[pianotech] Thanks Israel

[Israel Stein]

Nick,

I am deeply touched and honored by your 
words. This wonderful essay of yours is 
but the latest of the many gifts you 
have bestowed on our piano-centric 
world. If you ever wake up and wonder 
"what have I done", you can rest assured 
that you have put into proper 
perspective what has been a contentious 
and even painful - for some - episode in 
the annals of the PTG in a calming, 
rational and (dare I say) artistic? 
definitely beautiful manner. I thank you 
from the bottom of my heart - and so 
should everyone else who is involved in 
this. I really wish I had time for a 
good conversation with you at WestPac - 
but I guess both of us were sort of 
busy...  There will be other times, I hope.

Israel Stein

On 11:59 AM, Nicholas Gravagne wrote:
> Israel,
>
> First of all, good to see you recently at WESTPAC 1. You are an asset
> to our little world.
>
> Now, let me respond to your posts, specifically:
>
> 1) Your posts in support of a beleaguered Alan Gilreath, a
> turbo-charged guy whose big heart is only surpassed by his even bigger
> drive for not only PTG, but for many different life forms on this
> planet. If Alan's mistake was that he simply imagined his zeal for
> this project, along with what he imagined would be benefits "too
> obvious to miss", then can we say that far greater crimes have been
> committed in this century. Some on this list may argue about the
> severity of Alan's crimes, but all I can say is that for some strange
> reason I have not lost any sleep. Not that I haven't tried to lose
> sleep over this amazing fiasco, but I just can't. I'm sleeping like a
> baby. Also, some on this list complaining the loudest, and with what
> seems to be legitimate gripes, I nonetheless hold in high regard and
> will continue to do so. Dust settles as do family squabbles. I can
> remember making one mistake in my life (only one of course) and that
> mistake was realizing that a mistake I thought I had made I had not
> actually made (read that one again).
>
> 2) Your apologetic defense and explanation of the manifold issues
> surrounding the launching of this new vessel has been an eye-opener
> for me. Oh, if only a prior and formal statement had been made
> outlining the problems that needed correcting, the dwindling
> resources, the burned-out volunteers, and on and on as you have so
> patiently posted. I have read of your frustration, anger even, but all
> in all you have held a steady compass. Some folks are annoyed at you
> and you at some folks. This too shall pass; and for those who can't
> let go, time to get a new life, breath to the bottom of you lungs and
> know that when you rise in the morning you still have the greatest
> gift of all.
>
> You see, I am on my second glass of Merlot, I am baking bread, I am
> cooking a potato and onion and pepper concoction in virgin olive oil
> and the house smells like "to die for"; on the side is a green salad
> with croutons and honey mustard followed by crackers and salsa, and I
> wish you all could come over and break bread. (Spreeman, if you're
> reading this, stop drooling; we will do this together, promise). And
> to some of you, holler if you want, shake a fist at heaven, shout in
> expletive-deletions, brag about how much better things would be if you
> were in charge, but I bet you will be laughing and chowing down before
> the first three stars can be seen in the blackening sky. I value you
> all.You are all different; some of you (us) are weird.
>
> Israel, I have followed your advice, and those of others, and am
> learning to navigate the new ocean by a different sextant. Thanks
> again!
>
> Now I am going to send this out. I will wake in the morning and wonder
> "what have I done?"
>
> We will survive this little wrinkle, eh folks?
>
> Respectfully,
> -- 
> Nick Gravagne, RPT
> AST Mechanical Engineering
>