This moment. This energy. I will never take it for granted.

I sit down on the drum “throne” .

I move my right leg towards the bass drum, and I place my right foot on a pedal.

I move my left leg towards the hi-hats, and I place my left foot on another pedal.

I pause.

I take a deep breath, and I soak in the moment.

It’s about to happen. It’s really about to happen!

First, I strike the hi-hats with my right hand and the bass drum with my right foot, simultaneously.

Second, I strike the hi-hats with my right hand again.

Third, I use the right hand and left hand, this time on the snare drum and hi-hats, again simultaneously.

Finally, I finish with striking the hi-hats, again using my right hand.

Repeat.

I am describing one of the most basic and foundational drum set patterns that can formulate a “beat”, or groove.

Most of us drummers have learned this combination at some point in time.

However, when I had nothing, and when I was bedridden, I truly was incapable of any movement without extreme and inexplicable pain, let alone this simple beat.

The above video captured one of the very first times that I was able to sit down and play this beat again since recovering from complete immobility earlier on in 2018.

I’m happy to report that I have been back to my able-bodied playing self for several months, and I’m back on stage as well!

There are not enough words in my being to articulate the amount of grueling pain and effort it took to get back to this moment in October of 2018. I am more proud of this forty-four second clip than any other clip I have shared on the internet, and that is because it took an astronomical amount of dedication and perseverance to return to this moment.

This moment.

Playing this beat in this moment took me back to my beginnings:

at Beaumont Middle School in Lexington, Kentucky, in an empty room, after school, by myself, where I would attempt to play the school’s drums for hours until my mother forced me to come home.

I’ll never forget the first time at the school that I was finally able to convince all four of my stubborn limbs to work together towards achieving my ultimate goal:

making music.

Now I’ll never forget when I reclaimed my rightful place in my percussive kingdom, on my drum “throne”, just a few months ago. This video signified a massive milestone in my recovery (see previous blog), and it restarted my journey towards becoming an unstoppable force in the world of doing what I love:

making music.

To those who have read to this point:

Thank you for taking the time out of your day to peruse what I am sharing. I also would like to encourage each of you to NEVER, EVER take basic human function for granted. We all participate in activities that challenge our bodies. Please make sure to prioritize your body and long-term health in your daily life. As my mother says,

“Your body is a temple.”

Watch out. Be sure not to blink. You might miss my ascent to the throne.

This feeling. This energy. I will never take it for granted.