It was a relatively warm day in December when I wrote the check with the most zero’s. I felt a touch of anxiety…more like a ripping angst, as I instantly gave away more money than I had made that entire year. I had a building. An address. The little piece of paper in my hand attested to that. I suddenly had more responsibility than I had ever had. So I went home.
Hiding under the covers seemed to be the best option on January 2nd when I woke up to realize that I had just risked everything I owned on this place, and I was suddenly having second thoughts about it! So, acting on my best impulses, I proceeded to sleep the rest of the day.
The following morning, accompanied by a much braver spirit, I ventured outside, and made the short drive to the location of my school.
