To Mr. David Betts 2024-06

Whenever I have achieved something or have done some jobs well, the first thing is to share it with David. I would take a picture and proudly send it to him via text message. He usually replies with encouragements and a David's special joke about it.

To this very day, when only his sprits are around and his body on the other side of grass, I am still holding on to this impulse of sending stuff to him, sometimes show-off moments, sometimes confusions, yet mostly questions about pianos, customer relationships, and life. I am still feeling excited wondering what his returning messages look like. It is a habit. It is a habit that I do not know if it will go away.

Today was a big one. The hammers were bored (milled) and hung within 8 hours, the best record since 2014, my entrance year to this trade. The alignment was ok, not zigzagging everywhere. I picked up the cell phone, took a picture, was ready to send it to David. What number to send? Where? He is no longer here, at least physically. Or maybe he had been watching right here through the eight hours. 

I sent the picture to Debbie, instead. She is the other half. She is the woman who has been the support to David and to us, her forever children and children to the piano trade.  Debbie said she has been keeping this habit, as well, as if he is still around. Maybe he is around after all.

Mr. Betts is still around after all, over us, watching, laughing, mumbling...... mumble mumble...... mumble mumble mumble......