Vanity Fall

Vanity Fall

May 11, 2009

                As I lazed all comfy under my bed covers, browsing through my newspaper, my morning coffee on the nightstand beside me, a notice under things To do caught my eye.

                Piano classes for beginners and intermediates were being held at Buhl Recreation Center.  Needing some motivation to return to my piano, I thought "Why not?"  I made the call, gave my name and phone number and signed up for the intermediate session.  On the appointed evening, I drove to the class, which I assumed was at the part rec center.  No one was there-lights were out.  Luckily, I had the article with me and called the phone number.

                "I'm sitting outside the building at the park and no one is here for the piano class."

                "Oh, it's at the Buhl Club."

                Since I am always painfully early for everything, I had plenty of time to drive to the Buhl Club, about two miles away.  I pulled the car into a spot in the parking lot, gathered my notebook and favorite pen, and excitedly walked inside the door and up to the desk.

                "I'm here for the piano class," I smiled.

                The receptionist looked at me rather surprised and after a minute quietly said, "That class is for ages 5 to 18."

                I had seen nothing in the article about an age limit.  All I could do was pull out my pride and walk out to my car.

                That episode reminded me of another experience I had years ago.  I was about seven months pregnant with my third child.  While shopping, I noticed a sign on the store counter advertising a contest that expectant mothers could enter.  I wrote my name and address on the ticket and dropped it in the box.  Several weeks later I got a call from the store notifying me I had won and they would deliver the prize that afternoon.  I don't remember what the prize was, but it didn't matter - I had won something!

                When the doorbell rang that afternoon, I was prepared and waddled to the door, my two small children beside me.  I smiled at the gentleman with the big package as I opened the door.  He hesitated a minute, looking at my two children.

                "Is this your first baby," he asked.

                "No, my third," I proudly answered.

                There was a moment of silence.

                "I'm so sorry.  This contest was for women expecting their first baby."

                "Oh you mean you won't give it to me?"

                "I'm so sorry."

                I watched as he turned and slowly walked down the front steps with the big package and on to his car.

                I believe my often-offended vanity seems to sometimes help keep me humble.

Joanne Murray is my cousin.  She sent me a book her son made for her 75th Birthday.  It contained essays that Joanne had written.  In the interest of bias, I am definitely biased so let's get that out of the way.  But once you and I get passed my bias you come to realize as I have that these essays are something very special especially to her family and THAT IS THE POINT.  As I read them the one of many thoughts that crept into my mind was "why haven't I been doing this?"  Why indeed!  These are thoughts of a daughter, a granddaughter, a mother, a wife, a cousin (like in my case), an aunt etc.  Most who will read these essays have that in common with Joanne.  There are people you know who might enjoy knowing what you think and what experiences you have been exposed to.  Wouldn't it be nice if you let them know by writing them down as my cousin Joanne has done.  It's never too late to get started.  I will be posting them here about one a week and do so with Joanne's permission.  Hope you keep coming back.  Leave your comments below.    Jim "Gymbeaux" Brown