Piano Party

I recently went to Sisters to return a piano action I had just done $2,000 work on. I took my grandson, who was staying with me for the weekend. He wasn’t sure he wanted to go at first, but I assured him he would enjoy the couple, as they are fun and interesting people. I arrived and found my clients had thrown a “piano party”, to celebrate the return of their newly regulated action. They all watched and ooo’d and awe’d as I reinstalled the action. Lots of conversation and compliments for being such a talented person. When it was all together I played a couple numbers, as I always do. Partly to make sure it all works as expected, partly because I like playing the piano, partly because I think they should hear the nice things I like to play, and how good their piano now sounds. And I suppose partly to impress them, as most people think if I play well I must be good at what I do. Anyway, a couple numbers in, the wife, Kathy, starts tearing up, disappears into her bedroom and returns. She is now holding this very pretty necklace you see here. She explains it was her mother’s, which means it could be about 60-80 years old, and she has been wondering for a while what to do with it, as she doesn’t wear it any more – she decided I should have it. She is holding it in her hands and everyone is ogling and ooo’ing. There is lots of talking and nice comments from their 10 guests, I thanked her and she is smiling now. I starting playing the piano again and she walks around and puts it on me while I continue to play. Now everyone is making comments about how good it looks on me, and such like. It was a most memorable evening for me, as it was for them. I’ve never had a client throw a “piano party” like this, nor been so highly praised, nor treated like the queen of Siam. It was also nice that my grandson was there to share this experience.