Subject: [Harp-L] playing while driving

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

For me it's a little bit different:
 
Since I'm the player but not usually the driver, a chromatics  primarily, 
forced to learn one-handed play due to a shoulder injury,  and also the main 
'shopper', it doesn't give me a whole lot of time in the  car to enjoy 
playing/practice, but I do make the most of the time I have. 
 
I wouldn't dream of 'playing while driving' though, anymore than I'd  talk 
on a cellphone hands-free or not, do makeup, read, knit, or any of the  
other things I've watched other people do while swerving all  over the road 
completely oblivious to the fact they're not in control of a big  chunk of metal 
which can kill everyone around them.
 
Maybe my thinking puts me out of the loop, but I've seen sufficient  
accidents caused by careless and distracted drivers (and been the unfortunate  
victim of some of them) to last a lifetime. Just a couple of months  ago my 
good friend and neighbour was hit just a few blocks from here by someone  
yakking on a cellphone (illegal here in NY) who 'forgot' then to hit the brakes  
coming up to a red light. Driving 50+mph. The three drivers stopped in  
front of her had no where to go and received severe enough injuries to land all  
of them in the hospital. All 4 vehicles were totalled. Luckily by the time  
my friend at the front of the line whose car was also smashed  and pushed 
out into oncoming traffic, the force had dissipated just  enough to leave her 
ambulatory and able to aid the other victims despite  her injuries. 
 
No thanks!  It doesn't matter what the distraction is, an 'active'  
distraction is just that. On a straight and empty stretch of road  it becomes a bit 
less of an issue for a good driver, but  with any kind of traffic you're 
simply an accident waiting to happen if  your entire attention is not on your 
driving. Driving is an active pursuit, not  something requiring 'whiling 
away the hours with another occupation to keep  yourself from being bored'.  If 
you believe it is, read the accident  statistics then join a car pool, have 
someone else drive you to and from your  destinations and perhaps you'll 
spare some of us the lifetime of orthopedic  injuries usually left in your 
wake. 
 
As a passenger however, ever present in my bag are both a C and A cx-12 -  
sometimes I switch out the C to my Super 64.  My newest vehicle (after 17  
years, so I'm enjoying the heck out of all its bells and whistles), has an 
Ipod  plug through the glove compartment, with 9 speakers and an amazing sound 
 system. The last few local trips (realizing 'local' where I live can mean  
anywhere from 10 minutes to 3 hours)...does allow me to get in  some 
serious playing time and I can really understand the attraction to  practicing in 
such a wonderful (and small) sound studio.  
 
I've remained behind in the driveway alone for an hour or more  sometimes, 
since I also now get Sirius Satellite Radio (comes with the  car) which I 
cannot pick up inside and am having a great time playing along  with.  
Everything sounds so much better in the car now than it does  even at home. This 
vehicle came with heated seats and is  very comfortable...so I'm now having 
way too much fun even as the temp  drops outside. 
 
So I'd suggest 'woodshedding' in a stationary car as a routine  form of 
practice for those who are used to playing while driving  or practicing 
outdoors and never thought of sitting in their cars  before. Especially in the 
winter months where it's too cold to  stay outside for long ...you can keep the 
heat on a bit - or take a  hot water bottle, 'Little hottie hand warmers' (I 
gave away a few of those at  GSHC to keep hands warm in the freezing air 
conditioning)...they do double duty  by warming up harmonicas...and you could 
take a thermos of hot tea (or something  else non-cloying) sipping water in 
between to prevent sticking up your harps,  wrap your legs in a blanket - 
whatever you need to stay warm...and  play to your heart's content if your 
family's not into it and/or you simply  prefer to practice alone. 
 
But if you are going to insist on playing WHILE driving....let me  know 
first if you're anywhere around my neck of the woods and I'll get  the heck out 
of your way or stay home instead ;)
 
Elizabeth