For the last ten years, this has been the only piano on Columbus Street. And, it only moved in at Christmas of 2013. It's just a little difficult to play, but it made me happy. I played Monsieur Winkelmann in my heart.
One of the gifts of being here this summer is that I've realized this is the first time in ten years that I've felt like I can BE here. Part of it is that I'm not jumping up every few months to go to another location, but the real important piece is making Columbus Street home again and being able to feel home and comfortable here. So much has changed, but so has my outlook.
On my recent jaunt to Cafe NOMA with Mike Edwards, we were talking about the museum, shops and cafe. I remarked that I had been a Sustaining Member before the storm. I've never rejoined. Why would I when almost 7 of the last ten years were spent in Cadrieu. But now, I know I'll be here until next summer. I'm planning to get back to more regular France for at least 8 months out of every year at home by 2017. Why not?
The secret here was huge for me. I began looking at things "as if" I were going to be in New Orleans full-time. I'd been giving up things I loved just because we weren't here all the time. We are and will be here more than I originally expected. I have a full-timer's attitude.
There's NOMA, which is an easy proposition. But then, there's my childhood piano that is living in Sewanee, TN with Kate, Chloe and Clare. That's a story and a story in the making to be shared another time.
I leave you with a shot of Monsieur Winkelmann at the Chatette. I miss my guy desperately, but I know he's waiting there for me. I'll be back with the rest of the piano story as it unfolds.
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