There has been much chatter around the TownTalk office lately about celebrities and what makes one. It’s January—time for new goals in life and, so, I have come to a conclusion:  I’m going to be one. Yes, that’s right. In 2012, I’m going to become a celebrity!  And I have chosen to be a Non-Hawaiian Born Terry County Virtuoso Concert Ukulelist…or is it Ukulelian? Or Ukulist? Or Uker, maybe?  Well, I’m not sure what the proper term is but I have determined to become one!

First, I need a ukulele—which I have—so  step one is complete.

 In my younger days I got a ukelele using my mother’s Green Stamps. I decided I was a very bad player though because it could never be tuned. I later wound up using it as a bulletin board decoration in my classroom. My sister borrowed it one summer to decorate the Littlefield Security State Motor Bank window. One day it just fell into a dozen parts. The sun had cooked it.

Lillian and her co-worker Earlene felt so bad about ruining my fine instrument that they went to Jents and bought another. I came out with a much better ukulele in the deal, but that uke was still very hard to keep in tune and play. I lost interest and it became a permanent resident of the top bookcase shelf.

I just had to be a uke fluke. I kept seeing smiling people gathered in a group singing along to the accompaniment of a ukulele in advertisements and in movies, but I just couldn’t do it. Finally I decided  those shots were either staged for photos or Hollywood or, yes, I would just have to accept that I was a uke fluke.

Messing around in a music store one day, I came across an Ibanez mango wood concert ukulele. I picked it up and strummed. Sweet! It stayed in tune and I could play it! The curse was broken.

Now, back to my plan. The second step to becoming a uke celebrity is to know how to hold one and at least three chords to strum. Got it covered! I know nine chords!

Step three: practice, practice, practice. The advantages of a ukulele are that it is a very portable instrument because of its size and needs no electricity or special accommodations so there is no excuse to practicing at least a little while every day. And, it is advertised not to make your fingers bleed because its chords are easy to reach and the strings are soft. Well, partially true. Right now my left hand fingertips feel as if they have been walking through a sticker patch barefooted. Ouch! But I will persevere.  They will callous over and I will continue to practice.

Step four: an audience. Got that covered too. Right now it is two cats and a Chihuahua who are looking at me with this “Do you have to disturb my nap” smirk, but they are getting used to the noise, especially when I sing along with my playing. The dog almost joined in the other night. I was excited until a friend said it’s probably because I was hurting his ears.

Well, if I can practice enough and then venture out to a human audience I should be able to reach my dream. I will be the first Non-Hawaiian Born Terry County Virtuoso Concert Ukulelist. Or maybe it should be Uketarist. I do play it like it’s a guitar. Anyway, I’ll be a celebrity in my own time. Get ready Terry County. Now that I have announced my talent to the world, paparazzi will be sure to hit town any day.

Author: GlendaCameron
Author, writer, radio host, and educator Glenda Cameron has been co-host of TownTalk since 2006. In addition, she serves as Media Producer and contributing writer to www.towntalkradio.com. She began her radio career in Littlefield, Texas, at KZZN, later moving to KJAK and KFRE in Lubbock. Glenda’s hobbies include guitar, piano, and scanography.