On Saturday, the family went with my sister to pick up the U-Haul truck she had reserved online. While she insisted on completing the paperwork and performing the vehicle inspection herself, she readily handed the keys over to my dad to let him drive. Like FBI agents assigned to escort precious cargo, my mom and I followed them in a dark-colored SUV. Our tiny caravan made its way to a small house in Campbell. We were there to pick up a piano.

It was a dark brown Ludwig upright. Its exterior showed some signs of aging. The instrument had accumulated its share of nicks and scratches over the years. Lifting the top revealed an interior full of dust and cobwebs. A date scrawled just beneath the lid indicated the piano was last tuned in 1945.

It was only an upright, but moving it proved to be a challenge for the three of us. My mom supervised. As we tried to figure out the best approach, images of an old Laurel and Hardy movie flashed across my mind. If it had been a baby grand, I don't know how we would have gotten it out of the house.

As it was, the easiest route required moving the piano up two steps to the entryway, down a step to get through the front door and then down the porch step. From there, it was a matter of steering around the garage and down the driveway to the truck ramp.

There was plenty of grunting, sweating, "Hold up!" and "On the count of three!" I learned that pianos are surprisingly sturdy instruments. Fortunately, we didn't ruin any flooring, crush any toes or destroy any family heirlooms in our less-than-graceful efforts.

We secured it in the truck and then drove residential speeds all the way to my place, even on the highways. It was much easier unloading the piano and rolling it into the garage. After cleaning it thoroughly, we'll move it into the dining room and have somebody come out and tune it.

My sister and I have an understanding that this is her piano. In exchange for keeping it at my place, I can play it anytime I want. Whenever I think about my dream house, I always envision a piano. This addition, however temporary, finally gives my place a feeling of home and I'm stoked.