This morning I made the kids eggs for breakfast. I was feeling rather nice and allowed the kids to help me crack the eggs into the pan. We all enjoyed breakfast and Nathan and Aubrey made their way to school. I got breakfast cleaned up, the younger three dressed and ready for the day, and began my day. Next thing I know, I wander into my family room, where Jay and Betsy are both holding eggs. I scolded them, quickly returning the eggs back to the carton in the fridge. Then I turned around, facing my back door and piano and saw broken eggshells on the floor, at least 6 of them. I fumed angrily, grabbed a rag and began wiping egg off my floor. This is not an easy feat. I started wiping near my piano, when I noticed, in the corner a broken eggshell, but no real signs of the egg. In a panic I began looking for the egg... Well, I found it. It was IN MY PIANO!! Jay, and possibly Betsy, had broken the egg ON MY PIANO KEYS!!!!! The egg had seeped down between the keys.I love my piano. It is not a super nice, fancy piano, but it is mine, and I love to play it. I use it often to calm my nerves and refer to the music I play on it as free therapy. So when I saw the egg, nearly dried up, and all over my keys, I just about cried. I quickly ran to my computer, and Googled "how do I clean under my piano keys?" Well, after about a half hour, and about 10 different video clips, I felt confident enough to dismantle my wonderful piano.
All it took was eight screws and 2 bolts and I began removing the keys. It was not nearly as difficult as you would think. I got the keys out, laid nicely in order on the kitchen table(they are also numbered #1-#88) and began the task of vacuuming out 40 years of dust, mice nests (yes, you read that right) and random surprises like a missing credit card from 2 years ago, a key, papers, 21 cents in change, and of course the egg.
That is one of two mice nests I found, right under middle F, G and A. According to the Internet, pianos are quite popular mice residences. One guy on a Google video even went far enough to say that out of the 300+ pianos he has refurbished, he found mice nests and/or signs in over 80% of them, yeah, just about threw up. But, then again it made me feel better knowing that it was pretty commonplace! YUCK.So I am happy to report that my piano is now cleaner then yours. =) I washed each individual key before I put it back in, dusted the entire thing better then its been done EVER, and vacuumed out the insides everywhere I could possibly reach.
So what did I learn today?? .....Other then don't let toddlers with eggs near a piano?!?!
I realized how much I love my piano. I have always loved it, but since this afternoon, I love it more then I ever thought possible to love a piano. As I stood there, wiping each key with care, I felt like I better understood the scripture 1 Samuel 16:7; for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
2 comments:
Well, it seems like Jay gave you a blessing, your piano needed a good cleaning and Jay made it possible. It's nice that you took joy from it and made it a postive part of your day. and BTW, mice, yuck! Brian gets the same thing at his work, people bring in 4-wheelers they haven't used in years of that have been sitting all winter long, and they have tons of mice nests built in them, he says it's a pretty gross job especially when the mice are still alive, didn't look like your mice were still in there, another blessing!
Yikes! I can imagine your frustration! You learned a lot about yourself, though...not only your love for your piano, but also your ability to take apart, clean, and assemble your piano! You're amazing! I'm glad it worked out okay.
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