I said goodbye to my piano today. I felt somewhat empty after it was taken which is understandable. We have been together for many years….
My husband and I bought the piano when we were a newly married couple of two years and had just moved into our home. We were young and without a lot of credit now that we had a mortgage so my father had to sign with us to make payments. I was so proud when we finished paying the loan after one year!
I played the piano quite a bit until my children were born and then went through phases of playing as they were growing up. Both my children took lessons but it was my son who especially loved to play.
After a phase of not playing I returned to my piano after my father died in 2003 and would often play for hours at a time. As notes always do they took on a life of their own. But this time my piano used the power of the notes to heal my grief.
Two months after my father’s death my husband surprised me with a gift for our 25th anniversary. It was a baby grand piano! Although I loved my new baby grand I still made sure to play my upright. As any musician knows, instruments have their own consciousness and I didn’t want it to feel neglected! Each time I played, it felt like coming home…
A few years ago I decided it was time for the piano to move to a new home but my son said he would take the piano one day. I loved this idea! After all it was his childhood piano. So I kept the piano, still playing it occasionally. Each time I would think of how one day my future grandchildren would play it!
A year ago my son and his wife settled into their new home so my husband and I made plans of how to deliver the piano to them. But it turned out that my daughter-in-law also had a childhood piano. And they didn’t have room for a second one.
As I prepared for the piano movers to come, I cleaned out the piano bench and found the original receipt and life time warranty. I just smiled when I saw I never sent back the registration form. I guess it wouldn’t make sense to give it to my piano’s new family!
I played one last song, “Far from the Home I Love,” from Fiddler and shed a few tears. I whispered to my piano, ‘”You will be going to a new home now where you will be loved, just as we have loved you! And guess what, there will be a little girl 8 years old, who will be playing you! Her name is Gianna…”
I cleaned up the keys a bit and said my final goodbye. “Thank you dear piano for all the Joy you have given us! May you bring as much Joy to your new family… ”
Love, Lee
Beautifully written. Very nostalgic. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Mary Ellen! It is amazing to look back….
Beautiful beartfelt story😀😀🎻🎻🎶🎶
Thank you Lorraine!! I know you truly understand…
Just beautiful What wonderful memories that you have. And what a mitzvah to pass your piano on to a new home!
Thank you Michele! The little girl already loves the piano and that just makes my heart sing!
Love this memory as my Dad is a musician and still plays with the Mummer’s of Florida. He is 83 and plays all sorts of instruments. Yours is such a touching story. Thanks for sharing. Regards and Blessings, Loryn Halperin
So wonderful to hear from you Loryn! Thank you for your kind words! How amazing that your father is still playing at 83!! It must be that music keeps one young!!
I am so happy that you shared this story. A piano is an amazing instrument that has a heart of its own. When I was young my grandmother would spend hours playing the piano and we would all fight to get a seat on the bench and felt like it was an honor to turn the pages and sing along. When she passed her piano came to my parents house where it was silent and served as a place to put family pictures around. While we were clearing out our parents house the stories came back from our childhood and one of our neighbors began to play heart and soul we all laughed and knew it was time for the piano to bring joy to another family. We were fortunate enough to be contacted by a woman that was in need of a piano to use for a music therapy class. In my heart I know that the piano is alive again and bringing joy to all that hears her song. May you have the pleasure to hear Gianna’s song as she creates many new adventures with your piano!
Oh Jana, I love your story too! And that a piano has a heart of its own… I am going to borrow that phrase!! My grandmother also played for hours at a time!! I used to visit in the summers and make up songs on her piano. I begged for lessons from the time I was four years old but my parents couldn’t afford a piano. She sent me hers when I was 9!
I understand best wishes for the piano this was heart felt
Thank you Abbey! It seems my piano is now very happy now with a wonderful family and a little girl who is so excited to play!
WOW! I remember you used to play great songs at DKJA and produce awesome plays! Always knew you were special Lee! Love Pam Bralow Feldman Great story well written!
Thank you Pam!! And you are special too!! We did have fun times in those days, didn’t we!!