As one of six children in a Spanish-speaking environment, Margarita, now 71, grew up poor. Yet the opportunities she had to explore music from a young age enriched her life in ways that no amount of money could.
Musical introductions
Margarita remembers the day when her elementary school’s music teacher presented her with the chance to play violin for the first time. “The school would lend you the instrument and would offer music classes to learn how to play it,” Margarita remembered. “I can recall how my fingertips initially would hurt, until calluses developed.”
She fell in love with the sharp, dramatic tones of the violin as she pulled the bow across the strings. Though she never learned to read the notes on the page, as she continued to practice, she developed a profound emotional and physical connection to music that transcended words.
The violin on loan from the school continued to be her companion through eighth grade. And when her new high school didn’t have an orchestra, she continued to pursue her love of music by learning to play the marching bells in the high school band. Later, knowing Margarita’s deep connection to music, her brother Willy saved his money from working at McDonald’s to buy her a guitar for Christmas.
Willy served as her teacher until he was drafted into the Army, but Margarita wasn’t deterred. She began taking guitar lessons offered by her high school until the unthinkable happened: The music room at the school was vandalized and Margarita’s precious guitar was destroyed.
A musical life on hold
Playing instruments took a backseat while Margarita went to college to major in Women’s Studies, despite growing up in a home filled with machismo. She pursued administrative occupations—first in human resources and later in customer service.
As a single woman, Margarita dedicated her time to volunteering with faith-based organizations, which allowed her to explore cultures and countries around the world. Whether she was distributing food to people who were homeless, providing medicine, constructing shelters for impoverished families, or teaching children, Margarita found contentment through traveling and helping others. Currently, she volunteers as a Spanish facilitator at her local library and alternates caring for her 97-year-old father with her five siblings.
Yet through so many life experiences, music did not leave her soul. She dreamed of learning to play the cello in her retirement, but the cost of lessons plus instrument rental was more than she could afford. She hoped that someday, her own bow and strings would echo the deeply spiritual melody of “Amazing Grace” that she’d grown to love. “That is what the Lord has shown me over and over; He continues to show His mercy and love,” Margarita said.
A new passion to pursue
Wish of a Lifetime made Margarita’s dream of learning the cello come true with 10 private lessons from Tim’s Music near her home in Sacramento. Thanks to the donation of a cello from a music education foundation, Margarita will always have an instrument to play.
After taking the lessons, Margarita continues practicing, and now desires to join a community orchestra for beginners. “It’s been quite an amazing journey. I know it’s not the end—it’s the beginning of going in the right direction.”
In her retirement, the cello has become Margarita’s new companion in her continued pursuit of joy and meaning. “I saw this sticker, and it said, ‘when words fail, music speaks.’ That just resonates with me and my heart … I am just so grateful.”
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