A New Keyboard

I ordered a new keyboard using the excuse that two of the letters on my old keyboard were rubbed off.  I now need to get used to a different touch, which, as I type this, means a bit harder touch on the keys to prevent my long finger nails from getting in the way. 

I notice these pictures next to the "F" keys.  Have only used the volume up and down keys.  I will now find out what the other picture keys do.  Fun abounds around every corner. 

88 Keys are Calling Me Back

I began piano lessons at age four.  My cousin, Kay, gave lessons.  I had a bit of a gift, a natural ability to play and feel the music.  Two of the first pieces I learned were "Diane" and "Charmaine", singing along, much to my mother's chagrin, I fear.  Some folks get their emotions out by throwing ice cubes at the trunk of a tree; I sat down at the piano to bang out a tune and sing loudly to get the mad or sad out.  The hardest piece I ever learned was Bumble Boogie.  A Couple of my favorites will always be Indian Love Call and By the Sea. 

When I married Mike I gained a family that loved gathering around the piano to sing old favorites.  Memories of those times are the fondest of my life.

I've grown away from the piano in the last ten years.  I need to get back to it.  It fills and gentles my soul, it's good for my brain and fingers, and it provides a good role model for my son. . .to see that it's never too late to learn something new. 

Father's Day 2012

Our son has a lot going on in life at the moment, so when he didn't commit to coming down for Father's Day, though we were disappointed, we understood.  I called in to Mike the morning of Father's Day having received a text from Brandon at 10:30 a.m. that he was coming down and wondered if his Da would like to watch Holland plays soccer in the Euro 2012 games.  I called in to Mike from the kitchen, but all Mike heard was my question about watching soccer.  I walked into the living room and Mike had tears in eys - tears because I'd suggested we watch soccer.  I think he was missing his son.  Our day was fabulous until the last 30 seconds.  Brandon walked in around 11:30 a.m. with Heineken (Dutch beer), Dutch apple pie and two mini apple pies, and a lovely card for his Da.  In the pub, we watched The Netherlands lose the soccer game,

went to dinner at Paddy Coyne's (can you guess who had what?),

stopped by a new sports bar on the way home for bacon deviled eggs, and came home to enjoy the Dutch apple pie and play Apples to Apples.  The day was filled with laughter in spite of recent painful decisions in our family.  After I won the Apples to Apples game, Brandon took my phone to help me try to get a new ringtone on it, found a text from Stacey thanking us for the flowers we sent for her last day of school, stood up and put his coat on, saying "It's just so damn sad".  He gave his Da a big bear hug and walked to his car with me calling "We have a surprise for you this week", my frantic attempt to bring the former carefree atmosphere back to my son's heart.  We've ordered him a dining table, extra chairs and a tablecloth and will take it to his Renton house and set it up as a surprise.  In bed that night my head was filled with a lot of self-talk, determined not to let those last 30 seconds ruin the wonderful six hours prior. 

Our son is an extraordinary young man in spite of all our parenting mistakes.  He cares deeply, lives with wisdom and kindness and shows often that he loves his parents.  He told us today that a former girlfriend contacted him; she has cancer and wanted to touch base with people who had been important in her life.  She told him he was a great guy and she just wanted him to know that.  A great guy.  That he is, that he is.

I think.  .no, I know, Mike had a fun-filled Father's Day.  My heart is thankful.  He deserves it so.

Kitchen One Year Old

Our kitchen is one year old.  We are so pleased with Renewal's efforts.  Putting the pieces together, choosing so many different parts, you're never completely sure it will all go together. 

You wonder if it will wear well.  The flooring is a new experience.  Cherry cabinets are supposed to darken quickly.  Quartz is a substance we've never dealt with before.  Induction cooking is definitely a different experience from electric.  For several months we weren't sure where things were.  Comfort and familiarity come quickly, though.  Now I turn to the left to put dishes in the dish washer, pull plates from the plate rack, adjust to the microwave drawer coming out into the aisleway, and turn to the left to get something from the fridge. 

As we sip coffee and watch the news in front of the fire looking out at our garden we sigh with contentment.  A long, arduous project returned a cozy result.  Way to go, Renewal.