Hello everyone. I have been enjoying this site and forum for a few weeks and want to thank you all for sharing such an abundance of great information regarding the world of the violin.  While my knowledge is very limited after only 4 months of lessons and practice, I can relate to many of your sentiments about the journey.

Here's two funny stories I hope you find entertaining.   When I first started with the   mandolin a few years ago, I had to visit the music store for it to be restrung.  The staff person, clearly an experienced rocker, looked at me, sighed,  and said, "do you plan to sing and play?"  Mostly horrified my response was "oh gosh, NO" to  which he said  "yeah... that's what they all say. "   Makes me laugh everytime I drive by his store. 

Now that I'm playing the violin, my husband has lately said "it is really sounding pretty good"  and of course I'm delighted with his praise.  Next time he says this,  I may run downstairs and discretely check to see if he is wearing his hearing aids.  Or maybe not and just enjoy my fool's paradise a bit longer!