I pretty much enjoyed all my piano recitals as a young student (except for that one time - yikes!), and only felt the slight increase in adrenaline that made me laser-focus and do better than I would have done in the relaxed comfort of my own home. Sounds backwards, I know - to do better under pressure - but that's my nervous system. My mother, however, remembers her clammy palms, racing heartbeat and intense nervousness at my recitals, much to her dismay. Note: despite her feelings, she and the rest of my family supported me at every venue they could attend, and for that I am grateful. As Pfafftown Piano prepares for its first music-sharing opportunity, I don't want anyone - students or parents - to feel afraid, upset, nervous, or anything other than a couple of small, healthy, barely-flapping butterflies. So we're going to have an UnRecital!

I rented a violin, my younger child's life's dream-come-true (according to her). She begged for a solid year and we ignored it until we started whispering the what-ifs, "What if she's great?" and "You started at a young age, after all." and "We could do a short-term rental and see how it goes." The day we rented she oohed and ahhed over it, bursting with pride. She even showed potential in her first lesson. But then we reached an impasse. After a couple of weeks, I realized practicing was - ahem - not on her agenda each day. Did I know this would happen? Pfft, of course. ...to other children, but not mine; the child of two professional musicians! How could this be? The faces of my piano students' parents flashed before my eyes. I was officially "them."

It's a few days before your dental appointment. You haven't really made a good flossing effort since your last visit, have you? Sure, you've been brushing, but the dental experts at your checkup are going to mention flossing and you know it. So you'll just floss now for a couple days in hopes that it will seem you have optimal hygiene habits. But likely, the discomfort of your appointment and the guidance of your tooth expert will be the same as it was six months ago. The professional can always tell if your habits have become standard practice. See where I'm going with this?