My mother was from a family of nine sisters and one brother. Uncle John was the first born. Can you imagine all those sisters coming one by one, and uncle John hoping he'd have a brother? He had to have loved all of his sisters though as they were all so much fun to be around. They all loved to sing, and most of them played the piano by ear. They lived in Chelsea Ma. and we lived in Waltham. My mother was one of the ladies that played piano so I had music in my blood from a very young age. Our family always looked forward to visiting the ladies, Mamie and Papie because it was one whole chorus of singers and lots of laughs. My mother taught me a few chords that I passed on to my best friend who lived next door and many a day the two of us sat at the piano and sang our hearts out. Such a mountain of happy memories that is for me.