Back to Work
The more time Vernon spent with the guitar, the happier he became. After three months his honeymoon with the guitar came to an end. The doctor said Vernon was ready to go back to work so “So long as he doesn’t act like he thinks he’s a mule.” Vernon did not want to work. He was in love with a guitar. His wife, his family and his good character herded him back to the sawmill.

Vernon tried to be cheerful and cooperative at work, just as he always had. He tried to be interested in the lives of his wife and children, just as he always had, As the months passed it became increasingly clear to his wife that her husband had lost his heart to the guitar. He played it every chance he got. He sat in the yard and played after work. After supper he’d sit on the porch and play into the evening. The guitar was so loud the familiar porch swing conversations came to a halt.

Listening to the radio, reading more books and drawing on the wisdom of Uncle Milt, Veron continued to grow as a guitar player. Heis style remained peculiar. Milt said he could release “angels and wild animals from the guitar.”

During the day, Vernon went through the motions. It begame increasingly clear neither his mind nor his heart were in the sawmill business any more. He would have lapses where he seemed to forget where he was and his coworkers began to fear he would be injured again or even killed. He was moved to an office job.

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