momma heidi

{My inspiration} 

Have you seen Pride and Prejudice?  The Focus Features version with Keira Knightely?  It's right up there with the BBC version, although I do miss watching Collin Firth emerge from swimming... holy hannah.  I digress.  The movie was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score by Dario Marianelli - and for good reason!  The score is absolutely incredible.  I love it, and my mom loves it, and my mom plays it all beautifully.  Be jealous, because sometimes at night mom would play music while we (the kids) were going to bed, and she would frequently play this (think "Dawn").

I know it might not sound like much (does it?), but somehow piano music has entered my soul and moves me in a way that not all music can.  I want to sit down and cry when I hear her play or when somebody else does because it reminds me of those beautiful moments inside my home.  It's a cathartic experience.  

Last month I sat down behind a good friend of mine while he played some jazz music on the piano.  That was lovely, especially paired with his voice, but when he started playing Rachmaninoff... Well, I was practically a puddle of tears.  It was beautiful.  And I am quite glad I was behind him, safe from his observations.  

Mmmm.... gorgeous.

Anyway... 

Mom studied Piano Pedagogy at BYU in the mid 80's, under a certain Dr. Paul Pollei.  She was part of a handful of students who stuck with that major.  She told me once that she wanted to be taken seriously, especially after Dr. Pollei made a comment about some women not being very serious about the major.  So what did she do?  She worked incredibly hard, frequently practicing up to six hours a day.  And when she got pregnant with Ryan, did she tell Dr. Pollei about it?  Nope.  He finally figured it out when she was about seven months along.  

My mom's a beast.  In the best possible way.

Don't get me wrong, we've had some serious moments of doubt and lack of communication (which never lead anywhere great), but I think the world of her.  She's my mom, but she's also a lot more than that, too.  I'm learning a lot every day still which gives me reason to love her more.  She's my biggest fan and greatest support.  The woman loves me, and I can feel it.  Especially now.

I love my mom.  Blah. Blah. Blah.  We know. :)

Anyway.

The reason for all of this today is because I started piano lessons! I took a little from mom when I was much, much younger, but I always loved playing a little here and there.  I love music, what can I say?  I don't listen to it all the time, because I love silence too, but sometimes the greatest thing in the world is just sitting and listening to somebody play the piano.  So, on my massive list of things to do before I die is to learn how to really play the piano.  So I started. Today. And I happen to have an incredible teacher.  

Dr. Robin Hancock.  

BYU Faculty Instructor.

The American Piano Quartet member.

Let's be honest, folks... I'd rather go to see The American Piano Quartet (which I have attended all by my lonesome..) than go see Kenny Chesney.  {Though, seeing Kenny Chesney is also on my great bucket list.  What can I say?  The man's got spunk.}

{Wow.  It is incredible how off track I get.  It's amazing that I even remember what I started typing about in the first place!  Oh, well.}

Bottom line:  I'm happy, and I'm excited to be following in these particular footprints of my mom's.  Life is good right now. It's not exactly what I want, per say, but it's good.  I'm happy.