Back in the day when spontaneity was the forefront of my single, child-free life, I would fly to Hawaii at a whim and last minute dinners at swanky, white table cloth restaurants were all part of filling the void of having little else outside work life.
Then, without realization, the vacuum of dissatisfaction reached its peak.
One quiet, brisk winter’s Sunday morning, my surfer boyfriend and I decided to take a drive to the north of the city. He wanted to check out some surfboards at a special shop of his and I suggested he drop me off at a piano store on the way.
I had been contemplating on buying my own upright piano for a while. But unlike most high cost, long term purchases, I hadn’t done any thorough research for this one.
I walked into the shop of dozens of pianos –grand, upright and electronic – with no commitment. Just to have a browse.
The only sales assistant I could spot was a middle aged man with a strong European accent. The Piano Man.
Extremely frank and blunt in his sales technic (“That one’s cheap but so is its sound…”) he was at least honest. He loved his pianos and you could tell.
He spoke with conviction but was pragmatic. I knew he wasn’t trying to “sell”.
He showed me one in particular and I fell in love. Right there I bought my biggest, most spontaneous purchase.
Later I discovered that his real profession was in their tuning and maintenance. Then I knew, I wasn’t going to be jipped off by a sales person driven only by commission and dollar signs but was to be guided by a technical expert who exactly knew real quality.
5 years on, Fred* sends me a text around the same time every year reminding me that it’s time for him to drop by and tune my little baby.
He arrives with his tool box, ready to get to work. Despite seeing Fred so rarely, I’ve memorized how he takes his coffee (1 sugar with just the slightest dash of milk). The moment I greet him, I make him one.
As he turns the strings and cranks the keys to get the tone just right, we chat about life – the little things and the big.
Work has slowed down lately, he tells me. More and more people are going electronic. There’s less demand for the traditional wooden piano, which in turn, means there’s less instruments for him to visit and take care of.
There are homes he’s visited for decades. As time and life progresses, the pianos keep their stellar condition but their owners are racked with old age.
He mentions that his own health is not so good but he gets by and his work keeps him busy.
It takes him just a little over an hour to finish his task. Even when I ask him how much I owe him, he’s bashful to take my money – as though he can’t possibly be paid for doing something he already loves.
And as we’re about to say our goodbyes for another year, he gives me a small grin and says with pride:
“You know, even if I won the lotto and had a million dollars, this is something I would still be doing.”
And I believe him.
How wonderful to not only find your passion but to be so content with the happiness it offers; that no amount of monetary value can compare.
To have what seems to be a simple trade to others but is so important to you and to those who value your skills.
When extravagance means absolutely nothing if you can’t continue doing the one thing that you were born to do.
If you won a million dollars, what would you keep doing?
*Names have been changed to protect identities.
Despite accidentally hitting “Publish” on the Monday arvo, this post is exclusively for Jess’ fabulous IBOT.
I love everything about this post. And Fred. And doing a job you love doing. If I had a million, I think I’d be writing – only without fear.
Bridget recently posted..Real Resiliency
How beautiful to have someone like the piano man in your life. I guess these folk are all around we just need to open our eyes to them. Thanks Grace.
Mumabulous recently posted..Why Do We Do This?
How lovely. We had a piano man visit us recently too. Like you, I’d always dreamed of owning a piano so when one that had been left in storage was going for free and I only had to pay moving, I nabbed it. Sight unseen. Sound unplayed. Our local piano tuner, who had taken over the family business, came and gave a fairly disappointing appraisal – it can’t be tuned. He recommended we get an electric one! But I still want a wooden upright. There is something romantic about them.
Rachel @ The Kids Are All Right recently posted..He started it!
Nice post grace. Yes I’d keep doing, but I’d put a lot more time into my blogging than i do / can now. Most of the time (‘cept for mondayitis) I love my job because I write about others who love theirs – teachers, which is always a feel good x
Bachelormum recently posted..Single mum or bachelor mum?
Lovely post! I love these old school characters that touch our lives, even just for a short time.
If I won a million dollars I would keep doing what I’m doing: looking after my son, my niece, my blog and my new business.
V.
Vanessa @ babblingbandit.me recently posted..Part 2: On being a victim of rape culture
What a beautiful story! So lovely to have a passion for something!
Emma @ Family Life Central recently posted..Personal Planner Review and Giveaway
A lovely story and very well told. I read this yesterday on my phone whilst waiting for Dex to have his contact lenses checked and thought that I must let you know how much I enjoyed it. Well done you…a nd him!!
Seana – Sydney, Kids, Food + Travel recently posted..Bread Maker Review + A Malt Loaf Recipe
Awww, love this Grace. There are not enough people like him in the world, I think. If we won a million dollars, I’d be taking photos for a living!
