Wednesday, 29 June 2016
The Story of My Piano
On my to-do list (could be called my bucket list or my retirement dream list) has always been learn to play the piano. As I mentioned in my last post, I am more than a little musically impaired. Can't even hum a tune much less sing in any key other than off or out of. At hockey games, I needed to watch other moms so I could clap in sync when we were doing some crazy clap and stamp your feet nonsense. Thankfully when the boys get older they really want you to stop cheering like that.
But I still want to learn to play the piano. In order to do that, you need a piano. So for some years I've been sort of, kind of secretly hoping to get one. None of the kids were interested in learning, so it didn't happen when they were at home. In the last year, I started looking on various second hand sites but with no real luck. So I retired with the plan to learn written down but no piano and no real leads to getting one. Learning to play was taking on the shape of one of those "yeah, yeah, I'm going to do that someday" plans that never happen.
Then serendipity... my neighbour, Carole, (who was part of my nebulous plan as a person to teach me since she has taught piano,) decided to relocate to Jasper. This meant selling her house and much of its contents. She invited me over for early dibs on some of her larger items before her yard sale.
There was already items missing in the house, things in boxes to be shipped to her new home and my eyes went right away to her piano.
"What are you doing with your piano? I asked, expecting the answer to be that she was shipping it or storing it or it was sold. Instead the answer was,
"I'm trying to sell it but can't find anyone to buy it."
A deal was made, and I was on her deck calling over to ours to tell my husband I was buying a piano. Just like that, the biggest part of the learn to play puzzle was solved.
Her deck to ours!
Moe was skeptical, where would we put it--I had an 25 year old answer for that. When we chose plans for the house I always knew a piano would fit exactly in one spot in our living room. It was empty enough, still waiting for the piano. Then he needed to know where his favourite chair would go. I had an answer for that. How and when would we get it moved to our house since it required at least four people. I had answers for that. Have you ever noticed that if you really want something you can make it happen..eventually?
A couple of nights later, at my mother-in-law's 87th birthday celebration, I asked my two brothers-in-law, John and Robert if they were around the next morning to help move a piano along with my two boys and hubby, that way they would be five people. They agreed and then, John suggested doing it that night instead of waiting to do it during the garage sale even though they'd be one less guy.
I hurried home with my sister-in-law, Denise to check whether that was convenient with my neighbour. No problem, she wanted it moved. The birthday celebration was interrupted.
So in came the men, John appointed me as foreman which is really a joke because he sold and moved furniture for years and Cameron had worked a summer as a mover. The neighbour was sidetracked by my sister-in-law to sell her a bed perfect for her visiting grandchildren--so really no supervision at all.
The piano made it down the stairs, out the front door and across the driveway. The men needed to put it down to re-position. A request for Carole to play was made. So there on a beautiful early summer evening, half way on her lawn, halfway on ours she played a few bars of a remembered Beatles song. Ah, one of life's beautiful, unexpected moments.
Perfect for a concert
With a little more huffing and exertion and moving of items, the piano made it up the front steps and into the house to be maneuvered into the very spot I had picked out on the floor plans years before.
John asked me if I knew anything at all about playing a piano. So I showed them everything that I knew...how to play the scale of C with my right hand. (Thanks Beth.)
I bought a book recommended by the instructor on You Tube that Cameron found for me. And now everyone in the house has soldiered through my hours of practicing so that I could "master" the scales almost and have When The Saints Go Marching In be recognizable. I have hours and hours of practice ahead of me.
Carole came over before she left and played a piece. The house filled with beautiful music. How bittersweet for both of us. The piano may never be played as beautifully again but the house can be filled with music anyway.
My new baby!
Thanks to Moe, Cameron, John, Robert and Carole for helping my plan become a reality.
But I still want to learn to play the piano. In order to do that, you need a piano. So for some years I've been sort of, kind of secretly hoping to get one. None of the kids were interested in learning, so it didn't happen when they were at home. In the last year, I started looking on various second hand sites but with no real luck. So I retired with the plan to learn written down but no piano and no real leads to getting one. Learning to play was taking on the shape of one of those "yeah, yeah, I'm going to do that someday" plans that never happen.
Then serendipity... my neighbour, Carole, (who was part of my nebulous plan as a person to teach me since she has taught piano,) decided to relocate to Jasper. This meant selling her house and much of its contents. She invited me over for early dibs on some of her larger items before her yard sale.
There was already items missing in the house, things in boxes to be shipped to her new home and my eyes went right away to her piano.
