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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Music for Grandma-Great


My grandmother passed away last year at the age of 99. She is at the top of my list of inspiring women. She left an incredible legacy, including almost 40 great-grandchildren who lovingly called her Grandma-Great.

After she passed away, her piano made its way to our home. Only tuneless plinking was heard on occasion for the first year. Then Levi began piano lessons in February. He walks up to the piano often during the day, now, and plays a simple melody. Russ and I close our eyes. Listening. Smiling.

Recently Levi asked me if I had talked to Grandma-Great when he was a baby. He wanted to know if we talked about him playing her piano someday. I know he had this picture in his mind. It lives in his baby album. Grandma-Great came to his baby shower. She talked to him. Connected with him. She wrote a beautiful little letter that I have saved on the same baby album page. It is one of my dearest treasures.


Levi proceded to ask me whether I thought Grandma-Great could look down from heaven and see him playing her piano. If she can (and I'd like to think so), she most certainly would be smiling. This music is for you, Grandma-Great.

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. ~Victor Hugo

10 comments:

Elise said...

Hi Heidi

To hear Levi playing on your grandmother's piano must be such a sweet, beautiful sound. That's music for the soul.

How wonderful that your grandmother wrote him a letter. Handwritten letters are so precious and make the most beautiful and cherished keepsakes.

Anonymous said...

That is so great Levi can take lessons on your grandma's piano. She was an incredible woman, I agree. Love your blog and the inspiration of your projects. I wish I could "get to" some of my projects I have in mind. Gardening takes up so much of my time and now the family here is encouraging me to do a gardening blog. We'll see. Grandma

Dreams of a Country Girl said...

what a legacy..precious

Joni said...

Precious! What a lovely legacy you have.

our little acorns said...

Oh man, you made me cry today. That photo is priceless. Look at him LOOK at her!

Crissy said...

That is a beautiful story, Heidi.

Renee said...

What a wonderful story and a precious legacy!

Carrie said...

Wonderful post Heidi! Our family watched August Rush this past weekend. Have you seen it? It's a wonderful movie! Very inspiring for musicians!

Heidi said...

Thanks for the comments, ladies!

Grandma~ Oh, you *should* start a gardening blog. I promise I would visit! :)

Kimberly~ That is my favorite thing about that picture. He was really connecting with her! My mom said that even at the very end of her life, my grandma was asking about Levi. She said she really wanted to know him. I get all choked up thinking about it...

Rose Fam~ I'm way behind on movie watching. :) I'll have to put that one on the list. Sounds great!

Anonymous said...

OH....what a wonderful picture of Grandma D. I just loved her!