Too Late

I always wanted to be the sort of person who owned a baby grand piano, and, as the only other the ivory-tinkler in the family,  I almost got my mother-in-law's, but my sister-in-law asserted prior claim. Then she closed the lid and arranged her collection of garage-sale miniatures on top of it.  So we shopped around and bought an electronic spinet.  But when Husband recently angled our piano from the wall to check the electric connections, I realized there actually was room for a baby grand in its place.

But my time for accuulating possessions has passed. At this point I'd be looking for someone to pass a baby grand on to myself.

Wedding Bells

A week from Sunday, Fiorella will become a mother-in-law for the third time. Her relationship with her own mother-in-law was a wee bit rocky at times so she tries extra hard to stay on good terms with her children's spice.  With Minnesota Son's lovely wife and Daughter's charming husband, it isn't hard, and Austin Son has made a similarly prize-winning choice.  We are  blessed.

Now to survive the festivities.  Fio is going crazy preparing for the rehearsal dinner.  Anyone want to lend a helping hand?

In Heaven, Fiorella Will Sing

Fiorella's given up on reviving the violin, but she plays the piano about ten minutes every day. Right now she's reviewing Christmas carols.  Not that she gets any better, but she doesn't get any worse. 
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Husband comes from a musical family, especially on his mother's side.  She was an excellent pianist, and her brother led a successful band way back when.  He even made a couple of recordings, which Daughter was thrilled to find on the internet.
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All three of Fio's kids are musical.  Older son concentrates on instruments, especially the bass guitar, while younger son and daughter enjoy karaoke, all of which makes Fio very happy.  She always hoped her children would discover the joy of music.


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Retro Attitudes

Todd Akin is not only insensitive toward women, but ignorant of basic biology.  Fio wonders if he also thinks men have something in their sperm that can prevent them from fathering children if they don't want to be bothered with kids.

Holding women responsible for being raped is not new. Fiorella remembers her late mother-in-law telling her about learning that an employee of YWCA, where she used to swim, was unmarried and pregnant.  "She was raped," the supervisor explained.

Mother-in-law was shocked and wasn't sure how to react.  "My own mother would have crossed to the other side of the street if she saw someone like this," she told Fio.

But she thought the situation over, then went back to to the Y and asked the supervisor if she could donate some money to  help the employee.

"She's okay financially," the supervisor told he.  "What she really needs is supportive friends."

Good thing Todd Akin wasn't on the scene.

RIP--Maybe

Not that she's around to enjoy it, but today is Mother-in-Law's birthday.

Fio's relationship with MIL was difficult at times, but she can tell you this: that woman had spunk. Fio particularly remembers when MIL was discussing who she wanted to get what "if she died."

IF she died? Not WHEN she died?