"What are you doing with your piano? I asked, expecting the answer to be that she was shipping it or storing it or it was sold. Instead the answer was,
"I'm trying to sell it but can't find anyone to buy it."
A deal was made, and I was on her deck calling over to ours to tell my husband I was buying a piano. Just like that, the biggest part of the learn to play puzzle was solved.
 |
| Her deck to ours! |
Moe was skeptical, where would we put it--I had an 25 year old answer for that. When we chose plans for the house I always knew a piano would fit exactly in one spot in our living room. It was empty enough, still waiting for the piano. Then he needed to know where his favourite chair would go. I had an answer for that. How and when would we get it moved to our house since it required at least four people. I had answers for that. Have you ever noticed that if you really want something you can make it happen..eventually?
A couple of nights later, at my mother-in-law's 87th birthday celebration, I asked my two brothers-in-law, John and Robert if they were around the next morning to help move a piano along with my two boys and hubby, that way they would be five people. They agreed and then, John suggested doing it that night instead of waiting to do it during the garage sale even though they'd be one less guy.
I hurried home with my sister-in-law, Denise to check whether that was convenient with my neighbour. No problem, she wanted it moved. The birthday celebration was interrupted.
So in came the men, John appointed me as foreman which is really a joke because he sold and moved furniture for years and Cameron had worked a summer as a mover. The neighbour was sidetracked by my sister-in-law to sell her a bed perfect for her visiting grandchildren--so really no supervision at all.
The piano made it down the stairs, out the front door and across the driveway. The men needed to put it down to re-position. A request for Carole to play was made. So there on a beautiful early summer evening, half way on her lawn, halfway on ours she played a few bars of a remembered Beatles song. Ah, one of life's beautiful, unexpected moments.
 |
| Perfect for a concert |
With a little more huffing and exertion and moving of items, the piano made it up the front steps and into the house to be maneuvered into the very spot I had picked out on the floor plans years before.
John asked me if I knew anything at all about playing a piano. So I showed them everything that I knew...how to play the scale of C with my right hand. (Thanks Beth.)
I bought a book recommended by the instructor on You Tube that Cameron found for me. And now everyone in the house has soldiered through my hours of practicing so that I could "master" the scales almost and have When The Saints Go Marching In be recognizable. I have hours and hours of practice ahead of me.
Carole came over before she left and played a piece. The house filled with beautiful music. How bittersweet for both of us. The piano may never be played as beautifully again but the house can be filled with music anyway.
 |
| My new baby! |
Thanks to Moe, Cameron, John, Robert and Carole for helping my plan become a reality.
Monday, 29 February 2016
Birthday in Retirement
Welcome back to my blog.
I didn't publish much last week as it was rather a topsy-turvy week. It seems odd to say that I didn't really have time. But that is somewhat true; I was busy doing other things. And if I am being honest, I also took a vacation day (or two).
I started my week on Monday by missing my usual yoga class and I also skipped out on Tai Chi as well. I spent the day, instead, taking my older son and his fiancee to the closest airport for the first leg of their trip to Thailand. They will be doing some backpacking and viewing of temples and beaches in Thailand, then visiting Bali to meet up with daughter and her husband (on their honeymoon) to play ultimate Frisbee for Easter weekend and then perhaps onto Cambodia. We are following their exploits through Instagram, Facebook and soon when they start publishing on their blog;
travelmanuel@blogspot.com.
In the last month, we have been busy helping them store their things...which means my basement has been topsy- turvy as well. However, they were quite good about things and I actually got my crafts room organized and put together because they needed the space in our storage room.
Also, in the last few weeks they helped me set up my blog and got me publishing maybe a little bit before I had worked out the logistics of how I was going to do this. And maybe before I had worked out exactly what I want to do on my blog; but I think that will be all good. Sometimes you just have to grab the opportunity when it presents itself.
You can't just put off beginning something until someday when all the stars are aligned and everything is right. All of those are just delaying tactics because the "right time or the perfect time" may never come, or even if the perfect time does come you may still miss it because you won't be ready since all you've prepared are the excuses that are stopping you from doing it now.
It is somewhat similar with my son's trip. A logical part of me would like to encourage them to stay here, focus on their careers, put that money toward a house, or RRSPs or something tangible, but then another part reminds me that you are only young once and right now they don't have the responsibilities and obligations that would tie them down and block such an adventure. Sometimes you just need to do what feels right to you.
I had a birthday in the middle of the week. My first birthday in retirement; it seemed like some sort of milestone. The beginning of how all future birthdays will be.
