I received a call about Guitar lessons, tuition is free here at Dunc pup school of music.
A ramble because I been up since 01:00 boys are asleep.
So I get this call on Tuesday I did not recognize the name yet I answered because of the loss of my wife Monday night thinking it may have been a friend of my wife’s.
Last Friday I went into jam with our one son’s guitar class and this young kiddo who is in ninth grade was in attendance. Let me back up so the school district had two in service days this past Monday and Tuesday then thanksgiving break. So the schools music teacher called me Monday afternoon asking if she could give out my number for guitar lessons she knew my wife was in hospital I said sure.
In talking to this mom on Tuesday and she explained besides the school guitar class she would like to give her daughter guitar lessons. And after we talked here she graduated with our oldest daughter I thought cool young lady. This mom told me guitar center I think she said charges like $50 for a single lesson and another private instructor was around $40 a lesson.In thinking I get it as parents we want to do for our children you know especially this mom being the only income.
She then asked what I charged I said free , and I’m gonna be off for maybe a month or two so yes I can commit. I just ask that you are present doing the lessons and we can do weeknights after school, then later it will be Saturday or maybe Sunday once I go back to work. I then said I’ll be in touch next week yet I woke up Wednesday and I thought why sit around and grieve so I text the mother and she brought her daughter out.
And in meeting with them I smiled because the young mom was well I can pay for study materials and the guitar lesson books. I told her yea we don’t have any of that we are unaccredited , I had 18 who also is on staff here and my guitar slinger print off different scale patterns and the circle of fifths because Dad doesn’t know how to print from laptop to show and send home with kiddo. Also I brought up different sites online besides you tube I showed them a guitar site I belong to you always learn exploring the fretboard.
This young lady is using a squire strat they bought on Craigslist $75 used I sent her home with a Mexican strat I upgraded for her to use. Her Stratocaster needs a setup and new tuners and I’m gonna replace the nut, also I may just swap out pots and cap and yea probably the pickups she’s been playing for awhile mostly I think you tube as lessons so I’m comfortable in upgrading her guitar. I have couple sets of wound pickups single coils and humbuckers a friend of mine winds.
I have a set of his 65 grey bottoms in a Greco se 700 strat of mine and in the mexi I sent home with the kiddo i have a set of his what he calls his 69’s the 69’s both sets use Alnico 5 magnets 69’s take pedals really well and clean they are sweet in tone. I joke with my friend I said sign inside pick guard and date it and name your series of pickups. Like Abigail from fender I said if you make it these guitars will be priceless because of your pickups.
So after our lesson Wednesday kiddo asked when we can we do the next lesson how about Saturday I said young lady so 18 and I will be ready for kiddo. Our son said dad that’s the most I ever heard her speak as she is so quiet in school guitar class.
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You're a great dad, especially for teenagers.
That mom came to the right person for what her daughter needs, and you are a great dad for seeing it and just doing it.
You are wise to keep on keepin' on, it will help to heal some of the pain. It's also a good therapy for the boys to have someone new to bring into the guitar fold. I foresee many fun filled jams coming this winter.
Good on you friend! 
brought tears. It sounds like this project will benefit everyone involved. It’s wonderful to see good hearts in action, which always brings good things.
Your kindness towards others during this difficult time warms my heart and I hope it eases your pain to be working with this young person to teach something you love as well.
And you are making someone happy at the same time. That is good for the heart. We are sharing in your grief, duncanpup
But I think you are awesome.
to help someone else now, despite your own pain. Your family has to be so proud of you. (Including your wife, and I'm using present tense because, although I'm not religious, what I've heard from other people who've suffered losses makes me believe in an afterlife and reunions).
It can be very healing to help others, and that young lady is so fortunate (and probably can hardly believe her luck) that you're already helping her so much. I got tears in eyes reading your post, especially when I got to the paragraph about your sending her home with the strat you'd upgraded already, a better guitar she can use while you upgrade her strat.
It sounds to me, too, from what your son said, that you're helping that girl get over some shyness. Not just helping her learn to play guitar.
The world needs more Duncanpups. We're fortunate that there's one here. And the people around you are especially fortunate.
I hope to hear soon just how well that young lady is doing with her lessons. And if she achieves success with her music, I hope to hear she acknowledges all the help you gave her. It's very likely that she will. Such kindness isn't forgotten.
and 
tho I understand NOTHING about the technical stuff you mentioned, making someones happy with music! The Baby Grand Piano Dad bought for us 70? years ago (I remember when it was hauled through our Brooklyn apartment window!) is now in my brother's house in Iowa, and makes me happy just thinking of it there.
sharing the pure love of music and guitar… how could you do any better than that at this heartbroken time… 
I truly hope helping the newbie guitar player helped you to heal a bit.