Born and raised in Maine. Have lived in Spain, Germany, Austria,  Massachusetts, Illinois, and Alabama. I've wanted to learn how to play bagpipes ever since I can remember. I bought a practice chanter in my early 20s when I was newly married. My wife said it sounded like a sick duck which was a problem in our small apartment so that discouraged me from continuing. Also, there was no one to teach me locally and this was way before the Web. Now I'm retired, we have a big house, and I have Dojo University. I'm a beginner as of January 2023. Never stop learning!