Do inanimate objects have spirit or life? I think at first blush the question makes me sound crazy. Doesn’t the term inanimate – no life – sum it all up? I just wonder, if things really are no-life, why does using my Grandma Pugsley’s soft green china on my Thanksgiving table give me such pleasure? I mean the dinner plates are significantly smaller than more modern styles, and these plates certainly aren’t dishwasher safe. I grew up far away from my grandparents, so although I never saw Grandma Pugsley’s table beautifully set, my parents did send me out one summer when I was 12 to visit Grandma Opal. She taught me to eat avocado on toast. Using that no-life, inanimate china, that I was told Granma bought with redeemed war coupons, makes me feel connected to her life.
I have this key ring. It’s held the keys of every car I’ve ever owned – have I really owned five cars? How can I be so old? It belonged to my Grandfather Fearnley. He passed away when I was 10. I hardly knew him and yet I have his key ring. I touch it every day. He was strong and steady so I believe/feel carrying it, especially while driving, makes me strong and steady and safe.
I just bought a baby grand piano for my front room. The piano movers were very particular about placement. This inanimate baby can’t be next to an exterior wall, in direct sunlight and won’t be ready to be tuned for another 2 weeks because it must acclimate to its surroundings. I bought the piano from a relative – she’s not dead. Not all my family is dead and I don’t spend all my time waxing sentimental about their stuff.
I bought the piano from my aunt. This piano was originally given as a gift for her 30th wedding anniversary but the marriage has since dissolved. The piano movers removed gum wrappers, marbles, spare change, peanuts, a tinker toy, and a TV remote. What they couldn’t remove was a subtle aroma of cigarettes. I scrubbed crayon marks from the sides. This piano has had a hard life. Did I mention that the baby grand is white-ish? I remember feeling almost afraid of this Liberace wannabe inanimate object full of sad memories dominating a room in my home. I wondered if, to stay true to the piano, I should decorate the room with a disco ball and feather boas. But now that the piano and I are acclimating, I find I’m falling in love with it, smells and all. How is it possible every time my son sits down to practice at this untuned, inanimate object it fills my home with music and life? And the memories all seem pretty happy too.
I enjoyed your thoughts. It is neat how certain objects draw our thoughts to loved ones. I love how you have decorated your room. Good luck with piano practicing. I think it is the “food of champion” moms, definetely not for the faint of heart. You know all of my children have taken a minumum 6 years of piano lessons but none of them play. To my great suprise Sarah is playing the piano tonight in the ward talent show. Maybe if she doesn’t embarrass the family it will make all those years worth the time, effort and money. Truth, even if they never play in church good did come from piano lessons. One lesson I/we learned was to be consistent. Love you all very much.
I hurt my leg this moring walking into the temple. Very dumb of me. But I am resting when Dean comes to tell me that Shannon has a baby. WHAT! He did a pretty good job about a baby piano but I had to hobble to the computer to see. Your baby is beautiful!!! And I am sure you will grow to love it even more. Again such a well written story. Maybe I can get you to write my lifes story so Cathy will be happy. We hope Ethan will give us a concert the next time we come to visit.
It really looks nice in your front room so you clearly did a great job of cleaning it up. I was also surprised at how well Ethan plays it. That plus Eric’s skills on it will add a lot of enjoyment for you. I’m glad someone in the family has musical skills beyond my ability to play the radio.
Hi Shannon,
Going through all my emails, which is how I got to read this because we were in China at the time of this post. Enjoyed it all over again, more than two years later!