family music 184

I was 20. I never played a Hammond organ until we were married and living on Dominion Street.

Our friend, Neil drove a bakery truck, but he got into selling Hammond organs. He worked part-time selling Hammond organs up on Mountain Road. Once in a while, he would pick me up and take me there. Maybe after the place was closed. Anyway, that's where I started playing. 

Then Neil got me a key and I started practicing at the Wesleyan Church. I would walk down to the church. Maybe on a Saturday morning. 

I didn't know what I was practicing for. I just loved the organ and wanted to learn how to play it.

When the organist, Annette, had a baby, I was asked to be the organist.

I was always into music and I seemed to be around someone who could sing. I sang with Bethany and then I was in a quartet in Moncton. We would drive all the way down to Beulah to sing and drive back the same night.

One night I felt the Lord talking to me. Maybe you should do that more.

I came to Beulah and I went to the altar and decided I needed to do it. 

I talked to Marina about it. 

It was 1959.

We moved home to the farm. We sold our things, like the television and fridge.

I was on the road full-time for ten years. 

We still travelled after that when on vacation from work.

- Dad 

(as we chatted about it at the cottage last summer)