My destiny.

Ever since I was little, I was quite sure that God had intended for me to be a gymnast and a pianist.

I used to watch gymnastics on T.V. with my eyes wide and goosebumps on my arms, knowing that it was my destiny.   My friend, Bobbi Jo took gymnastics classes and I used to sit in the stands with her mom watching her practice.  I remember telling her mom that I needed to use the restroom, but really I was just going in there to cry because it was too hard for me to watch my destiny passing me by from the bleachers.

I was kind of a weird kid, so I never told anyone, including my parents that I wanted to take gymnastics classes.

And I remember how excited I would get anytime we went to visit my parent's friends, Bob & Mary because they had a piano that I would sit and play for hours on end.  I remember feeling so happy to be sitting at a piano but so sad at the same time knowing that it was my destiny to play but that I'd never own one and I never learn how to play one either.

But like I mentioned, I was kind of a weird kid, so I never told anyone, including my parents that I wanted to take piano lessons.

I finally gave up my dream of being a gymnast a few years back (in case you were wondering, the uneven bars would have totally been my event).  I guess it  just didn't seem realistic once I hit  30 that I could make it to the Olympics anymore.

But I had never given up on playing the piano.  Even as an adult, I've never heard a piano playing without getting goosebumps and feeling melancholy; knowing that I was meant to play one.

Josh was giddy-excited about my Christmas present this year (and Josh doesn't get giddy-excited over anything other than the Beavers and beer).  He'd been planning it for a couple of months, making lots of trips to Medford,  receiving lots of private phone calls and lots of text messages.

He's a good secret keeper though so I didn't have any clue what he was planning.  My Sister did slip up when Josh was showing her different choices for my Christmas present online and said "I don't like the feet on that one." which made me think that maybe he had found an old clawfoot bathtub for me for the new, old house we're fixing up (as I was also destined to take lots of long, hot baths).

A few days before Christmas, I was banned from going to the new, old house.

Christmas Eve, we went to a Christmas Eve service at a new church (since we're moving about 30 miles from our old house, we're looking for a new church) and after we sat down Josh pointed to the stage and said "Check out that piano." and for a brief moment, I got goosebumps on my arms and thought to myself, What if Josh Downs got me a piano? 

I quickly forced myself to dismiss the idea though because I didn't want to get excited about something that seemed so unlikely and besides, I didn't think there was any way in the world that Josh would have remembered that one time, several years back when I told him that ever since I was a little girl, plucking away at the piano at Bob & Mary's house that I knew I was destined to play the piano and that my heart kind of hurt every single time I heard a piano play ever since. 

We had set up a tree at our old, new house (that's the house we live in now) and the kiddos all thought that that was where we'd be spending Christmas night and Christmas morning.  A few days before Christmas though, Josh and I went over to the new, old house (that's the old house we're fixing up) to wrap all the Christmas presents and to set up a tree over there too to surprise the kids with.

So we went to sleep at the new, old house on Christmas Eve (I was banned from going in or around the dining room where we set up the tree).

And at 6:00 am on Christmas morning, I walked into the dining room to find this...

That's me doing one of those 'ugly cries' (we actually had to halt Christmas morning for about 10 minutes because I couldn't quit crying).

It's beautiful.  The most beautiful, old piano (it was built in the late 1800's) I have ever seen.  And it's exactly what I would have picked for myself.  It's all dinged up and lovely (to me, all those scratches and dings are just part of it's history and they make me love it even more).

Josh had looked at about 15 old pianos in the area and picked this one for me.  It was owned by a guy with a local recording studio.  In fact, Guitar Center and the Smashing Pumpkins just put out a CD called Fresh Cuts that features 13 tracks by various Guitar Center artists, hand-picked by the Smashing Pumpkins for the CD and a local band, Shroder was playing this very piano (my new piano) on their track.

Crazy to me that such an old piano could play so well.

And though I would never normally ask how much my Christmas present cost, I was concerned that my normally frugal husband might have spent all the money we are planning on fixing up the new, old house with, so I had to ask...$350 bucks.  Turns out that the guy who owned it was just selling it for what he had originally paid for it years ago.

Josh said that he was worried that he had ruined all future Christmas's for himself though because he'd never be able to out-do this gift.

I'm not really the kind of girl who needs him to 'out-do' last years gift though and to tell you the truth (however cheesy and sappy the truth might be), no one could ever outdo what he's done; loving me so much that he would know that that piano was my destiny.

Comments

[shaina]

That's just too cool. Especially since we were supposed to get a piano this year for our family as well. Didn't turn out this year...Maybe next.
So glad you got your wish! Pianos are safer than the uneven bars. I had the same desire as you, growing up. My parents were more of a practical pairsome, and didn't think gymnastics were necessary for me. Ah well.

[Diane]

The great thing about learning to play the piano.....it's never too late! I'm not so sure if the same can be said about gymnastics...I'm afraid the window of opportunity there is much more narrow! lol

[Dina]

Karen, that is just so beautiful! Have fun playing your piano. Are you planning to take lessons? I have to admit that I now wish that I had taken my piano lessons seriously when I was younger since I can't play a note today.

