Her Gift

As most probably know by now, my Grandma Nan passed away in June. It was expected and everyone got to say their final goodbyes, which I guess makes it a bit easier in a way. This last weekend we all gathered at Useless Bay on Whidbey Island to have a party and do what my Grandma loved best - take the ferry to the island, walk on the beach, climb the sand dunes (so maybe Grandma didn't do that one, but us cousins always did!), watch the tide come in, roast hot dogs and marshmallows, and tell stories. It was a beautiful day and I can honestly say there were a lot more laughs than tears the whole weekend, which is just they way Grandma wanted it. On Sunday, the family gathered with my Grandma's friends in Everett for a celebration of her life. During the celebration, there was an open mic time where people could get up and share their favorite stories or lessons learned from my Grandma. She was an incredibly smart, independent, strong, stubborn woman... I like to think I inherited all of those traits! I wanted to get up and share my story of Grandma, however being the pregnant, emotional wreck that I am, I don't think anything coherent would have come out of my mouth. Instead, I have decided I will blog about it...

Everyone in my family can say they got their love of Broadway musicals from Grandma Nan. And while I also love Broadway and all the Broadway soundtracks, Grandma Nan passed on a different love of music to me... the piano. I can remember being 3 or 4 years old and visiting Grandma at her house on Tulalip Ave. where I'd sit in the living room and listen to her play the piano or organ. To me, she was amazing! Grandma gave my family her piano and it was moved from WA to our house in Roseville where my mom, sister, and I all started taking lessons. I couldn't wait to be able to play the same music as my Grandma Nan. Whenever she'd come to CA to visit, we'd put on a piano recital for her and she'd sit and hum along to the familiar tunes for as long as we wanted to play. Eventually, I got good enough to play one of her favorite pieces at a recital - The Spinning Song. To this day, it's one of the few songs I have semi-memorized and still one of my favorites to play. I no longer take lessons or care to know all the theory behind the piano music; I just like to sit and play. The piano is my sanctuary where I can block out everything going on around me and everything inside my head and just focus on the black notes on the paper in front of me. The peace I feel while playing the piano can't compare to anything else I've experienced in life. The piano has pulled me through tough times of death, sickness, break-ups, and loneliness. I have my Grandma Nan to thank for introducing me to this wonderful instrument and giving me a coping mechanism to deal with all that life throws at me. This gift is irreplaceable and whenever I sit down to play, I will always think of her and perhaps I'll play a little "Spinning Song" because I know that would make her happy. This Christmas, when I'm at my parent's house, I can't wait to sit and play Christmas carols with my daughter on my lap. Someday I hope that she'll want to learn to play just like her mom and her great-grandma Nan. This is one gift that I'll be happy and proud to pass along.