October 5

Many years ago, a few months after Hart and I first began dating, he decided he needed a break to "find himself." He took off to California and stayed away the whole summer. I was devastated. My general reaction to devastation has usually been to buy big. Soon after he left, I found myself in the piano store, falling in love with a beautiful secondhand baby grand piano. After convincing my father that I would be good for the loan if he'd just co-sign it for me, I plunked down the bank's cash and the piano was mine.

If Hart hadn't have left, I'm sure I would have bought a piano anyway. And it most likely would have been a Yamaha, because I think they rock. But I'm pretty sure I would have settled for a more economical, boring, upright version. I'm grateful for the decisions made during that summer and that Hart did make it back with himself in tow.