While I was working in the last few years, I was able to book a vacation day on my birthday and then I would make an appointment for a manicure/pedicure or shopping and sleeping in so that I could cram in as much fun as possible on that day. This year I still wanted a vacation day--even though I am on what still feels like a vacation from work. So I decided, I didn't want any appointments or plans to interrupt my day, and I didn't want to cram too much into it. So I stayed in bed and read a bit, and did only enough housework to keep the house from being a mess the next day. And then I did pretty much nothing. No writing or knitting or cooking or baking or anything else. The only thing I did was go to my favourite coffee shop, Twiggs for a Chai latte to drink while I watched Netfix and waited for my younger son to arrive from Ottawa.
My younger son can be very sweet. Months ago he scheduled his last orthodontic appointment for this week so that he could be home for my birthday. He stayed through to the weekend, happy to be home and enjoying our cooking and free laundry by mom. We even took a road trip together to his appointment on Friday.
So that's why I've been to busy to blog last week.
Welcome back to my blog.
I didn't publish much last week as it was rather a topsy-turvy week. It seems odd to say that I didn't really have time. But that is somewhat true; I was busy doing other things. And if I am being honest, I also took a vacation day (or two).
I started my week on Monday by missing my usual yoga class and I also skipped out on Tai Chi as well. I spent the day, instead, taking my older son and his fiancee to the closest airport for the first leg of their trip to Thailand. They will be doing some backpacking and viewing of temples and beaches in Thailand, then visiting Bali to meet up with daughter and her husband (on their honeymoon) to play ultimate Frisbee for Easter weekend and then perhaps onto Cambodia. We are following their exploits through Instagram, Facebook and soon when they start publishing on their blog;
travelmanuel@blogspot.com.
In the last month, we have been busy helping them store their things...which means my basement has been topsy- turvy as well. However, they were quite good about things and I actually got my crafts room organized and put together because they needed the space in our storage room.
Also, in the last few weeks they helped me set up my blog and got me publishing maybe a little bit before I had worked out the logistics of how I was going to do this. And maybe before I had worked out exactly what I want to do on my blog; but I think that will be all good. Sometimes you just have to grab the opportunity when it presents itself.
You can't just put off beginning something until someday when all the stars are aligned and everything is right. All of those are just delaying tactics because the "right time or the perfect time" may never come, or even if the perfect time does come you may still miss it because you won't be ready since all you've prepared are the excuses that are stopping you from doing it now.
It is somewhat similar with my son's trip. A logical part of me would like to encourage them to stay here, focus on their careers, put that money toward a house, or RRSPs or something tangible, but then another part reminds me that you are only young once and right now they don't have the responsibilities and obligations that would tie them down and block such an adventure. Sometimes you just need to do what feels right to you.
I had a birthday in the middle of the week. My first birthday in retirement; it seemed like some sort of milestone. The beginning of how all future birthdays will be.
While I was working in the last few years, I was able to book a vacation day on my birthday and then I would make an appointment for a manicure/pedicure or shopping and sleeping in so that I could cram in as much fun as possible on that day. This year I still wanted a vacation day--even though I am on what still feels like a vacation from work. So I decided, I didn't want any appointments or plans to interrupt my day, and I didn't want to cram too much into it. So I stayed in bed and read a bit, and did only enough housework to keep the house from being a mess the next day. And then I did pretty much nothing. No writing or knitting or cooking or baking or anything else. The only thing I did was go to my favourite coffee shop, Twiggs for a Chai latte to drink while I watched Netfix and waited for my younger son to arrive from Ottawa.
My younger son can be very sweet. Months ago he scheduled his last orthodontic appointment for this week so that he could be home for my birthday. He stayed through to the weekend, happy to be home and enjoying our cooking and free laundry by mom. We even took a road trip together to his appointment on Friday.
So that's why I've been to busy to blog last week.
I didn't publish much last week as it was rather a topsy-turvy week. It seems odd to say that I didn't really have time. But that is somewhat true; I was busy doing other things. And if I am being honest, I also took a vacation day (or two).
I started my week on Monday by missing my usual yoga class and I also skipped out on Tai Chi as well. I spent the day, instead, taking my older son and his fiancee to the closest airport for the first leg of their trip to Thailand. They will be doing some backpacking and viewing of temples and beaches in Thailand, then visiting Bali to meet up with daughter and her husband (on their honeymoon) to play ultimate Frisbee for Easter weekend and then perhaps onto Cambodia. We are following their exploits through Instagram, Facebook and soon when they start publishing on their blog;
travelmanuel@blogspot.com.
