Sometimes people track me down online and ask me to "friend" them. I always make sure they are actual people and if they look okay I add them to my list. Sometimes people write a sentence or two above the request, normally a nice hello from another musician or a gear question. If someone takes the time to write I always jot back a quick thank you and answer any questions they may have asked. 

Every once in a while someone goes a step further and puts a full letter in my inbox. I give these a little more time and I try to keep my responses appropriate to the length and weight of the letter received. The other day I got message in my inbox that changed my life... a little... for a week. The letter was so complimentary and I had to re-read it a few times. This is what it said:

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Steve,

I have been a huge fan and follower of yours for quite some time now, and really appreciate what you’re doing with and for music and the drumming community. 

I collect used and signed drumsticks from amazing drummers all around the globe, and would love to include you in my collection. 

I was wondering if you might be able to send me a pair of drumsticks that you have used and possibly signed. I realize that you must get a million of these requests every day, but I would really appreciate it if we could work something out. 

Thank you so much for your time and God Bless,

Name*

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(*We'll just use "Name" in case he reads this.) 

I was kind of dazed after I read the letter. "A huge fan and follower" of mine had written me. I didn't know I had a huge fan and follower. That was very cool news. He said he appreciated what I was "doing with and for music and the drumming community." That seemed odd because I didn't realize I was actually doing that much. I mean, I wrote a book (which at this point remains somewhat under the radar), and I write on this forum, but... I tried to consider whether it was possible that I was doing more for the drumming community than I'd realized. Maybe I had underestimated my contribution?

The guy said he collected sticks from "amazing" drummers, which I read as "famous" drummers because I 'm sure he wouldn't ask a guy playing a Jazz Brunch in the corner of a restaurant for a stick, no matter how "amazing" the drumming was. But as I don't consider myself to be famous, I was flattered to be included in a collection of "famous" drummer's sticks. I wondered if it was possible that I was more famous than I thought? Was it possible that I was recognized in public all the time and didn't even know it? Maybe my "fans and followers" were too considerate to bother me? As I was swept away by the notion it slowly became imaginable. Suddenly my life was a little more interesting. 

The last line of his letter was my favorite because it's where he supposed I "get a million of these requests every day". I thought about informing him that on the day he wrote I didn't "get a million of these requests" but just one. From him. And that I couldn't even remember another time when someone had asked for a drum stick online. I also thought about having fun with his hoping we could "work something out" for the stick. I considered writing back with something like "Great. Tell me what assets you have to barter with and we'll see if we can come to an agreement." The praise had given me energy. I was feeling creative. But then the week got busy and instead of getting creative I just mailed him some sticks. 

Per his request I found a pair that that had been beaten up pretty badly and I signed them. Then I went to the post office and bought a little tube that fit the sticks perfectly and mailed them off. For less than 5 bucks and about 20 minutes time I had it done a deed that would make a person very happy. I figured that was the least I could do for someone who had made ME feel so good. 

A few days later I got a thank you back and this time I decided to look at his site. Maybe he was a great drummer? I couldn't get much info about him because his profile was set to private so I googled his name with the word "drummer". I don't know why I did this. I was just compelled to know more about my "huge fan and follower". The search only brought up one hit. I clicked on it and landed at Frankie Banali's web site forum. Apparently my "fan and follower" also liked Quiet Riot's drummer. I scrolled down the emails until I found his letter to Frankie, and here is what it said:

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Mr. Banali, 

I have been a huge fan and follower of yours for quite some time now, and really appreciate what you're doing with and for music and the drumming community. 

I was wondering if you might be able to send me a pair of drumsticks that you have used and possibly signed. I realize that you must get a million of these requests every day, but I would really appreciate it if we could work something out. 

Thank you so much for your time and God Bless. 

(His Name Again)

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I was shocked at first and then I had to chuckle, and that chuckle turned into a full belly laugh. It was a perfect circle. Not only had his letter allowed me to bask in my own shallowness, but in the end it gave me an opportunity to keep my ego in check as well. Win-win! 

Life is so funny.