So I received a very thoughtful birthday gift - a Cajón - from my boyfriend. Thoughtful in a couple of ways. First, he knows I’m a percussionist and like to hit things. I get to play the timpani in an orchestra, but I do miss playing drums and other percussion instruments and have been thinking of getting a Cajón for some time (he didn’t know that though). Second, he didn’t just get me any Cajón, but one which needs to be constructed. It came as a box of wooden planks. All because of this one time which I mentioned in passing that I like woodwork, that I derive joy from making things with my hands.

Well, he didn’t give me a chance to read him the fine print to the above statement. Liking something doesn’t mean I’m good at it, or that I have much experience with it. From the instructions in the box, building a Cajón looks much more involved than building Ikea furniture. (At least I don’t have to worry about affecting the sound timbre of my furniture due to bad construction.) I have a nice set of tools and am good with a screwdriver and a hammer, but I need more. Passion and desire are a good start, right? Next I’ll need to do some tool-shopping for drills, clamps, saws, glue, sandpaper, varnish etc. This is just after I spent a bunch on some new timpani mallets. Damn, this is an expensive hobby, and I haven’t even begin constructing the Cajón yet (i.e. no drum to play yet).

Anyway, the process should be fun. And frustrating. And dangerous. I think he’s beginning to realize just how accident prone and clumsy I am. How many fingers will I lose over the next couple of weeks? I can probably still play the Cajón with one or two missing digits, but it will be trickier with the timpani and piano. Ah well, Hakuna matata! Que sera, sera! Look forward to my Cajóna Sonata!