By Jacqueline Sanford
I love working on projects with my Dad. A few weeks ago, we took apart an old upright piano that sat in my dining room. Long past its best, with broken keys and hammers, and now too big to fit out through the patio door, it was destined to be a dust collector in my house for years to come. But Dad suggested we tackle it and gave up his whole day to help.
We worked carefully, reverently almost, stopping often to remark and reflect on the craftsmanship and beauty of this 100+-year-old instrument from the Bell Organ & Piano Company in Guelph, Ontario. We salvaged some wood, and I realized how grateful I was that I had no emotional or family connection to this piano, or I might not have been able to part with it. We delighted in the 1891 penny we found trapped inside, but alas, there were no long-lost diamond earrings or wedding rings.
Working side-by-side strengthened my connection to my Dad, figuring things out as we went, discussing and guessing and working hard. His work ethic and approach to problem solving have become mine over many years and projects, and I am so proud to be my father's daughter. Thanks Dad! (Wanna replace a water heater tomorrow?)
