My Piano

My first big purchase was not a car - it was this piano. I was in college and saw an add for a piano sale at another college in town. This piano was in a teacher's studio for ten years, and was spared the abuse of the college practice rooms. It was kept in tune, and was used sparingly during vocal lessons. When I married Troy and we moved up to Minneapolis we left it with my folks because we weren't sure that we would have room for it (and Troy didn't want to move it up stairs). But a few emotional meltdowns into our marriage, and we both realized the therapeutic role songwriting played in my life. We took a special trip to Springfield, MO in Troy's Dad's truck, wrapped the piano in blue tarps and bungee cords, and brought it back to MN. I started in right away, writing Everyday Miracles, Awakening, and Glory Come Down the first month I had it back, and I have written every album since then on this piano. It has a sweet, moody, melancholy sound, and is as much a part of my voice as my voice. It is an emotional instrument. I am writing now for a new record, feeling that old compulsion, coaxing out new melodies, grateful for my longtime friend.