Why Do Life Lessons Have to Be So Heavy?

So, remember my life lesson around the red couch?

I now have one from a piano.

Before I get to the lesson, I have to wonder, why do my life lessons have to come in the forms of big and awkward?

Why can’t I have the life lesson of the potted plant?  Or the small porcelain figurine?

Seriously.

So, my dear friend K offered me the long time loan of her piano. Unbelievably, I decided I had room for it. My cabin is s-m-a-l-l. But I decided I had room. And the wall it fit on did seem made for it. And the piano looked great. Crowded, but great.

I thought Little Sir could take lessons and I thought I would take lessons and I thought my husband should would brush up (he had 11 years of lessons as a kid).

But Little Sir is too young.

I realized I didn’t really want to take lessons. I just wanted to play.

This is a big realization that I need to make more often, and sooner. Like I also know I do not want to sew. I like having things made and am creative, but I do not actually want to do the sewing. Or crochet. Exercise would fit here too but I do try on that one. So, I want to play the piano but I do not want to learn to read music or practice.

So what about my husband? Turns out he didn’t want to brush up on the piano. My images of us surrounding him and singing Christmas carols? All mine. Just in my head. My idea of some great party where we can do Karaoke or Name That Tune with him at the ol’ ivories? All me. Again. My idea of him learning “our song” to surprise and delight me?

Yep, all me. Again.

And it’s not that my plans were bad. I mean, seriously, learning “our song”? That is great! Me finally learning more than scales after my mother sold our piano when I was in fourth grade. That would have been awesome.

Had it been true. Accurate. And not involved me making plans for what I thought someone else should (Would? Could?) do.

Maybe it’s the writer in me. Or the oldest child thing. Or the Mama thing. But I do this where I decide what someone should want or should like.

And as wisdom teaches us: Don’t should on yourself.

So, the piano is moving to a new home. And per my arrangement with K, I am paying to have it moved.

Next time, I want the life lesson of the throw pillow.