I bought a mandolin a couple years ago on a road trip with Greg to see Brian Wilson in Burlington. We stopped at Dick’s Country Store Gun City & Music Oasis (“Groceries, Guns, Gas, Guitars”!) and I mentioned that I’d been meaning to learn how to play the instrument since I’d inherited my grandmother’s several years prior. Well, Greg convinced me to seize the moment and I went home with a Gretsch New Yorker. I’ve been dabbling ever since but decided to get a little more serious while on parental leave last semester. Here’s what I sounded like back in March (with June yelling/singing along). I’ve gotten a little better since then, but there’s still a lot of room for improvement!