My great love, (besides Mr. Shortcake, Harvey, my family, pink, baked goods, gardening, sparkles, etc 
) is music. I sing (too much), and strum my father’s beautiful and old 1969 guitar when the mood strikes, but my real love is and has always been the piano.
(image source here)
I’ve been playing since I was eleven, and “tickling the ivories” for me has always been the ultimate stress reliever. There’s nothing quite like pounding away any anger in Chopin’s majestic Polonaise, or drowning any depressing thoughts in Beethoven’s hauntingly beautiful “Moonlight Sonata.” It’s hard to be anything but the music when I play the piano. It’s hard to be anything but angry/depressed/stressed without one in Winnipeg. 
However, after my bridal shower (more on that later), my mom took me aside and whispered that they were planning to make an addition to our wedding gift -
(not my piano, but a very similar one… image from here)
- the family piano!
And she was worried it would make a lame gift.
BEST GIFT EVER!!
Have any of you received an unexpected, but totally welcomed gift from your family?
my grandmother gave me a hand-crank calliope for our wedding. it’s a cherished gift.
My grandma’s butterfly china from Germany!
Well I had two… One was my grandmother who paid for all our green card expenses as our wedding present because she didn’t want us to start our marriage in debt.
The second was from the same grandmother plus my parents, when they sent my brother from overseas to be my witness in my wedding and so I would have someone from my family there.
Just to think about it I have tears in my eyes. It beated any porcelain I could have ever been given.
My mom has always known how much I love the antique wedding ring quilt she has and how I said someday I wanted one of my own. So for our wedding she went out and found a beautiful one that is about 120 years old and suprised me with it. I was totally shocked and extremely happy! Congrats on the awesome gift and the super thoughtful parents!
what an awesome gift! i played piano for about 10 years before i left for college so i totally understand the therapy aspect to playing and instrument.
My paternal grandfather gave my parents a piano for their wedding. He actually took it all apart and refinished it. It makes for such a wonderful wedding gift, because it becomes part of the family. I grew up playing it, and my parents will (someday) pass it on for grandchildren to learn on. I think of my ‘grampa’ every time I look at it.
OMG - I would be SO elated! That’s awesome!
Think about all the baby Shortcake piano lessons happening there….AWW!!
Kindred spirits! My parents just told me that they are giving me our family piano (already passed through 3 generations) a few weeks ago - I can’t wait! I’ve been playing since I was 5, and I’m going to play the piano for our parents and grandparents dances at the reception as a special little thank you to my family.
Mrs. Shortcake, Vancouver
Age and Occupation: 24, Marketing Manager/Children's Lit Writer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Master's Student/Personal Trainer
Engagement Date: August 7, 2007
Wedding Date: October 2008
Blogging Since:
Venue: Ceremony in a historic church, tented lawn reception at a golf and country club
About Me: 1950's housewife sent to the future, reborn as crafting-obsessed, jill of all trades. I enjoy decorating, writing, baking sweet things, singing show tunes/dancing in public, wearing pearls, and knitting sweaters for my furbaby, Harvey, to chew upon. I heart pink, and believe that sparkles are the new black.
That’s so exciting!