Aroha @ Colours of Sunset recently posted..10 Things To Do At The Beach
We discuss this regularly. The thing we wouldn’t change is the house. Tho apparently we’d get a beach house somewhere to visit. I love the location of our house – grubby inner city, 5 mins to everything.
Lydia c lee recently posted..Fiji for a Family of Five (or more) in the rainy season
Lovely post Grace, so much to think about – a million dollars? Only a million, life would be easier, but I certainly wouldn’t be living one of leisure! But I would hope that with a million dollars, I could squeeze in more time to write! xx
Josefa @always Josefa recently posted..The Pomegranate Tree
What a beautiful thing to follow your passion and be happy with the life it affords you. We all need a ‘piano man’ in our lives to ground us and remind us what really matters. 🙂
Aleney recently posted..Holi Moley
Oh Grace! I want to meet Fred and make him coffee and buy a piano just so he can tune it!
I think maybe, if I won a million dollars, I would still want the same things – and be able to do them! I always say I’m not greedy! I don’t want a million dollars! I just want $250k to pay off the mortgage, renovate the house (not to perfection, but to practicality), buy a new car and take my kids on a holiday. Then when we get back, we can keep living and working out of our little home, in our little town, and maybe one day open our cake and tea shop and live mostly happily ever after!
Is it wrong that I want to be an old lady, serving cake over the counter, while my husband sits in the corner playing his iPhone? (that’s the equivalent of reading a newspaper for our generation!)
Daisy recently posted..7 Reasons You Should Move To The Country {a pointed post}
I love this – the world would be so much better if more of us were doing what we loved well than chasing so-called success. I would write more, create inspiration videos and documentaries, more yoga, more meditation, more parenting and living with presence. thanks…kathy
Kathy recently posted..Yinyangmother traits (good) not necessarily mine
I like this post and that’s a beautiful piano, even though it’s blocked a little by Fred. Post more on IG?
It relates to me very much to blogging. Was that on your mind when you wrote it too? Even if the only audience was my hubby (some days I do think so haha) and even if I wasn’t sponsored in anyway, I would still do it 🙂
Ai Sakura recently posted..Live Many Lives through Reading
This is such a gorgeous little parable about the importance of doing what you love Gracie!
My favourite blog of yours this year, for sure!
kirri recently posted..A chat about transformation with Connie Chapman
I love having the piano tuned – our piano tuner seems like the same man as Fred – passionate about his job. Sadly my piano frustrates me to the point I can’t play. The damp has made the keys stick to the point it seems irredeemable. I’ll never go electronic though. Long live the upright! I’m going to teach my daughters soon. And if I had a million? I’d write. With no expectations of eyes ever reading. From a tropical island, naturally!
Kim @Fallling Face First recently posted..Driving … you’re doing it wrong.
I love to see people who do things with pride. 🙂
That is my million dollar question 🙂
I have half written a draft blog about it as I am in search of that elusive passion.
Maybe when I finish it, I may have the answer – here’s hoping.
Becc @ Take Charge Now
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Lovely Post Grace. If I won a million dollars, I wouldn’t change my attitude or life perspective. Just because I have won lots of money,doesn’t make me any better or worse than anyone else. It’s a tough question though
Lisa recently posted..Mother’s Day Giveaway…2013
That’s an apt answer to an interesting question
That’s a good little reminder that I need to call my own piano man.
Liz @ Clover Feet recently posted..A little project update
Ours needs tuning too, must call! I would keep on taking photos, prob probably upgrade my gear 😉
iSophie recently posted..Hello? Anyone awake?
Beautiful post and very timely for me while I’m balancing my love of writing/blogging with how much I’m willing to spend on my passion…
Keep following that passion, Rita! x
such a lovely story! I would defiantly still do most of the same things I did if I won the lottery, blog and crochet, and you know be a mum 🙂
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Oh I love this story. So awesome to hear about someone doing something they’re passionate about.
If I had a million dollars, I’d still keep writing. You couldn’t stop me 🙂
EssentiallyJess recently posted..When Humanity Rears it’s Beautiful Head
Fred sounds lovely!
If I won a million dollars I certainly would keep being a Marketing Manager in the Financial Services sector, they can take that job and shove it somewhere!! 🙂
Jodi recently posted..Listening ears
What a very sweet man he sounds like, I’d be sad to see him go each year. Do you play much?
