After looking through the house at all the other treasures we had to head back out through the garage and as I strolled past the pretty piano I played a few more keys...I just thought it was so pretty. We headed to the car but I couldn't leave...I got one of Tom's business cards and headed back up to the garage with the intention of telling the woman to call me if they didn't get any offers. Instead I asked her if she could tell me about the piano...turns out she and her brother were selling off their parents' estate, she was quite elderly and told me that she used to play the piano as a kid and it originally belonged to her Grandfather, who passed it down to her parents when they got married. She let me know that the keys are "real" ivory...not the fake plastic 'ivory' that you see on most pianos...the bench is the one thing that shows it's age, most likely from all the use the piano got. She was sure she pointed out the fact that two of the keys stick and one of the pedals stick but as I heard the stories and looked at all the fine details I started to fall in love. I finally got brave enough to bring up the price...I had a number in my head but don't know how much mahagony pianos from the ?30's? run. I told her I didn't want to insult her by making an uneducated offer so asked her what she was hoping to get...her price was HALF of what I had in mind so I waved Tom back up to the house to let him know that we now had to figure out a way to haul a 400 pound piano half way across town!
I don't know the first thing about playing the piano but everyday I have to walk over at least once to pretend like I know what I'm doing...she's just so pretty isn't she...and she's all mine!(ok...and Sebastian's)
Maybe Thursday I'll have time to post pictures of all my other treasures from this weekend's junking trip...but this is the best find!
2 comments:
What a beautiful story! I think the piano was just waiting for you to come and pick her up.
I like how you pointed out that you didn't want to insult her with an uneducated bid. I never knew how to put that in words but you did that for me now and I will know what to say next time the occassion arises instead of walking away from it because I am afraid to look stupid.
Hugs,
Lisette
I got chills! That is gorgeous, I am so super excited for you! What an awesome find! The details and condition are superb! Scott has always wanted to learn how to play piano. Let me know if you need a teacher, it would be a drive, but Scott's cousin Alison Scott (his cousins wife) teaches http://www.alisonscott.com/. I gave Tom details as to where my mom will be Saturday, so jealous, have fun, I wish I could go, but with just moving, my list of things I need to do, instead of want to do, is really long!
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