It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life."
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My husband just returned from a sentimental solo trip to Georgia, to inspect and play his mother’s piano, newly-refurbished.
The piano was purchased in 1913, in Rome, Georgia, at McBrayer Furniture, when Tony’s mother (we call her “Mimi”) was an infant. Mimi was given piano lessons as a young child, and ended up being the only one in her family who continued to play. She absolutely loved to play the piano, and it brought lifelong joy.
Mimi acquired this family piano after her parents died. Several of her children learned to play piano, too. Tony never had formal lessons, but learned by ear, and he has always enjoyed this pastime. He has many fond memories of the family piano, especially listening to his mother sing as she practiced playing hymns. Tony’s father was a minister, and Mimi supported his ministry by playing the piano at church services.
It’s a very ‘old’ piano – but its value is mostly sentimental. Here’s a piano story that is a family legend: during the 1960s, Mimi noticed that a couple keys were sticking and a few others were missing their ivory key tops. She decided to have the piano repaired, and was heartsick when the repair shop removed all the original ivory key tops from the piano and replaced them with plastic. Mimi never trusted having the piano serviced again.
After Tony’s parents died and their home was sold (circa 1995), the piano was moved into the recesses of a loved one’s basement – “for the short term.” Well, there it sat, lost and forgotten, for many, many years. A few years ago, this relative’s house was sold – and the question of what to do with the old piano jumped back into the forefront of our minds.
There are certain objects that hold a family’s love; this piano is one.
Tony and his niece decided to have the piano refurbished, a process that took two years. Tony was so excited to sit and play it, once again. He says it sounds wonderful. Tony definitely shed a few tears as he played the piano, thinking about his mother, his father, and his childhood.
The piano will live in Georgia, at our niece’s home.
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Maureen,
Two years to refurbish the piano? WOW! I’d love to hear the why behind that timeframe. Certainly, thus had to be a joyous reunion—Tony w/ the piano—to watch. You have me wondering what happened to a piano an aunt and cousin had. I never progressed past chopsticks. I wish I’d had piano lessons. No money for that in my family, but I can imagine all the memories that piano holds.
I enjoyed reading this beautiful story about the family piano. Your slice got me thinking about symbolism. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful story. Whilst reading I thought about symbolism and what the piano meant or means to your husband and his family.
Maureen, there is such love and joy in your blog post today. Somehow, the keys her fingers touched to bring about the music seem to echo the strains of her voice still today. The legacy lives on, and the ears hear those same notes and tunes. Such a treasured heirloom – I’m so glad that it brings the memories back again! Rome is a delightful place – – one of my favorites! There is a labyrinth there that Lauretta Hannon uses to conduct writing workshops, and I’ve always wanted to go!
I am glad it has found a loving home. Thank you for sharing.
Maureen, what a beautiful story about the old piano. It was especially poignant for me, as our family has a similar piano with so many parallels, except the final refurbishing. Maybe that will be in our future! It started around the same time as yours with my great aunt, my mom got it next and we all grew up playing it. Then when I moved to Arizona with my husband and girls, it came from California to Arizona, and my girls learned to play on it. Then it spent some years at my nephews, but the ocean air at the beach wasn’t kind to it, so now it’s back int he desert at my sister’s place. Probably needing much more than a refurbishment! Sadly, I have a similar story of having the keys replaced. I was in high school, and it was a gift from me, a surprise for my mom, and they did the same with the keys. My mom tried not to show her disappointment. Thanks for the memories!
What a beautiful piano with a story filled with love. I loved reading it because I have a piano in my living room though I am not a pianist… I should write it’s story someday.