Well @brianlarsen …Do we now believe that “it’s an up to date” picture?..you’re doing something right there Daddy G …keep looking pretty young 
And as for “even nerves when playing for your own wife”… that’s ridiculous, isn’t it,…not necessary, don’t be 
…but I’m getting better and better 
if I just practice on the technique long enough…and some more practice, and sometimes some more…but I recited the first flawless numbers to her 
Greetings Rogier
Wow! Very nice. Thanks for sharing.
Mike
Hello Pamela…
Thank you for listening and for the feedback.
My ‘backstory’ is like so many others here. I started playing guitars a kid in the 60’s. I took some classical lessons, but that wasn’t for me. I learned what I could from friends and listening to LPs. I played folk and folk rock with great mediocrity. The older I got, the more dust my guitar collected until I finally put it out of its misery and sold it.
Fast forward to 2018 (?) when, on a whim, I picked up a neglected Dean Strat in a thrift store for $20. This time, I wanted instruction, so I tried a few different sites before finding Justin. At some point I discovered that understanding how music is assembled is as important to me as skillful playing, so I am currently taking Justin’s Theory Course (for the 2nd time), a course I highly recommend to all skill levels. The goal I set for myself (per Justin’s advice) was to be able to hold my own improvising the blues with a house band. Since that day in the thrift store, I practice and play as often as I can, and because I’m retired, sometimes for hours. As a side effect because I like shiny things, I now have 6 guitars. My listening tastes encompass most all genres. My playing tastes are rock, blues, and lite jazz. Some of my favorite artist/influences are Mark Knopfler, Tom Petty, John Hiatt and Tommy Emmanuel among many others.
Thank you again - it’s nice to make your acquaintance.
Gary
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Thanks for sharing your story Gary.
We have a feature in the Community, #community-hub:learning-logs, where members can create a Learning Log that shares aspirations, learning plans, progress, and details about instruments and gear. Given your penchant for ‘shiny things’ a Learning Log with some photos of your instruments, amps, pedals etc would go down well. We all live with a measure of GAS (Guitar/Gear Acquisition Syndrome) and love to try and tame (or fuel) it looking at other folks’ instruments and gear 
Look forward to more of your playing, all the more so given your influences.
Hi David,
Thank you for the gear log suggestion. It’s reassuring to know that I am not the only one who battles the GAS (funny!) dragon, and I’ll use it to try to reassure my wife 
As for the Learning Log, I’ve made a practice of limiting social media involvement to a minimum because it cuts into study time. However, recently I’ve come to see how peer feedback can be a valuable tool to keep me between the dotted lines. Also, when appropriate, maybe I can offer perspective to others for the same reason. With this in mind, I hope to become more involved with the Justin community, but need to figure out how to do that without having it consume too much time.
Thank you again for your responses and for your contribution to the site. I know well that anything of this kind of quality and substance is a product of hard work and passion, and more often than not, teamwork.
Best,
Gary
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Thanks Gary for the info. Yeah, similar stories for many of us. I am also more or less going through the Theory course twice, as I am viewing the end goals, therefore going back over most all of it. Second time around is a bit more comprehensive - If I can just retain it.
Yes, exactly!
Hi Gary,
I think it doesn’t matter how many hours it took you to get there, just the skill you have earned. With the many blisters along the way. So interesting to read about how you came back to guitar. Would love to hear more of your playing.
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I 'm also finding the material is more understandable the second time around - much easier to wrap my head around. I rushed through some material the first time, a big mistake. It’s tricky stuff - like learning a new language, and certainly falls into the ‘use it or lose it’ category.
Besides watching Justin’s video presentation of a lesson, I make a point to read the text as well as scan the discussion for anything useful (but sometimes the questions confuse me). I also supplement the theory course with material from the public library, which I find helpful. Waiting a day or so before taking the lesson quizzes challenges my retention of the material (at 70, a scarce commodity) and helps identify the areas I need to work on. Then I go back every couple of weeks or so and re-take previous quizzes until I’m confident it’s locked in, before moving on.
Sometimes as I go through he day, I try to recall lessons and work them out in my head, like Justin says (when all fails, follow instructions). This burns a lot of brain cells , though, and risks mental meltdown, often requiring a nap afterwards 
Pamela, success and perseverance are two sides of the same coin. That you are taking this course for the second time speaks of your resolve. With this and a positive attitude, you will succeed. Take your time and you will be rewarded.
Wishing you only the ‘good notes’.
pg
Thanks for the age compliment, Roger, and sorry for the delayed response.
I guess I got the ‘good gene’ when it comes to aging - it actually runs in the family. As for being shy, that’s always been a thing with me. Funny, I was watching “The Doors” movie and was surprised to see that when the band started, Jim Morrison sang with his back to the audience and ended up by taking his cloths off onstage - go figure open_mouth:
Wow, that is an amazing first share! Great job Gary!
Thanks so much, Mark!
Thanks PG for even more inspiration on how to expand and enhance knowledge in Music Theory!
Hello Gary ,
No need excuse to me…
Happy genepool …
Funny that you mention the Doors,…that movie I’ve seen many times but a long time ago, but saw a documentary last month (I thought morrison hotel) and then what you say struck me too, and it was going about that too … Well, it was a sensitive, insecure and special person… I understand a lot of that 
Greetings
Hello Pamela,
Only if you stop you don’t expand anymore, just keep going, sometimes I do a lesson or piece of text 10+ times over 10+ days ,when i think back to the “play in modes” lessons…brrr 
…
Greetings, Rogier
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That was very good for your first recording!! Nice man keep it up!