By Scott Shephard

There are few “antiques” that Deb and I own that have real material value. This old upright piano is one of them. It comes from Deb’s side of the family and has been moved more times than I can say. It used to sit in Deb’s grandparents’ farmhouse near Miller, SD, and somewhere along the line it became ours.

To be honest, the last time we moved, I suggested that we just leave it behind. I had watched the movers carefully lower it down the basement steps at our house on 3rd street. And I had heard them curse. In that instance they had gravity working precariously in their favor. But to push it back up the steps and move it to yet another house . . . ? But Deb, who is often wiser than I, persisted and it now resides in its 3rd home in Watertown.

I use the word “resides” carefully because I realize that this piano is a living thing and that this valueless piano is priceless. This photo, a brief glimpse of it’s recent history, is perhaps evidence of this. The piano was “born” in the previous century and has played tunes from many places and times. In this case, Brian and Gleynce Jane are singing a song that is very much from the 21st century: Billy Eilish’s “When the Party’s Over.”

This old piano has brought music and joy to 4 generations of the DeGeest/Shephard family. Brian, a member of the 3rd generation to give it voice , has spoken for it when we move on. And it’s not hard for me to imagine that Glenyce Jane will sit and play music with her children some day. I hope I’m around to hear it.

Canon R5 1/100 sec f/4.5 ISO 3200