A few years ago, I took piano lessons from Debbie Smith. She was a SUPER sweet lady that went to our church and worked with my mom. She had to quit teaching piano because she got really sick. She had a very rare form of cancer. She passed away recently, and her funeral was tonight. The past few days, I've really been thinking of all he fun times I had with Mrs. Debbie
When I took piano from Mrs. Debbie, I remember once writing down that I practiced for a/b 30 minutes longer than I really did. She signed off for it, and I got a sticker. The next wk I felt bad so I put down I didn't practice at all. She asks me why I didn't practice and I said "b/c I didn't really practice last week. I just said that I did." And she gave me a Hershey Kiss for being honest in addition to the candy I got from the lesson like we'd get every week ♥
I pulled out my old piano books today and was playing my recital piece from so many years ago. It was a piece of cake to play now, but I remember having to practice it over and over and over again to get it right. I laugh about that now because it was only like two lines. MAYBE 15 notes total. =D When I got on stage to preform, I tripped over the piano bench! Leave it to me, Ms. Graceful.
Now I can play a handful of things by ear, read music fairly well, and play mostly anything (IF I practice...which I still don't love to do hahaha) I find it funny that I always had trouble playing with my left hand and that I never learned how to play chords. I still have those same two problems to this day!
Mrs. Debbie and I would spend the first 10 minutes of every lesson just talking about school and stuff. We'd always say "okay, one last thing and then we really have to do practice" but then add two more 'stories' to the conversation. =) Sometimes, I think we'd talk more than we'd practice but I think it's safe to say we both loved it! We would laugh and talk about her grandkids (ALOT! I loved stories about her grandkids!!!), my friends at school, homework, what she was cooking for dinner, anything and everything!
Haha one time I came over for a lesson and her oldest grandaughter,Gracie, was spending the day at "Debbie's House" I think that's what her grandkids called her ♥ She taught Mother's Day Out and since all the little kids called her "Debbie" thats what Gracie ended up calling her. WAY cute! Anyway, Gracie was 2 or 3 at the time probably and while I was practicing she came in the room while Mrs. Debbie and I were practicing. She crawled under the table and started goofing off with the pedals while I was playing and scared Mrs. Debbie and I ALOT! Then all three of us started laughing and Mrs. Debbie and I started making jokes about it. =) She could make me smile and laugh ALOT!!! I could have had "the worst day ever" but after piano lessons with Mrs. Debbie I'd leave about a million times happier!
If I ever got to lessons early, or someone before me went over, I'd go to her living room and watch Spongebob! To this day, it's STILL one of my favorite shows =D Anyway, it came on about the time I had lessons most weeks.
Once, I got this really cool bracelet from her "treasure chest" It was pink and gold beads with a little Bible key chain. It broke a long time ago, but I remember how excited I was to get it! Haha I remember how excited I was every time I got to get something from her treasure chest, because it was super rare! I HATED practicing!!! I don't really remember how it was set up, but you got to get a treausre chest item based off of how many minutes you practiced per month.
Someone said that Mrs. debbie always noticed whenever it was 11:11 =D I didn't know her well enough to know that myself, but since people have been sharing all the memories I've noticed it too!!! I know it sounds crazy, haha but now every time I see it I think of sweet Mrs. Debbie =D
It seems like I didn't know her for very long, but Mrs. Debbie was an amazing person!!! She will be missed but I know that she's shining in heaven ♥
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