If I had a million dollars, I’d spent my spare time, when I wasn’t hanging with kids, writing! xxx
Emily @ Have a laugh on me recently posted..Top tips to surviving extremely early wake ups
What a beautiful post – I’m actually a bit teary! He is something rare these days – a craftsman. Someone who has taken the time to master every aspect of their field. How inspiring to be around that type of devotion and perseverance 🙂
Rachel recently posted..Dietary Anonymous – the hidden tapes
How lucky you are to have someone like Fred look after your piano! People like him are a dying breed. If I had $1M, I’d buy a bigger house, a few new cars, go on a cruise and pay off the bills. And that would be the end of that!
xx
Lisa Barton-Collins recently posted..Being the boss of my body
That’s a question I ask myself every now and then… I’d take more dance lessons, I’d travel business class instead of economy… but as far as the big picture goes, I wouldn’t change much.
Tat recently posted..Learn-to-fly season #UBP13
I love that Fred and his poetry has become a part of your life. A constant reminder of small, simple and no less powerful things.
I don’t know what I ‘do’ so I don’t know if a million bucks would change my direction, but I’d hazard a guess that it would make my journey a little easier…… and I’d have a bigger array of shoes.
Mrs Holsby recently posted..A treat amongst the boredom….Gluten-free Orange Cake with Sugar-free Chocolate Ganache
There is nothing more satisfying than having found a job that you love 🙂 I am almost envious that Fred has been able to do that…not everyone can. Loved the story Grace, thank you for sharing.
If I won a million dollars, I’d quit the day job, set the boys up, do more for women in Pakistan and just keep blogging 🙂
Sabeen recently posted..8 Habits That Stop You From Living A Positive Life.
What a lovely post! Reminds me of my mum and her piano. I hope that a million bucks would never change the real me x
Great story! I love hearing stories of people who live their lives based on their passion.
I do too.
If I won a million dollars I would have the financial freedom to continue following mine … (writing children’s books).
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit recently posted..Day 1283 – Blah
What a lovely post. Thanks Grace. I really admire this sort of passion for something that isn’t all modern and plastic! I fear that knowledge and a genuine love of this sort of trade will die out with his generation. I hope it wont.
Maybe if I won the lotto I might be able to create some time to learn to play the piano.
Thanks.
natalia familia recently posted..top 5 books on our shelf :: for 2 year olds
Oh gosh I miss my piano so much, mine was sold when I moved overseas as nobody would take it. I’ve always said as soon as we have a house big enough I’m filling some space with a baby grand. If I won a million dollars I’d keep writing but that’s about it, work just brings home money and I have no great love of it like I had of my UK job but it is flexible and family friendly which is most important to me these days I guess.
Kyla @ Three Quarters Full recently posted..England in the Summertime
What a lovely story! There’s nothing like loving what you do, is there?
A million dollars would erase my mortgage and leave a hefty chunk of cash to blow on a big, fat family holiday.
Robomum recently posted..Win-Win With Teenage Nephews
Oh Grace! How I wish I lived closer! I have a very elderly piano in need of a tune and I don’t know who to trust it to……I need a good piano tuner!
Carla recently posted..Plie, Chasse, Jete The Machine way.
Oh Bless, Fred sounds like such a gentleman and how wonderful that he’s living his passion. Hope that gorgeous, spontaneous large purchase brings you many years of joy xx
Shari recently posted..Live blogging
Really beautiful post and story XX
Rebecca recently posted..Custard Apple Coconut Crumble
I would love to own a piano, I can still remember sitting for hours on our old white one practicing my scales and learning new songs till thy were just right.
This is a beautiful story Grace, it truly is. Its rare to be able to do something we love as a career and so special when you find it. I think if I were to win the lotto I would quite doing what I do now and find myself a boutique little bookshop that I could work in because I will never et sick of selling and working around books. It was my dream from a very young age and I am so lucky that I got to do it.
Kylez @ A Study in Contradictions recently posted..Hard
Oh my, now I miss my piano so so much !
And how lucky are you to have a Fred, I want a Fred and if only I had the room I would still have my much beloved piano xx
Beck/craftypjmum recently posted..Sneaky Mum Pics
Yes, it would seem impossible to put a price scale on doing something you love. I admire humble people like the Piano Man, makes us realize why we do the things we do. Thanks for this post – it truly made my day.
Nami recently posted..Birds And The Bees These Days
It’s a treat to find someone who loves their job and wants to give the very best of their knowledge to their clients with no strings.
My partner’s brother has been a piano salesman for several decades, including Steinway’s in NYC (yea, truly he’s met some pianist giants.)
As for the $1 million, don’t laugh, but I would buy another nicer bike (I already have 4), not a car. And still bike.
jean recently posted..Cycling Greenways – Umbilical Cord to My Past Neighbourhoods: Prairies, West Coast and Ontario
Ah the piano is such a wonderful thing to have in a home. I have my eyes on my lovely MIL’s, but hopefully it will be a long time coming.
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