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Monday, April 9, 2007

Disruption in our environment

Tonight it suddenly occurred to me that the disruption in my living room resulted in me feeling such an organizing urge on Saturday. When part of my life spins out of control, or something happens to disrupt the status quo, my strong organizing genes take over and demand that I get something else shaped up to balance the two.

And the disruption in the living room was major. Can you imagine entertaining your family for Easter in a room that looks like this? All the furniture was shoved to one end of the room and crowded as close to the fireplace as possible. We had to clear a minimum of 8 feet in front of the piano and it's not a large room at all.

This piano holds great meaning for me. My parents bought it used from my one of my dad's brothers and his wife when I was six years old and it was over 75. I took piano lessons from then until my junion year of high school when activities and homework no longer allowed me practice time. I used to get up at 6:00 a.m. every morning to get in my practice before getting ready for school and then practiced again when I got home. As my adult life got busy with family, work, church and other activities I played less and less. For one thing I was happy, and playing, which had always been my emotional therapy in a childhood filled with challenges, no longer was so important. But I still love to play, and try to sit down every once in awhile to loose myself again in the music.

The last couple years it's been impossible because it has gone so badly out of tune. When the tuner was here last month he discovered the tuning pins were loose and needed treatment before it would hold a tune. So last week they tilted it on it's back on this very funky folding cart and painted some sort of solution on the tuning pins to make them tight again. Boy, was it ever dusty behind there! This is the first time it has been moved since we remodeled about 10 years ago. It had to sit this way for days so the solution would dry and tighten up all the tuning pins. Tomorrow afternoon they will come tilt it back into place and tune it. I can hardly wait to sit down again and play some old favorites.

13 comments:

  1. ah, so glad the piano will once more sound right...and I hope you find time to sit down and play/practice as well Patti! how interesting of a solution.

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  2. Patti,

    When I read your blog, I saw myself. I have always turned to organizing or cleaning my world when things are as you say, out of balance. When I was a girl, I used to sweep the kitchen floor. My mom always knew something was out of alignment if I grabbed the broom!! I still use cleaning and organizing as a form of therapy, my DH has even caught onto it. I don't clean as much as I used to which, like you, must mean things are in balance but if I am feeling stressed WATCH OUT, I might sweep you out the door! LOL

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  3. It looks like a beautiful piano and now it will sound as pretty as it looks! I am also a piano player and enjoyed seeing your piano. My piano looks very similar to yours, except it has three pillars holding up the keyboard.

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  4. I agree with Annie...something goes out of whack and I start to clean like a mad dog! After my father died I think I emptied about half the house cleaning closets and under beds and finally Hubby started hiding things from me so they wouldn't end up being tossed. I'm not sure why it makes us feel "in control" when everything around us is so totally out of control...but it helps me.

    The piano is beautiful. I had one for about 7 years and finally had no room for it and sold it. I will own another one one day because I loved playing so much and still miss it.

    PS: the organization of the sewing room is in full swing! I tossed 3 black garbage bags out from my craft closet and have 4 bags ready for the veterans store!

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  5. And while the tuning pins were drying you turned the tuning pins of your studio. The studio is ready for some serious playing and soon the piano will be also.

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  6. I took piano lessons as a child and I sure wish I would have stuck with it!! But I just couldn't handle those recitals. I was too shy! And my instructor smelled like bandaids.

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  7. A fellow piano player . . . cool. I took lessons from the age of 7 until I was in college. Someday I would like to get a piano. I have a keyboard, but it's not the same.

    I love your weekend work. It's all gorgeous. Great job on getting organized.

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  8. Well I didn't know you played! And I sure would have never guessed that you can paint something on the pins to tighten them up!

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  9. What an iteresting contraption. Won't it be nice when thing get back to normal...whatever "normal" is. lol!

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  10. What a novel medical treatment for your piano. Your room is like a hospice just now. Let us know if it works, how wonderful that you can revitalize an older piano like that.

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  11. Patti, what a beautiful instrument. I long for the day when our home has room for a piano. I took all the lessons, was cajoled into practice and have become VERY rusty after years of not playing . . . someday.

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  12. How wonderful to have your chilhood piano, and to be able to get it fixed and usable!

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  13. What good news about your beautiful piano...it will shine with happiness, I'm sure *VBS*

    I have to say I stand in awe and envy of how gorgeous your sewing room(studio) looks. I think I want to be just like you when I grow up...*VBS*
    Great pics of Sophie, what a sweetie! And as an adoptive mom, I'm thrilled for your kids that a baby will soon be their...truly a special event! Hugs, Finn

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