Editor,

In response to letter writer (Thank you to ‘Paul Buyan’ for kindness): First off, thank you for writing your letter to the editor. Your description of me was pretty generous, and though I might not see it myself, I will definitely tell everyone you said it! It means a lot to me to hear that I was able to give such a smile to your son, and a feeling of peace to you.

To be honest, it brought a lot of peace to me as well. At the time, I had just gotten over a life threatening sickness, and then lost my oldest sister. I definitely needed some cheering up, and gifting a pair of drum sticks did just the trick. When I was about his age, maybe even a bit younger, my friend down the road had an older sister who played drums. Any time I was at his house, I would stare at her drum set like I was in some kind of trance. I could hear them all in my head, just looking at them. I had a little drum set at home, but hers were the real deal. She didn’t know it at the time, but I had already made up my mind that drums were my future. One day she gave me a pair of drumsticks just to be nice and let me tell you, as an adult, that was today’s equivalent to someone giving you free gas for a year. I never forgot that, and over the years being able to hand out a pair of sticks to the right kid has always been something I love.

I lived in Nashville for the last 16 years playing drums and percussion professionally. I moved back to the island last year and now do studio work remotely and travel to Nashville as needed. This is why I randomly had drum sticks with me; they end up going with me everywhere,

I am sorry to read that you came here from a violent situation at home, but I hope this special island is the healing that you need. Whidbey is a very unique place, and I’m sure the more you get comfortable here, the more you will find your peace. I’m so happy I was a part of it!

Roy Gabelein

Langley