(Letter to the Editor - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

While out listening to one of our favorite bands this evening I thought about all the friends we have made over the years. For about 11 years my husband Charlie and I taught line dancing and country couples. We also enjoyed ballroom dancing.

We have not only gotten to know the other dancers but many of the musicians, also.

In each band you have the lead vocalist out front who gets a lot of the attention. Also in front is the lead guitarist. Sometimes the keyboard player or fiddle player gets noticed on certain songs. Rhythm guitar and bass player help make the sound more complete. Band members may sing harmony or in some bands there are special vocalists to sing backup. They can be in the back or up front.

Have you ever stopped to think the drummer is always in the back? He or she is stuck in the back, fixed in place while the others can move around in front. The drummer is important and must be good at keeping the beat to help the rest of the musicians stay together.

Everyone in the band has a part making the complete sound we listen to.

I’d love to name some of our favorite bands and some of the wonderful, talented people we have gotten to know but that would take over half the page. So I’ll just say, I know it takes the whole band working “together” to make the beautiful music we dance to.

Often in life the same thing happens.

There are people out front leading like the vocalist and lead guitar. There are the support people like the rhythm guitar, bass player, and harmony vocalist. Then you have the ones who work hard in the background like the drummer. They usually don’t get credit for all their hard work. Yet, without them the rest of us would just be a mix of individuals doing our own thing. Isn’t it much better to work “together” whether in a band, organization, neighborhood, or country? We can’t all be leaders. Let’s help keep our communities and our country strong by doing our part to support the group. Each and every voice (or instrument) has a part in making our country great.

Whether you agree with everything our leaders do or not please do your part to support our country as a whole. Thank you.

Bonita (Bonnie) Eaton

Vienna