February 19, 2025

family music 184

While sitting together at the cottage last summer, I asked Dad about the time he felt the call to go on the road. I love to hear him retell it. I recorded this moment and wrote it down for here. 
I was 20. I never played a Hammond organ until we were married and living in an apartment on Dominion Street.

Our friend, Neil, drove a bakery truck, but he got into selling Hammond organs. He worked part-time selling them 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 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 Annette MacCallum 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 with Marina. 

It was 1959.

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

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

After, we still travelled for camp and revival meetings when on vacation from work.

- Dad