Stuck Key and Grace, Part 2

Right before Christmas, I posted a blog about trying to play my defective keyboard in our St. Francis Inn dining room. Several of the keys, especially the "E" about middle "C" were sticking, upsetting my perfectionist attempts to play Christmas Carols. Despite what I viewed as this significant flaw, the music had a real effect on our guests. Some sang along with the carols they knew; others smiled and tapped their feet or hands; and still others thanked me as they left the dining room that day. Even now, roughly two weeks later, some of the guests still talk to me about how much they enjoyed the music.

A number of you have communicated with Thea or me about how much this particular blog meant to you or to a friend. Several of you forwarded the blog to others. I must tell you, that all of this made me feel very blessed and contributed to a wonderful Christmas for our family. But, as Paul Harvey used to say, "Here is the rest of the story!"

The day after I posted the blog, my brother-in-law Rick sent me an e-mail saying that these stuck keys were a manufacturer's defect, and that he owned a Yamaha keyboard that had had the very same problem. He'd contacted the manufacturer and had received a new keyboard assembly, free of charge. The manufacturer's repair technician had even come to his home to make the repair! Rick encouraged me to contact Yamaha and ask for a free repair, but since my keyboard is six years old, I figured that my keyboard was long beyond any warranty. I forgot all about Rick's suggestion.

Two days later, Rick sent me another e-mail with the phone number and e-mail of the Yamaha rep in Los Angeles, and again encouraged me to request the repair. Since all I had to do was send an e-mail, I decided to go for it....well it was more like "I know this is a waste of time, and I really do not even deserve this repair, but since Rick went to the trouble of sending me this info, I might as well try." Talk about a lack of faith! And self worth! Not to mention laziness!

Despite an overwhelming sense that there was not way that this was going to work, I composed a brief e-mail saying that I had a six year old Yamaha keyboard that had periodically had a problem with stuck keys and was there any possibility of a repair, given that it was long beyond the warranty period. To my astonishment, the LA rep immediately replied, asking for the serial number of my keyboard, which I dutifully supplied. Within a day, the rep had determined that, yes, indeed, I was entitled to a complete repair of the keyboard assembly and had send me the name of a technician right here in Philly who could do the job.

Yesterday, Thea and I took the keyboard in and within 30 minutes, it was fixed and good as new. Actually, it is BETTER than new -- the keyboard has never played so smoothly. I am really excited and happy: the keyboard is a pleasure to play now, not a frustration. And I owe it all to Rick who was persistent in getting me to request the repair when I would simply have accepted the situation as beyond my control.

As January 1st approaches, I know that one of my New Year's resolutions will be to be a little more attentive to the suggestions of people who are trying to help me and to be open to possibilities for good coming out of any situation.

Happy New Year, everyone!