Have I mentioned that I am a pretty good piano player? I played piano bars to help pay my way through college and I continue to "tickle the ivories" every chance I get. Although this talent won me several "dates" back in my college days and played a significant role in how I met and married my Jinni, it has not garnered me any votes for public office until just before sundown today.
I was in the Kirkwood neighborhood trolling for converts and had lost a bit of the spring from my step. As I was walking up the sidewalk of one of the last houses of the day I heard some great piano playing coming from the open front door (always a welcome sign) of the bungalow.
Someone was playing a wonderful and obviously original rendition of "O Holy Night" on a beautifully tuned baby grand piano. I paused before climbing the front steps until the player completed the tune.
I rappped on the screen door and a fellow came to greet me apprehensively. "Starting your Christmas early?", I asked. "No", he replied, "we just have an old friend over trying out my piano".
I related my reason for being on his porch but we started talking pianos in lieu of politics. Turns out the man is a piano technician and was genuinely impressed when I informed him about my old Mason & Hamlin grand piano that holds a place of prominence in my house.
After he had established that I knew what I was talking about he invited me into his home to try out his magnificent Kawai grand piano. Never being one to turn down a chance to play some music, I accepted and was introduced to his piano playing friend who immediately relinquished the bench. I sat down and ask, "what do you like?". Being a proper musician, he replied, "whatever you want." I decided on some boogie-woogie because you just don't hear much of that genre anymore.
Shortly after I began the guy went downstairs and fetched his wife and 13 year-old son to come and listen. Having an audience of four spurred me on and I went on to play a couple of other tunes including Over the Rainbow which is, as any of my friends will tell you, my "signature piece", well... that, and Billy Joel's Piano Man. I sang one too.
Having finished my audition, I asked the three registered voters in my audience if they would favour me with their votes on Tuesday. They all assured me that they would be pleased to do so. The man of the house offered, "if we had more musicians making decisions, we'd all be better off". I agreed. Four thousand more visits like that and I am a shoe in.
10:32:00 PM 
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