In the last month, we have been busy helping them store their things...which means my basement has been topsy- turvy as well. However, they were quite good about things and I actually got my crafts room organized and put together because they needed the space in our storage room.
Also, in the last few weeks they helped me set up my blog and got me publishing maybe a little bit before I had worked out the logistics of how I was going to do this. And maybe before I had worked out exactly what I want to do on my blog; but I think that will be all good. Sometimes you just have to grab the opportunity when it presents itself.
You can't just put off beginning something until someday when all the stars are aligned and everything is right. All of those are just delaying tactics because the "right time or the perfect time" may never come, or even if the perfect time does come you may still miss it because you won't be ready since all you've prepared are the excuses that are stopping you from doing it now.
It is somewhat similar with my son's trip. A logical part of me would like to encourage them to stay here, focus on their careers, put that money toward a house, or RRSPs or something tangible, but then another part reminds me that you are only young once and right now they don't have the responsibilities and obligations that would tie them down and block such an adventure. Sometimes you just need to do what feels right to you.
I had a birthday in the middle of the week. My first birthday in retirement; it seemed like some sort of milestone. The beginning of how all future birthdays will be.
While I was working in the last few years, I was able to book a vacation day on my birthday and then I would make an appointment for a manicure/pedicure or shopping and sleeping in so that I could cram in as much fun as possible on that day. This year I still wanted a vacation day--even though I am on what still feels like a vacation from work. So I decided, I didn't want any appointments or plans to interrupt my day, and I didn't want to cram too much into it. So I stayed in bed and read a bit, and did only enough housework to keep the house from being a mess the next day. And then I did pretty much nothing. No writing or knitting or cooking or baking or anything else. The only thing I did was go to my favourite coffee shop, Twiggs for a Chai latte to drink while I watched Netfix and waited for my younger son to arrive from Ottawa.
My younger son can be very sweet. Months ago he scheduled his last orthodontic appointment for this week so that he could be home for my birthday. He stayed through to the weekend, happy to be home and enjoying our cooking and free laundry by mom. We even took a road trip together to his appointment on Friday.
So that's why I've been to busy to blog last week.
Thursday, 18 February 2016
Why a Blog?
Why not?
I have always wanted to write creatively. I certainly have had plenty of opportunity as a teacher to write for reality and in some cases that has been very creative. However, it was on-demand creativity; and has never been free choice or personally creative.
The idea of writing a blog that would be part diary and a part information on retirement and other interests fit into my vision of things to try in this new chapter of my life. It might hopefully, serve some other purposes, as well.
It could help me become a better writer. Perhaps help me learn how to manage my time if I should ever want to do a bigger project.
It could help me overcome my fear of having other people read what I write, know what I think. Publishing your writing opens you up to criticism, it reveals your thoughts and your skills and talents. What if I make a spelling or grammar error? Would people wonder about the state of our education system if I leave participle dangling or mix up my there, their or they're?
Writing would give me a creative outlet, an opportunity to for self-expression, self-discovery and a to be productive.
It could be an extra reason to get up in the morning; or stay up late at night, or sit down and do something different.
It could give me a feeling of doing something a little bigger than my other hobbies and interests that seem to focus on my family or myself. Writing like this isn't exactly work, but it isn't exactly all fun either--it challenges your mind and is empowering.
It could be a way to preserve my memories, thoughts and feelings.
In the end, though it really comes down to "why not?".
If I want to try something, I can and if I don't like it I can always leave it aside. After all, I am not under contract; I'm retired.
In the end, though it really comes down to "why not?".
If I want to try something, I can and if I don't like it I can always leave it aside. After all, I am not under contract; I'm retired.
Wednesday, 10 February 2016
Launch Day! Welcome to my Blog!
Welcome to my blog!
Today is launch day for this blog which makes it a happy dance day! I have been writing posts for a while now but have not published them. Ready or not, polished enough or not, I am going to take a leap of faith and start to publish.
Today, is my daughter's birthday. It marks the day when I first became a mother, so it seems fitting that it will also mark the day that it is the "birth" of something else.
The idea of a blog that tracks my adventures in retirement has been forming and developing for quite some time.
Because I have written a number of posts already, there may be several posts with this date instead of just one. I officially started my retirement on January 1st, however, my last day of work was December 18th. So I have some catching up to do. 
But first, I'm going to celebrate!
But first, I'm going to celebrate!
Happy reading, and I hope that something in my posts sparks some idea or gives a tiny bit of happiness for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment