The Piano in the Parlor

 In my living room, in the tower part of the room (Queen Anne Victorian) sits my parlor grand. It’s far from being a new piano. I think it’s well over a hundred years old. It even has ivory keys. Yup, it’s old.

This was my Gram’s piano. It used to live in The Bronx. They bought it used. It was at least 50 years old. My grandparents had a spacious apartment and the piano sat at the end of the living room.

Not quite ready for lessons

Whenever we went to visit, I always gravitated towards that end of the room. When I was 7 or maybe 8 (who can remember?) my grandmother told my mother it was time for me to have lessons. And so it began.

My parents bought a spinet piano and I started lessons. While the other kids in the neighborhood were outside playing, I was inside practicing. At first it was torture. Then it was status. Then it became my life. And the rest is history…

Now back to Gram’s piano.

In her will, Gram left me the piano. It was a given. Gram decided to give me her piano after we bought our house. She figured I’d make better use of it and rather than sitting in her living room collecting dust (actually, Gram never had dust) it would have a happy home near the sea. And Gram would have a lot more living room space.

Blueberry is fast asleep!

So she sent that piano up to Boston. They had a hell of a time getting it into the house but there it was. Gram’s piano in my tower room. It fit perfectly. Like it was meant to be. She even sent along the ruby vase that always sat on the piano. Today, the ruby vase is NOT on the piano because there are two loveable felines that like to lounge on top of the piano (don’t worry, they sleep on throws and pillows…no scratching the varnish).

Sammy

The piano is old. The sound is ok but not great. When Sammy (my keyboard player) comes to visit from Trieste, he always gravitates towards that part of the living room just as I did in The Bronx. I can’t imagine my home without Gram’s piano.

Our son Spencer called the other day. He’s coming home for a visit. His one request? No, not food. Well, yes, just a few grocery items. He requested the piano be tuned. What can I say? The kid has perfect pitch.

Thanks Mom, for making me practice all those years. There is such joy in being able to sit down and tickle those ivories. Especially REAL ivories. Gram’s piano.

Have a great week!