Circle of Life,
Circle of Love

I am away from Brown's campus this semester for my dissertation research, and so the next set of posts will feature photos, videos, and reflections by other Brown students who are checking in on the piano this spring.

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This week's visit and reflection is from Lauren Ward ('27):

"Brisk, winter jacket necessary. Sunny, so many beautiful shadows from the surrounding trees. Comfortable, because we were wearing the right clothes. You could hear the wind. Wind not too strong, but definitely there. The air seemed dryer than normal. 

I (Lauren) am a sophomore at Brown, concentrating in Visual Art. My past experience with music is that my Dad was a musician and so I grew up surrounded by instruments. He could play anything. What interests me about the piano is the few notes it still plays and the way the shadows play around it. My Dad passed away in 2021, and we were unable to have a service for him, so now my Mom and I take his ashes to special spots we think of or discover along our way in life. Today, my daughter and I visited the piano and we spread some of my Dad’s ashes around it. He never got to see me arrive at Brown, so I want to leave a little of him here to guard me while I continue studying and to also feel proud of me for the fact that not only am I an amazing mother, but I also made it to Brown University. My experience with the piano was to celebrate my accomplishments, my daughter’s health and love, and to honor my Dad– the most talented musician I know– and a really amazing father. He taught me a lot, more than I’ll ever know about how it feels and what it means to love and be loved."

Days in place: 770

Weather: sunny, light wind, 48°F