My piano (well, really, my grandfather's piano, that is how I will always think of it) is DONE! I got the e-mail today. It is still set to be delivered on the 30th.

I will be so happy to get it. I can't wait to start practicing on it.

I had my first lesson today (normally they are on Tuesdays but because of faculty meetings this week I couldn't go Tuesday). The teacher told me I still remembered the proper "form" (how you are supposed to hold your hands) and I remembered more about reading music than I thought I would. So she bumped me up a book (to a more advanced level). I'm already going to start playing "real" stuff - I have a simplified version of "The Stars and Stripes Forever" to work on, and a (probably simplified, but I haven't looked that closely at it) piece by Mozart.

It's great. I feel like parts of my brain that have been mostly dormant for 25 years are starting to stretch and wake up.

Now I just need to manage to make some time each day to get down to church and practice. (It will be much easier once the actual piano arrives; then I can use the odd little 15 minute stretches I sometimes have first thing in the morning or in the evening or even if I go home for lunch some days. I love the thought of being able to run home, eat lunch, and de-stress a little by playing scales or exercises.

Funny how when you're a kid, you resist it and it GIVES you stress, but as an adult, the thought of practicing piano is something that sounds relaxing...)