Editor,

Visiting Langley on a sunny Sunday afternoon, I spied the piano at the intersection of First and Anthes Street. The sign on the piano invited: “PLAY ME.” Intrigued and delighted, I picked up music at the thrift store and returned to fill the street with notes of “Climb Every Mountain,” “Edelweiss,” and such.

A lovely lady sat down and remained for the duration. A military wedding party passed by smiling. Children beamed notes of “Doe, a deer…” while mothers glanced my way. An older woman hobbled out of her assistance chair onto the piano bench and sang along. Passersby would smile and applaud then settle onto a bench by the Dog House. A day of spontaneous community established and beauty shared. I was so grateful to the person who had the imagination and generosity to give this piano a new life.

The next week a woman approached me and said: “You’re the pianist! You made my day. You grounded me. It was a God thing. My friend singing beside you … It was her first day on Whidbey. Perfect!”

Spontaneous outdoor music brings magic to our lives, a magic too often silenced in an age of over stimulation and distraction. In one mere hour, one summer Sunday afternoon, the community that flowed in and out of that space was nothing short of magical. And I thought, “How rich for children to share in the joy and magic of an instrument that has become rather marginalized in an era of all the bells and whistles of the electronic age.” It is still possible in 2016 to unite generations around the piano.

Yesterday I returned to discover the piano cover had been screwed shut on both sides. The Langley Chamber of Commerce told me that a couple pianists came in the day before, troubled as well. I learned from Langley Main Street that the piano had become a “nemesis” due to irresponsible use, that it would be too much hassle to lock it up each evening, and too difficult to “police” during the day. While understandable, surely there is a way to keep the piano and the peace of Langley. We’ve heard “It takes a village to raise a child.” Perhaps it takes a village to protect a piano. Might we kindly correct and instruct? Use a lock?

To support the piano, call Langley Main Street at 360-929-9333.

SALLY SLOTTERBACK

Coupeville