Hello friends! It’s been a while since I’ve published a top sheet, and I am stoked to be back with another one. I guess I have been in more of a poetry mood than anything else lately. The warm weather inspires me to write freely, without much structure or real intent. Tis the season for beginning to write with no clue what you are writing about, and figuring it out as you go. I have been in a bit of a rut lately, but this article helped me get started again.
I’ve also realized that for me, being in a rut means a lack of confidence when starting a piece. I have lists upon lists of things I want to write about, people I want to write to, memories that have long passed which I wish to capture. Pen(cil) to paper, fingers to the keyboard… the only way out is through.
Anyways, this week’s top sheet interviewee does use a top sheet, and is proud of it. They want something to cover them, even though it may be thin, and a top sheet is just so much more convenient than a blanket since it's already right underneath the comforter. Her sheets are flannel too, so she says they’re perfectly cozy, and don’t get tangled up in her feet because she sleeps very still.
Currently, she is thinking of the word tutu.
Lately, she has been extra motivated to practice music, now that she has a new, beautiful bass. “I dance my way to the music building now, I’m having so much fun playing around with it.” Although they say school is not inspiring right now, the people at school are wonderful to be around. It is rare that she finds herself alone, which has been an adjustment, especially recently. It can definitely take a toll constantly being around people, but it is also something she has really enjoyed about the year. They speak about one day last week, when they got home from class and nobody was home, and how strange it was not being able to report on the small details of her day, the awkward interactions on the way back “It’s so wonderful to be around people all the time because we tell each other all our silly little stories.” Back home, she didn’t go to the same school as any of her close friends, so she didn’t see them nearly as much.
They say that they worry about falling into a sort of rut back home, because they will be enjoying alone time so much that it might be a no-contact, little task-filled summer. In their dorm, the “classic orphanage style room set-up” is odd, but she has grown to love it. “I think I’ll have a vendetta against whoever lives here next year.” When she found out she was going to live in a room with three other people, she was very worried, but “the fact of the matter is I got here and met everyone and it wasn’t weird. We just went, okay let’s go to bed now.” Now, as we approach the end of the second semester, it’s only slightly funny when we are all in our little beds gossiping with the lights out, but it is such a cozy and comfortable space to be. They are in their room much less than they thought they would be, and the only extended periods of time they are awake in the room are between 10pm and approximately 2am. “Everyone that’s in here at night, they’re just so fun to spend time with. It’s lovely.” When asked if they would keep their current sleep schedule when home for the summer, they said that they might work as a nanny for the summer, which would start earlier and mean waking up earlier and (hopefully) sleeping earlier, too.
“I think this job will allow me to learn a new skill for when I become a housewife later. Yeah, that’s what gets me out of bed every morning. While my person is out making the bread, I’ll play my bass and make some crafts, maybe make a pie… I want that life without the misogyny.”
I pointed out how much I admire their love for music, and we began talking about how their passion for music has progressed. She was forced to join orchestra in sixth grade by her parents- she wanted to take singing lessons, but thinks her parents wanted her to do something a bit more tactile. They chose the bass because it was the least popular instrument (for background, they’re an Aquarius). Middle school was interesting, and they were still learning how to play. In high school, everything changed, primarily because of her orchestra teacher. He was such a funny man and they happened to have the exact same sense of humor, and suddenly, orchestra was so much fun. Later on, she met her bass teacher, who was a student at Colorado University at the time and made a huge impact on her. “They were so enthusiastic about music and came in hot as a college bass student and I was like wow, that’s a cool life to be livin!” They then started practicing around two hours per day, while in high school and commuting an hour and a half, and on the golf team. It was a lot. Once she realized that it was going well, she began getting more involved in all things musical. She joined the local youth symphony and was the only bass player in the group, which seems to be a common theme.
“I actually wrote my college essay about this. I had never auditioned for anything before, and I auditioned for the symphony and got in! They were playing Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, and my mind was blown. These people were better than anyone I had ever played with. It was the first time I was playing music that I felt like I was playing music, and it felt so good to be a part of something like that.”
She stayed in the youth orchestra for around a year, but when COVID hit, the instructor tried to start doing rehearsals online, and she stopped. Senior year of high school, she began playing a little more again, but nothing matched the intensity of freshman and sophomore year of high school. On a whim during her senior year, she decided to audition for all-state and there were two different orchestras, and she was accepted into the highest level orchestra. It was the most selective year they had ever had because of COVID measures, and she took so much away from playing with the best people in the state on her little plywood bass. “And now I have a big girl bass! And, I never thought I’d be studying music. I think my little freshman self would be so happy! She’d be crazy.”
After she finished telling this musical story, we realized it sounded a bit like a picture book. She mentioned wanting to illustrate a children’s book, and I volunteered to write it. Our collaborative book will be published sometime in the next few decades.
They mention being really anxious about making friends before college, but becoming more extroverted throughout college or just a lot more comfortable talking to people. She would like to tell her younger self that she would find people who she felt good around, and would meet so many different types of people, different personalities, different backgrounds.
“I would tell her it won’t be difficult to be friends with these people. It’s really beautiful how easily friendships fell into place.”
She reflects on not knowing she would be a music major, and how last minute of a decision it was. They are really glad they made that decision, and think that without the outlet of music, she would be having a much worse time.
“That’s the only thing I’m completely sure of now, and I didn’t even know I would be doing it. I’m proud of myself for keeping with it, and I think it’ll always be something I can lean back on.”
They are now thinking of the word vivacious (to describe the party scene at L&C).
Cheers,
B
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Top Sheet always causes me to think of what I want to tell my younger self... and it’s different each time. I love your story telling skill 💓
Interesting, fun read. Yay! Another top sheet lover❤️