<HTML>In a message dated 9/1/02 2:22:34 PM Pacific Daylight Time, ANRPiano@AOL.COM writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">List, I am not sure why I felt compelled to share this but nevertheless I will. I have never heard of this happening to anyone else but if it has please let me know. I have two friends, one I have known for at least 12 years the other only 1 year.  Both ask often if they can come and work in my shop.  The latter is going through a very difficult time in his marriage, the marriage is not likely to last.  Every couple of weeks he calls up and asks if I have anything for him to do.  He plays the piano well, but knows absolutely nothing about piano tech.  Since I have several ongoing, extensive rebuilding jobs going at any one time it is no problem finding some low skill job for him to do.  I find work near by because I know the reason he is here.  Our conversations run the gamut from philosophy of art to if it is possible to forgive his wife and where that forgiveness will come from.  At the end of the day he has done productive work and I offer to pay him but he flat out refuses. This is terribly humbling for me but I am reminded sometimes there are greater purposes and whether the agraffes are lined up right or the bridge pins driven in far enough just doesn't really matter all that much after all. Andrew Remillard</BLOCKQUOTE> Andrew, I would like to thank you for this post.  I, too, have been having difficulties in my marriage.  I have rekindled my tuning/tech career in the last couple of years and have found that it is tremendously therapeutic to do this kind of work with my hands and mind while struggling with the emotional difficulties of this situation.  I'm sure your friend is appreciative in just having you there to listen and offer him the opportunity to share in something that you love doing.   Dave Stahl</HTML>