I had a client, very elderly, back in Seattle.  He knew enough about tuning to "zero beats" in the unisons and loved to listen to me tune.  I was so very sad to find out over Christmas that he had passed away.  You do cultivate very good friendships with certain clients.  I had lots of older customers back there and will miss them when they're gone :>( Paul <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=40%>John Ross <jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca> Sent by: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org 02/11/2008 01:12 AM <table border> <tr valign=top> <td bgcolor=white> <div align=center>Please respond to Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org></div></table> <td width=59%> <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>To</div> <td>Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>cc</div> <td> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>Subject</div> <td>Re: Meet the Lookerson's</table> <table> <tr valign=top> <td> <td></table> </table> <tt>Ron's not that old. :-) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Newell" <gnewell@ameritech.net> To: "'Pianotech List'" <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 1:03 AM Subject: RE: Meet the Lookerson's > We need more people like you Ron. Older folks like the guy in William's > story have so very much to share. > > Greg Newell > Greg's Piano Forté > www.gregspianoforte.com > 216-226-3791 (office) > 216-470-8634 (mobile) > > This one is kind of special, and kind of sad. I wonder in a > situation like this, what this guy has experienced in his > life. Here's someone who might very well have spent many years > doing something high pressure and harrowing on a day to day > basis, who is now reduced by circumstance to hoping to relate > to anyone doing anything that's recognizably real. He so > seldom sees anyone DOING something not consisting of empty > motion on autopilot, that when he does, it momentarily takes > him back to when he could do something himself and he misses > it. As we age, we all get glimpses into this particular pit as > the body and mind provide progressively less of what was so > unappreciated and effortlessly available to us in immortal > youth. Imagine reaching a point where you can't do any of what > formerly constituted your life and self, with no real hope of > improvement and no ending date to work with. I've always loved > talking to the old guys. I never hesitated to abuse them a > little, talking to them like they were functional people > (which they haven't experienced in sometimes many years), and > watching the lights come on with the realization that they, > for the moment, aren't alone. > > Ron N > > </tt>