A Moment to Treasure

I had one of those perfect moments with my child today.  You know the one, where time stops and you acknowledge the moment for what it is…something beautiful.  I was playing a friendly game of cards with my 4-year-old.  Our daily card game habit developed a few weeks back when we redecorated the living room and created a separate alcove in the front window area, complete with two comfy, antique lounge chairs separated by a small glass coffee table, which lends perfectly to a game table.

Depending on who’s playing, we rotate back and forth from games like Old Maid, Crazy Eights and Go Fish, to Snowflake, Rummy, and Double Solitaire.  Today the deck was dealt for Go Fish and the two of us took turns asking each other for cards, while being entertained by the notes of the piano being played in the background by my older daughter during her in-home piano lesson.   My piano-playing daughter started a new song….one I’d heard her practice a hundred times at home….one that I loved for its simplicity and beauty….one that made me stop and take note under ordinary conditions. 

But today, she was being accompanied by her piano teacher, and the combination of players and additional notes brought the song to life in a way I had never experienced.  It’s hauntingly beautiful notes demanded the attention of all within earshot, and our card game came to a standstill as tears burned the back of my eyes and eventually spilled onto my cheeks, as I was overcome with appreciation for the music being played, the teacher challenging my daughter to play more passionately, and my daughter’s love of creating such beautiful sounds.  My little card shark partner took note of the music as well, and her eyes started to mist over, as she left her chair and came closer to give me a hug and wipe the tears from my face.

As the moment of musical beauty slowly gave way to the special moment of appreciation my younger daughter and I were sharing together, she leaned in close to my ear and whispered, “Got an eight?”