LifeinaViolinCase
Understandthesenewwordsbeforeyoureadthisarticle.
1.sketch[sket?]v.速寫
2.thriftiness[θriftinis]n.茂盛，節儉
3.precarious[pri'kε?ri?s]adj.危險的，不確定的
4.disparage[dis'p?rid?]v.污蔑，誹謗
5.hasty['heisti]adj.輕率的
6.comparatively[k?m'p?r?tivli]adv.比較地；相當地
InordertotellwhatIbelieve,Imustbrieflysketchsomethingofmypersonalhistory.
Theturningpointofmylifewasmydecisiontogiveupapromisingbusinesscareerandstudymusic.Myparents,althoughsympathetic,andsharingmyloveofmusic,disapprovedofitasaprofession.Thiswasunderstandableinviewofthefamilybackground.MygrandfatherhadtaughtmusicfornearlyfortyyearsatSpringhillCollegeinMobileand,thoughmuchbelovedandrespectedinthecommunity,earnedbarelyenoughtoprovideforhislargefamily.Myfatheroftensaiditwasonlythehardheadedthriftinessofmygrandmotherthatkeptthewolfatbay.Asaconsequenceofthisexampleinthefamily,theverymentionofmusicasaprofessioncarriedwithitapictureofaprecariousexistencewithuncertainfinancialrewards.Myparentsinsisteduponcollegeinsteadofaconservatoryofmusic,andtocollegeIwentquitehappily,asIremember,foralthoughIlovedmyviolinandspentmostofmysparetimepracticing,Ihadmanyotherinterests.
BeforemygraduationfromColumbia,thefamilymetwithseverefinancialreversesandIfeltitmydutytoleavecollegeandtakeajob.ThuswasIlauncheduponabusinesscareer－whichIalwaysthinkofasthewastedyears.
NowIdonotforamomentmeantodisparage,business.Mywholepointisthatitwasnotforme.Iwentintoitformoney,andasidefromthesatisfactionofbeingabletohelpthefamily,moneyisallIgotoutofit.Itwasnotenough.Ifeltthatlifewaspassingmeby.FrombeingmerelydiscontentedIbecameacutelymiserable.MyoneambitionwastosaveenoughtoquitandgotoEuropetostudymusic.IusedtogetupatdawntopracticebeforeIleftfor「down-town」,distractingmypoormotherbyboltingahastybreakfastatthelastminute.Insteadoflunchingwithmybusinessassociates,Iwouldseekoutsomecheapcafe,orderameagermealandscribblemyharmonyexercises.Icontinuedtomakemoney,andfinally,bitbybit,accumulatedenoughtoenablemetogoabroad.Thefamilybeingoncemoresolvent,andmyhelpnolongernecessary,Iresignedfrommypositionand,feelinglikeamanreleasedfromjail,sailedforEurope.Istayedfouryears,workedharderthanIhadeverdreamedofworkingbeforeandenjoyedeveryminuteofit.
「Enjoyed」istoomildaword.Iwalkedonair.Ireallylived.IwasafreemanandIwasdoingwhatIlovedtodoandwhatIwasmeanttodo.
IfIhadstayedinbusinessImightbeacomparativelywealthymantoday,butIdonotbelieveIwouldhavemadeasuccessofliving.Iwouldhavegivenupallthoseintangibles,thoseinnersatisfactionsthatmoneycanneverbuy,andthataretoooftensacrificedwhenaman』sprimarygoalisfinancialSuccess.
WhenIbrokeawayfrombusinessitwasagainsttheadviceofpracticallyallmyfriendsandfamily.Soconditionedaremostofustotheassociationofsuccesswithmoneythatthethoughtofgivingupagoodsalaryforanideaseemedlittleshortofinsane.Ifso,allIcansayis「Gee,it』sgreattobecrazy.」