[Sandra VV]

I got goosebumps reading this! A piano, that's great:)
I had piano lessons growing up. I hated practising but loved playing - does that make sense?
Congrats on the piano - score Josh Downs!

[Sandi K]

I think I may join you in that "ugly cry". Just beautiful. Congrats on the piano and your choice of Josh.

Happy New Year filled with piano lessons.

[Christi Snow]

This is such a beautiful post...you have me crying too! Yay, Josh Downs...you did good! smiles...

[aja]

wow!
what a great guy!
my hubby surprised me this Christmas with my new Nikon D60...whoo-hoo!
(i had a little ugly cry, too)
:0)

[Melissa J]

What an amazing Christmas story! You are so very blessed to have a man that loves you enough to really know you, and to really listen to and hear you! Thank you for sharing...

[debe]

Life is but a dream and you got one of yours! That man is definitely a 'keeper'. What a beautiful thing to do for someone you love. Can't wait to hear your updates on this new venture, hee, hee!

[Sheila]

That is so sweet. I found myself doing one of those "Ugly cries" while reading it. And because your kids are always dressed so cute, I thought that I'd share that American Eagle now has a kids line. The website is www.77kids.com It is so new that they just put up their first round of clearance.

[Helena]

One of the most beautiful and touching Christmas stories I've ever heard. You know you're a lucky girl, Karen!!

Helena from Italy

[Valerie]

Oh dear Lord, you are making me sob like a baby. Do babies sob? I don't think so...but the tears are flowing.

[Jamie Southworth]

I got goosebumps reading your story. I feel the same way about pianos and when I hear them played. It sounds like you had an amazingly wonderful Christmas! I've missed your posts and what a way to come back with a fantastic post like this!

[lisa]

I was so happy to see you updated your blog! But I have to tell you that I need to fix my makeup now since I'm sitting hear crying at your story! What a truly lovely gift; I hope you enjoy your new piano in your new, old house!
Happy New Year from Chicago!

[Kelly Boettcher]

What a beautiful and thoughtful gift. You are a lucky woman. I have always wanted to learn how to play the piano as well. My parents had a piano, but could not afford the lessons. One of these days...

[JoAnn]

and, of course, you got me again.........how can you always start me crying? Here's to fufillment!

[Mandy Friend (G.P.)]

So happy for you Karen, I've always wanted to learn how to play piano as well, but my mom never let me. I cried reading this. By the way, you have raised a gentleman of a son. When we met @ Robyn's he addressed all the adults with MRS. and MR. and he shook hands and all that great stuff. You should feel extremely proud.

We just bought a house on 3rd st. built in 1900.:)

[Christina H.]

How totally sweet and awesome of him. It is so cool to know some of the history that goes along with it too. I'm just glad that I'm not the only one who cried over a christmas present from their hubby! I finally got a laptop (I had been wanting one for the last 3 years or so), and I was so shocked by it I just started crying.

[Peggy Lucas]

Karen, could you PLS post at the beginning of an entry - DO NOT READ AT WORK because there is a great likelihood that you're going to be crying and your co--workers will wonder about you...
Thanks for sharing the story - so cool!

[traci]

i have goosebumps karen. what a wonderful christmas story. what a great gift giver your husband is. enjoy!!

[Jen]

How wonderful! I was destined to be a gymnast too, but I never realized my destiny either. I did learn to play the violin when I was younger, but the family heirloom violin I played was claimed by an uncle, and those skills went by the wayside. Your new old piano is absolutely beautiful. It looks like your kids were captivated by the moment too, and I am sure they will remember when they are older how important it is to pay attention to the little things about the person you love.

[tara pakosta]

yup, he's definately a keeper, that josh downs. what a guy!
what a sweet story karen!!! you are one lucky girl!!!
though, he sure is lucky too!
tara

[meg duerksen]

now you just need to get back on those uneven bars and your life will be perfection! :)

that is the sweetest gift ever. how adorable.
you are blessed karen.
and i am sure that you already know.

i am so happy to get to read your blog for over 2 years now. it's been a a total inspiration to me and made me see through my camera completely different than i ever did before. thanks for keepin' it real.
happy new year.
can't wait to see the adventures in the new old house.

[kat-in-texas]

Awesome, Karen! A whole piano!!! A new, old piano!!! :)

Way to maneuver the surprise, Josh Downs--you da man!!!

With an new, old house, the possibilities for gifts are endless. And with Josh Downs being so handy, he just might be able to fit uneven bars in the dining room next year too.

What a fun Christmas to remember!!!

p.s great post...

[kristina]

Your blog post just made me do the ugly cry, Karen. ;)
What a thoughtful and beautiful gift! Josh is a for sure keeper! ;)
So glad you had a wonderful Christmas, Karen!
Love that photo of you and your new piano. :)