So-called Family

I meant to write this on Sunday, but didn't find the time. Monday we were at my mom's house. And yesterday was my first day back at work. But anyway, here goes.

Every Labor Day weekend Colt's aunt has a party. Typically everyone stays overnight, but we chose not to. Colt just wanted to play music for everyone and then go home. That meant neither one of us had anything to drink. And Colt comes from a family of drinkers and functional alcoholics. They asked a few times if we wanted a drink. Both of us said no and reminded them we weren't staying. And honestly that isn't really what this is about, but I wanted to preface with it.

After we all ate, Colt got set up to play. He had planned to play from 6-9 with a few breaks in between. That isn't what happened though, sadly. He did his first set and that went okay. People listened, but no one really gave him their full attention past the first two or three songs. His mom had set her chair towards where he was playing, but after Colt asked me to help scroll lyrics for him and I was up there with him she moved her chair and then ended up playing games with others. There wasn't clapping after most of his songs.

After he took a short break they turned a speaker on with music. It was never turned back off after he started his second set. By this time no one was paying attention. And Colt was getting visibly frustrated.

Then there were the comments. "That's my son." Immediately followed by "Isn't that what I'm supposed to say?" Almost as if it were performative and not genuine. I just thought it was weird. Before he had even finished his second set he was asked to wrap it up. And at one point someone came up to him and asked him if he wanted to just relax and hang out. He said music is how he relaxes. Then not long after he was asked to be done. And was then told he was too loud... probably interrupting their games ane conversation.

There were comments about how great he was and all that, but to both of us, it didn't feel genuine. You could tell no one really cared. Actions speak so much louder than words. It took Colt until Monday after he played for my family to feel better about how everything went. And I hate seeing him so frustrated and upset.

My family has always loved listening to him and my mom asks every time we come over for Colt to bring his guitar. My grandma, before she passed away, also loved to listen to him.

I couldn't be prouder of him and how far he has come. When we met he knew how to play a few songs. Now he has a bunch of his own songs written and knows how to play almost 40 songs. And that list is growing all the time.