Boogie Woogie

When I was a girl, I would often sit down at the way out of tune piano at my grandparent’s house and pick out whatever song I had been working on lately. It was always received with the highest praise, and I was consistently encouraged to play. Occasionally, my grandfather would sit down and play a song or two. One was a little boogie woogie tune. It was upbeat and funky and I remember wondering where in the world this grandfather of mine who frequently wore sweaters and loafers and pants-pulled-up-to-there learned to play such a thing. (As I grew older, I heard a tale or two about how this might have happened, but when I was younger, I knew nothing of my grandfather’s younger days.)

This past weekend, I went to my mom’s to help her prepare to move in about a week, and I sat down at her old piano that is, now, equally out of tune. My daughter sat beside me and I helped her pound out Chopsticks with two fingers, Heart and Soul, and – out of nowhere – Papaw’s BOogie Woogie song. I loved it. I hope someday when my kids are older they wonder how on earth I learned such a fun song and perhaps think I’m a tad bit mysterious. Although I guarantee my “younger days” were far less interesting than Papaw’s. But my kids don’t have to know that.