time for giving thanks
2009
It’s that time of year … there are only 7 days left of school, 9 days until I fly to Melbourne to meet our furniture and worldly goods, and then only a couple more weeks until Christmas and our big move south. Oh my goodness. We are almost giddy from the speed with which everything is approaching.
Today was a time for giving thanks and saying farewell to Abby’s – and my! – piano teacher, Mrs. Waters. This lovely, patient, gentle and humorous woman has taught Abby – and given her the pleasure of creating music – for the last five years. From the early days of working on the correct hand position, then putting two hands together, then playing pieces of bluesy jazz and romantic prettiness, even learning the same Beethoven sonatas that I was nourished by; Mrs. Waters has guided Abby with tolerance and inspiration.
Many a time she has said to me, laughing, there’s no telling Abby what to do. She’s her own little person and if she wants to play a passage in a particular way, than that’s how she plays it. No, Abby won’t ever be a concert pianist – let alone grow up to be a piano teacher herself – but she is growing up appreciating the beauty of music, the irreplaceable meditation of sitting at a piano, lost in time, simply playing. And for that, I give thanks to Mrs. Waters.
[ oh! look at that-she who started as a little wee thing is now the same height as her teacher! ]
And not only are we leaving her, but she is leaving us. After decades of teaching, she is retiring tomorrow. Thus, an extra special thank you was needed. A small quilt, with lots of us in it, lots of colour and lots of prettiness. Hmmm? A dresden plate. On a blanket. Perfect.
As I chose petals, pinned and quilted, and admired the perfection of a stripey border, I thought of all the changes Abby and I will experience in the next few months, all the people and activities we will farewell, and all the newness we will have to absorb and enjoy. I don’t come to new very easily. I like what I’ve got. I’m a bit boring like that.
More than that, I have spent Abby’s life – and mine before that! – making our life as special as I can. Creating traditions, celebrating what we do and who we share our lives with, and talking about and documenting how much it means to us. All very well. But now, this “specialness” has delivered us to a place where, as we leave Brisbane, we are so very sad to be saying goodbye.
Hmph! It would be much easier if I had just sent Abby along to the regular, school provided piano teacher, chucked a box of supermarket chocolates into her piano bag at the end of each year, and never given the person another thought. But oh no, I wanted to make it special, so sought permission for Abby to attend lessons at the girls’ school I work at, with the teacher I had as a young person. I wanted Abby’s first experience at music to be wonderful and it has been.
Oh dear, I am sounding pathetic aren’t I :-)
I do like “special” and I wouldn’t swap Mrs. Waters or any of the other special people we know or things we do for anything less. Instead, perhaps I need to learn to appreciate what we have at the time, and then recognise that change is inevitable. It’s part of life (ah yes, those Buddhism classes are coming back to me). When I rely upon holding on to the “special” qualities of my life to provide happiness and contentment, I am not only setting myself up for disappointment, but missing the point.
Special is so very good. Every aspect of our lives deserves to be lived well, with enthusiasm, joy and respect. And then when it is time, we move on to the next stage of life and embrace what it brings, carrying with us all that we have learnt, experienced and hold dear from that which is now over. The lovely Mrs. Waters, and what she gave us, will always be a little part of our lives and who we are. And we will be a little part of hers.
And that’s how life should be. For this, I give thanks.
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what a beautiful thank you – Mrs Waters will no doubt treasure the gift forever.
I don’t come to new easily either, so I feel your mix of emotions. Good luck with the rest of school – I hope Abby doesn’t get too emotional when she says her goodbyes.
I know what you are feeling. It is a beautiful quilt, and the sentiments are beautiful too. Enjoy your last week here! You will be missed :)
What a beautiful gift! I am not good at change. I am worse when anticipating change. There is something good about change when the outcome could not have been otherwise. Warmest, most uplifting thoughts and wishes for you at this time of transition.
oh lily. this post really touched my heart. thank you.
wishing you all the best in your transition to your new special place!
That’s a beautiful thank you gift! I love it’s fresh colours and that yo-yo centre is inspired!
This post was so touching, and I expect the coming days will have a bit of bittersweetness as saying goodbye to what you know and love is never easy. But you have each other, and I’m sure you’ll go on to build an enchanted life in your new home as well.
What a lovely way to give thanks and what a beautiful photo of your girl and Mrs Waters. I hate change as well!! Us Victorian’s are a friendly bunch and wil welcome you with open arms.
The thank you gift is gorgeous, but the sentiments you expressed here are even better. I hope she reads your blog :)
What a beautiful treasure Mrs. Waters will have. That is such a thoughtful, loving gift. Being military from the time I was born until I was in my 30s, well, I was used to “new,” and quite frequently. But as I get older, I want to put down deeeeeep roots and stay put. I wish you well on your upcoming move.
Glorious quilt, how wonderful that you realise what’s important, not everybody does.
My mother (in desperation or a moment of insanity, I think), started me on the piano when I was four. I continued with piano instruction until after I graduated high school. I really liked that you so perfectly got one of the best parts of creating music at this age (or any age): “the irreplaceable meditation of sitting at a piano, lost in time, simply playing”. In my hectic world of teenage boys, I miss that, and crave the quiet times in my childhood home when I could do that. I hope that Abby transfers to another wonderful teacher in Melbourne who will connect with her musically. Those who teach children music are especially blessed, for they know what the child doesn’t yet — that an appreciation of music will last a lifetime and show up in unexpected places in the child’s life in the decades to come. A thank you to Mrs. Waters, and to my own teachers, Mrs. Zack and Mrs. White.
yes, yes, yes… thank you for these thoughts today! best wishes on the moving stuff. thinking of you guys.