here's a question you don't hear every day

How weird would it be to have a piano in the bedroom?

It would certainly shift the craft nook into a more "artistic retreat" aesthetic.

*TV fantasy swirls*

Picture it: lounging on a divan, sipping a summery white wine, knitting lace, crisp linen curtains stirring ever so slightly in the warm summer afternoon breeze, a tuxedoed man providing the Debussy (my fantasy. In your fantasy, you may choose to have a tuxedoed woman, or a naked man, or a naked woman, or I don't know, Nora. Totally up to you.)

(Wait a minute. It's my fantasy. Clive Owen is providing the Debussy.)

And after hours, there's a piano bar in my bedroom and everyone's invited.

*back to reality swirls*

Long-time readers may remember that I entered Brooklyn with a piano. It's really a spinet, like the one here. I lived for about four years in a large/cheap/scary apartment that accommodated the piano, but when I moved to Fort Greene (I realize I have lost many readers by now, because they're still up there with the image of Clive Owen playing the piano. Thank you, those of you who followed me down here) it was to a cohabitational situation wherein the piano would not fit. Michael's mom graciously and generously accepted the piano into her apartment, but obviously that's no longer appropriate.

I am left with these options:

1. Move the piano here. This is my first choice, provided it will fit up the stairs.

2. Find someone else willing to house a piano for the next few years. As I know so few people in the city who are truly settled, whom I also trust, and who have the room, this is becoming less of an option. Unfortunately no one in my immediate family has the room for it.

3. Put the piano in storage. It's an option, but at $60-100/month, a costly one.

4. Sell the piano. The piano was left to me by my grandfather, and though I haven't played in quite a while it means more to me than I could ever express. I am on board with living a less cluttered life, I understand the logic involved in disposing of things that one has been holding on to solely for sentimental value, but the piano is off the table unless the situation becomes absolutely desperate. Even then, I think I'd rather suck it up and dip into the money that I should be saving in order to pay for storage.

I should know whether the piano will fit through the stairwell within the next few days. Keep your fingers crossed, for that and for an inexpensive move (two flights of stairs? Ouch), and hopefully soon I'll be asking for your drink orders and song requests.

Comments

[Jackie]

I truly, truly hope you can find a place for the piano without getting rid of it altogether.

I was gifted an antique player piano (beautiful, but needed some restoration) that had been in the family for decades, as I am the only one in the family who plays. It was a casualty of my divorce, back when I was 21 (so young, so stupid) making peanuts at my first job and moving into my first apartment (tiny, tiny) with no storage options.

There is not a day that goes by that I don't regret having to get rid of that piano.

(sigh)

Good luck :)

[maryse]

oh i hope you can get that piano up the stairs. i think having it in the bedroom sounds awesome. i have an old piano too. it belonged to my inlaws who didn't want to bring it to their new house, so i took it. i haven't played since i was a kid but i love it. it's in the living room though. ;)

[claudia]

Consult piano movers. Can they get it through a window??

[jackie]

I'd hold it for you but I'd have to sleep on it.

[Veronique]

I hope it fits through the window! There has got to be a solution. (Other than moving to a different neighborhood, and I know you don't want to do that!).

[margaret]

please check for all piano movers - if my son's (also inherited) studio upright made it up five flights of stairs in Red Hook, then your spinet will make it either up the stairs or into the window - not a cheap proposition, but please DO NOT get rid of the piano!!

one day, if you're interested, I'll tell you (real time) about all the piano escapades in our house ...

meanwhile, check out my son Julian on www.bbc.co.uk/radio2 if you're in the mood for a Bklyn boy's (semi or maybe major?)success story - if you're not, then please delete ;-)

[Cassie]

If piano does not want to play nicely with your stairs, I might have a plan B for you.

[juno]

how much for the clive owen option is what i want to know.....

[Wendy]

I do hope you can move the piano into your abode. And if you open the after-hours piano bar, I'll be there!

[alison]

Don't sell the piano! I know you probably wouldn't. I think you'll find room for it in your place.

Clive Owen is dreamy...

[fillyjonk]

I, too, hope the piano will fit for you.

I have so few ties to my grandparents that I'm a little jealous for you.

Tuxedoed man playing the piano does it for me. Naked man playing the piano makes me think too much of that Monty Python sketch about the blackmailing game-show.

[fillyjonk]

I, too, hope the piano will fit for you.

I have so few ties to my grandparents that I'm a little jealous for you.

Tuxedoed man playing the piano does it for me. Naked man playing the piano makes me think too much of that Monty Python sketch about the blackmailing game-show.