The Infant Guitarist

I've been self-teaching since returning the concert - just strumming to myself while watching Television at night. My Dad sent me two books for beginners, which has helped dramatically.
But last night I played guitar at a friend's house. He's back from Iraq to welcome his first daughter, and we went over for dinner. He's been playing for a long time, and had even taken a college class so he could learn 'Stairway to Heaven.'
He showed me a few things, and described learning the guitar in a way I will not soon forget. He said, "You're right where I was, and the longer you play, the more you'll discover. You'll find that once you learn some chords, you'll learn ways to alter them, and then a whole 'nother room will open for you. And then another room will open when you learn different scales..."
So here I am today, strumming some new things I've learned, thinking to myself "I am in my crib now, finding out that those legs down there are mine." Then "Above me is a mobile spinning slowly." "I am in my room."
In a few months I'll realize that my parents have a house. And in a few years, I'll know that my town is one of many. The hard part has become listening to music, and realizing that there is so much to learn, and that I have to do it step-by-step, and finding the patience and persistence to continue.
As my friend Matt taught me finger-picking, he pointed out that I was using my pinky as an anchor, and as a reference so my other fingers could find a string. I told him that was one thing artists do while painting and drawing; they use their pinkies to gain control. Using a pinky as an anchor removes the wrist, elbow, and shoulder from the variables, and gives us instant accuracy. To which he replied, "Oh, and I thought I just couldn't draw."
The learned point is that there are methods and tricks along the way to skill. And it's a slow ride. The other thought I had was that I wish I would have started guitar in 5Th grade instead of the trombone. But it's never too late. If I don't start now, I'll wish I would have in later years.