Thursday, 6 February 2025

Jeudi Journal - Temptation

 "Lead me not into Temptation, I can find the way myself" is the quote to be used today with our Dylusion page and AJJ's theme - "Music" as chosen by the lovely Vicki from "Stamped Smiles".

To begin with I knew I had a sheet or two of card covered in music, knew it was pale blue but didn't know where it was. I also knew I had lots of sheets of actual music but again could not find them.  Then my other half found the blue sheets for me.  You see I was in agony with my back and so not up to bending and looking for things, so being the wonderful man he is he came to help.  Just wish he was artistic so he could do my crafting for me at times.  So with that and a few rubber stamped images I began:

"Diane was quite the musician.  As a child her parents had bought her a piano and she had taken lessons from a local Professor and won one or two book prizes on account of her incredible prowess at making the keys twinkle.  Well, not exactly 'twinkle' as it was classical music that she played as a child.

She was a very popular young lady, lively, vivacious, kind and understanding with lots and los of friends//.  Her love of music grew and grew and she could often be heard playing popular songs from the musicals as well as her classical pieces at a local home for the elderly.  They loved having her playing the old songs for them and many of them sang along as she played.  She could literally play any kind of music that they wanted and she enjoyed it as much as they did.  She would sit and chat with the residents who loved to tell her stories of their lives and loves.  Many a time a tear would trickle from the corner of her eye as she listened to the stories they had to tell.  

There was a young gardener who one day came to work at the home and he would listen to her playing through the open French windows that led to the garden.  Intrigued he craned his neck to see who was playing the piano and causing so much joy to the people inside but the person was always hidden from view, besides which it was probably some old guy who lived there.  "But what a wonderful pianist he was", thought Brian.

Then one day, it was a lovely sunny day in May, a young lady came through the French windows and asked him if he could pick her some roses, if it was allowed.  Brian was stunned by her beauty and wondered who on earth she was.  She obviously was a visitor, she couldn't work there, she wasn't in any kind of uniform.

"Yes, I'll take some from around the back where they don't show.  There are so many there and they need pruning" he said.  "When do you want them for and how will I find you?" 

"Oh, just bring them to the piano lounge where we are having a party for Elsie who is 90 today." she replied.  "I thought they would look lovely by the baby grand piano.  Kind of set the scene if you know what I mean."

"Will fifteen minutes do?" he asked, "I am just finishing up here and will bring them before I set off for home if that is ok."

Fifteen minutes later, his hands and face washed, hair combed, jacket and trousers on, boots removed, Brian walked through the French window into the piano lounge where they were having a good old sing song to ..... the twinkling fingers on the ivory keys of the beautiful young lady who had asked for the roses.  Brian was taken aback.  He could not believe that this was the pianist.  The person whom he had listening to as he worked outside whilst she played.  It was love at first sight.

Diane herself was quite surprised by this young man who had obviously combed his hair before he came in and had removed his boots.  He was certainly different to any of the boys she had been at school with or knew now.  He was tall, his eyes were a lovely shade of blue and he had the lovely tan of someone who worked outdoors.  She shook her head, "stop being silly" she said to herself, and looking up to heaven she muttered "lead me not into temptation, I can find the way myself".