Unmistakable passion

Have you ever seen someone passionate about something? I mean deep, unmistakable passion. I have. I’ll be honest, it didn’t quite happen the first time I saw her play, it came years later. But I think I knew when I saw that 4 year olds tight grip on a bow and the violin propped ever so awkwardly on her shoulder, that she would make it work. She just has that quality about her. Meet Sarah Harrigan, my cousin.

As a kid, she was the loudest. She also had the biggest spirit. Now, she’s a little quieter. Focused, you could say. But her spirit, that’s even bigger. She used to wear her hair long. Not a chance of getting a brush through it. Now, she wears her hair short, because it’s easier to play that way.

She was small, unconventionally small. As an example, she wore the same one piece bathing suit for years. I don’t know if you remember, but as a kid those are the hardest things to squeeze into if they don’t fit right. But she just never grew. My mom called her “Sarah Dunk-a-roo”, because we swear that’s all she ever ate. Now, she’s taller than me and her snack of choice? Cucumbers and salt.

She was an explorer, running around with a smile as big as her spirit. I was older, but I envied her. She was free, didn’t censor herself one bit and people adored her. That’s a rare combination. People still adore her, but as I said she has a calmer presence now. She plays in the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, is training with the New Brunswick Orchestra and receives lessons from one of Dalhousie’s professors. Maybe calmer isn’t the right word. How about determined, brilliant, and wise beyond her years?

She began playing the violin because my grandfather loves the instrument. I don’t know if that’s the actual reason but witnessing him as he watches her play is reason enough for me. She played, year after year at family gatherings. And year after year, she improved. Then there was one year it changed. I guess it’s when our family realized we were no longer watching a talented girl who could read music and play the violin. We were watching a musician.

She played Josh Groban’s “You raise me up” but this time she didn’t read music and she didn’t play, she performed. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. I truly don’t believe there is anything as stirring as watching someone you love, do something they love. But that’s exactly what it was.

I used to write her letters at violin camp because she was homesick. Now I hang out with her in between her practices at Dalhousie. She gets upset when she misses a note, even just in front of us. She wants to challenge herself, and finds the people and places to do that. She took a trip to Boston with my aunt to meet the famous violinist, Itzhak Perlman. Not your typical 16 year old activity.

Perhaps she’s not the girl who runs around barefoot, with unmistakably bright colors on anymore. But I think it’s just because she’s running somewhere else.