Piano students are taught the musical alphabet early on. A,B,C,D,E,F,G are the basic elements of all music. Some of my piano students wanted to play H after G instead of A, but it wasn’t there.
My husband learned the musical alphabet in a unique way. The piano repair man wanted to order counter weights and charge us a thousand dollars to install them om my digital, baby grand piano. After watching him remove and replace the black and white keys, Gale felt he could fix the clunk in the black keys himself. When the man left, Gale ordered the counter weights from the manufacture.
When they arrived, he removed all the keys and replaced flawed counter weights as suggested by the manufacturer when we called. He noticed an A, B, C, D, E, F or G imprinted at the top of each white key as he replaced them on the board. Two or three times he asked, “What comes after G?”
After putting it back together, he nudged the keyboard into the piano. I played a song and the notes didn’t clunk. I’m proud of the great job he did, even if it took all day and all evening.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Frenzy
Several years ago I went on a Christmas sewing frenzy, making a total of ten women and child outfits. At the time I worked full time. I can’t imagine sewing like that now.
Later I bought a “How to” book at Walmart and taught myself to crochet. This frenzy lasted about eight years. I’ll finish the three projects in the closet someday.
When I retired in 2001, I went on a reading frenzy, making up for my “too-busy-to-read working years.
About six years ago I went on a writing frenzy, studying fifteen how-to-write books and reading two writing magazines. My second Christain novel, "A Scorched Family" is now in revision. I think I'll be writer-frenzied to my dying day. Writing blogs and books stir my frenzy.
Later I bought a “How to” book at Walmart and taught myself to crochet. This frenzy lasted about eight years. I’ll finish the three projects in the closet someday.
When I retired in 2001, I went on a reading frenzy, making up for my “too-busy-to-read working years.
About six years ago I went on a writing frenzy, studying fifteen how-to-write books and reading two writing magazines. My second Christain novel, "A Scorched Family" is now in revision. I think I'll be writer-frenzied to my dying day. Writing blogs and books stir my frenzy.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Mrs Lena
Mrs. Lena retired after teaching our first grade class. Mmmmm… I’m not sure, but I think she taught my mother. I know she was old – real old.
I’ve forgotten many things over the years, but two incidents from first grade refuse to escape my memory.
First: Betty Jean Arnold had polio and wore braces. She grabbed my best friend’s yellow pencil and I slapped her. Why did I do that? I must have been a brat. Maybe being child number ten… Naw. I still feel bad about slapping a crippled child.
Mrs. Lena bent me over her lap at her desk in front of the whole class. She pulled my dress up and paddled me good. I can still see the gawking kids – some laughing. I quit slapping.
Second: Jimmy Lentz, my neighbor, had to use the bathroom after Mrs. Lena left the room for awhile. In the back of the class the boys circled him as he unfastened his overalls and made a stinky deposit in the trash can. One of them ran and grabbed tissues from Mrs. Lena’s desk. The girls giggled, anticipating her return.
“Here she comes,” the look-out yelled. We dashed to our chairs. She entered, sniffed, and everyone pointed at Jimmy, then the trash can.
“Why didn’t you go to the rest room?” she demanded.
All of us knew you didn’t go to the restroom without permission.
He didn’t answer. Just sat there with his head down. She took him and the trash can to the restroom.
At least he didn’t do it in his overalls.
I’ve forgotten many things over the years, but two incidents from first grade refuse to escape my memory.
First: Betty Jean Arnold had polio and wore braces. She grabbed my best friend’s yellow pencil and I slapped her. Why did I do that? I must have been a brat. Maybe being child number ten… Naw. I still feel bad about slapping a crippled child.
Mrs. Lena bent me over her lap at her desk in front of the whole class. She pulled my dress up and paddled me good. I can still see the gawking kids – some laughing. I quit slapping.
Second: Jimmy Lentz, my neighbor, had to use the bathroom after Mrs. Lena left the room for awhile. In the back of the class the boys circled him as he unfastened his overalls and made a stinky deposit in the trash can. One of them ran and grabbed tissues from Mrs. Lena’s desk. The girls giggled, anticipating her return.
“Here she comes,” the look-out yelled. We dashed to our chairs. She entered, sniffed, and everyone pointed at Jimmy, then the trash can.
“Why didn’t you go to the rest room?” she demanded.
All of us knew you didn’t go to the restroom without permission.
He didn’t answer. Just sat there with his head down. She took him and the trash can to the restroom.
At least he didn’t do it in his overalls.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Just coping
The question at our ladies bible study today was: Do you feel good about your daily life or are you just coping? Since half the ladies still have children at home, the “just coping” replies came from them.
I'm not saying that children are bad. God forbid! They are a blessing from God. But, in today's busy world, attending to their needs while running a house is a 24/7 job.
I remember getting three kids up and off to school, driving thirty-three miles to work, and giving piano lessons before cooking supper after I got home. Those were “just coping” days.
All of us agreed, however, that a daily quiet time of bible study and prayer helps to cope at any stage of life. God is good.
I'm not saying that children are bad. God forbid! They are a blessing from God. But, in today's busy world, attending to their needs while running a house is a 24/7 job.
I remember getting three kids up and off to school, driving thirty-three miles to work, and giving piano lessons before cooking supper after I got home. Those were “just coping” days.
All of us agreed, however, that a daily quiet time of bible study and prayer helps to cope at any stage of life. God is good.
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