This morning, I was writing a mini biography of a violinist for my other blog. In doing my research, I discovered there was no information about him other than birthday and date of death. I proceeded anyway and wrote a couple of lines about his career. His name was Cyril Reuben and he played in the first violin section of the London Symphony for many years. He died in 1996 at age 69. He was, of course, not famous like Heifetz and all the other concert violinists. He just played in an orchestra. It takes a special combination of gifts to be able to take center stage - that's for sure. That applies to all endeavors - science, education, medicine, law, government, industry, the arts, etc. Yet, without the soldiers - the anonymous foot soldiers - the generals could not do their job. Is it fair that only the generals - those that take center stage and become idols - are remembered and the foot soldiers remain anonymous forever? Yes it is. You see, Cyril Reuben, in doing his job, was afforded as much opportunity to be fulfilled and happy and to experience as much good and as much triumph and as much grief and sadness - everything that life throws at you - as any general, as any concert artist, as any conductor, as any president of any country or chairman of the board of any company. I'm sure Maestro Reuben enjoyed himself immensely playing among the rank and file. Everyone has a place in society - if my place is at the back of the line, I'll have as much fun there (being as mischievous as I am) as if I were at the head of the line. There is no reason not to - as long as I have enough money to buy my coffee and my sweet bread.
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