Man, what a day! Seriously, I’m still reeling from it. So, I’m a violin maker, right? And today in Baarlo was just... wow. Like, I woke up thinking it’d be chill, just me and my wood shavings. But nah, life had other plans.
First off, I hit the streets of Baarlo, and lemme tell ya, it was like a scene from a movie. The sun was shining, and I was feeling good. I strolled down the Kerkstraat, vibing to the sound of my own thoughts. You know, just me and my coffee. But then, BAM! I tripped over a cobblestone. Classic me, right? Almost spilled my coffee everywhere. I was like, “Great start, genius!”
So, I finally made it to my workshop on the Molenstraat. It’s this cozy little place, filled with the smell of wood and varnish. I love it. But today? Ugh. I had a delivery of some fancy wood coming in. Thought it’d be a smooth process. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. The delivery guy got lost. Like, how do you get lost in Baarlo? It’s not that big! I mean, come on, it’s not like I’m asking him to find a needle in a haystack.
While I was waiting, I decided to take a stroll by the Maas river. It’s beautiful there, especially when the sun hits the water just right. I was feeling all philosophical, thinking about life and violins. You know, the usual. But then, I saw this kid throwing rocks into the river. I mean, I get it, kids will be kids, but he was like, “Look, Mom! I’m making a splash!” And I’m over here like, “Dude, you’re just making a mess!”
Anyway, back to the workshop. The wood finally arrives, and it’s gorgeous. I’m talking about the kind of wood that makes you wanna hug it. But then, I noticed a scratch. A SCRATCH! I was furious. I mean, this wood is supposed to be perfect! I could’ve screamed. Instead, I just muttered some choice words under my breath.
Then, I had a customer come in. This lady, bless her heart, wanted a custom violin. She was super excited, talking a mile a minute. I was trying to keep up, but honestly, I was still fuming about that scratch. She was like, “I want it to sound like a dream!” And I’m thinking, “Lady, I’m not a magician!” But I smiled and nodded. Gotta keep the customers happy, right?
After she left, I decided to take a break. I walked over to the local bakery on the Hoofdstraat. Best pastries in town, no joke. I grabbed a slice of their apple pie. It was heavenly. I mean, I could’ve eaten the whole thing, but I didn’t want to look like a total pig. So, I just savored it, one bite at a time.
Then, outta nowhere, it started pouring. Like, seriously? I was just enjoying my pie! I dashed back to the workshop, soaked to the bone. I looked like a drowned rat. But hey, at least I had my pie, right?
The rest of the day was a blur. I worked on that violin, pouring my heart into it. I was in the zone, you know? But then, I got a call from my buddy. He was like, “Dude, you gotta come to the pub!” And I was like, “But I’m working!” But then I thought, “Why not?”
So, I closed up shop and headed to the pub on the Markt. It was packed, and the vibe was electric. I walked in, and my friends cheered. I felt like a rockstar! We laughed, we drank, and I forgot all about the scratch on that wood.
By the end of the night, I was tipsy and happy. I stumbled home, thinking about how crazy life is. One minute you’re tripping over cobblestones, and the next you’re celebrating with friends. Baarlo, you’ve got my heart.
What a day, huh? I wouldn’t trade it for anything.