Like Magic!

The snow keeps falling...the wind keeps blowing...roads are slick...wind chill is ridiculous...my car died. Yesterday after my practice time it wouldn't start and Hubby had to come rescue me. Tonight he took it to a hockey game and got stranded. I went to help him jump it and it wouldn't jump so it's in the lot for the night, hopefully it won't get towed away. Last night all I wanted to do was sleep. In the morning I find it more and more difficult to get out of bed...I wish I could be like the animals and tuck myself in for a long winter's' nap! I should be making cards, but by the time I finished all my chores tonight there was only time to drag out the supplies and make a mess...it's too late to be creative.

I'm feeling quite overwhelmed again with my organ education. My mentor joined me yesterday in my practice time...the man sits down and places his hands on the keys and magic happens!! I want so much to play like he does. He says I will....I honestly don't see how. It's so natural for him, it's as easy as breathing for him and I should have taken better notes...I wish I could have written down everything he's told me for the last 22 years. Half of it I didn't think I'd ever be able to use and here I am. Some days I feel as though I have missed the bus...that it's too late to put to work what I know and to late to learn the rest of what I need to know. I just hope and pray he will continue to want to work with me....he's retiring soon...that combined with the fact that I often feel like I am a pest make me wonder if he's not getting tired of our arrangement. I had so many questions for him yesterday and there was no opportunity to ask them. Time just marches on and more and more I feel as though I'm being left in the dust of life.

Today we received an invitation to drive 3 hours south of here to see an installation of a pipe organ. It's in a Catholic church whose pastor is the former pastor at the church where my mentor is organist. I miss Father Eric. The church just hasn't been the same since he left. I love this idea for a road trip...maybe this summer some time.

Tomorrow is more household chores and several students as well as practice time for me. I'll have to drive Hubby's truck...in the snow...on the slick roads...not sure I'm ready for that.  I'll put a pork roast in the crock-pot in the morning for supper and cook up a stir-fry for lunch.

Almost time for bed...

A Very Special Surprise

Please bear with me while I share two background stories before I can get to the heart of this entry. 

First story: About 22 years ago or so I was introduced to the pipe organ. David was our church organist and he was helping me get my piano/music skills back in order after I had neglected them for several years while raising children. Mind you, I was still raising children at the time. When I first began with the organ, I wasn't even yet expecting our youngest. Anyway, I was introduced to and fell in love with the pipe organ at a local Catholic church where our now former church organist is now attending and playing. He had to go away for about a year and while he was gone our daughter was born and I tried on my own to learn more about how to play the organ, but with little success and much discouragement. When he returned, he consented to help me and he introduced me to the priest at the church where we would meet and work together. 

Father Olson had a warm smile and eyes that sparkled. He was welcoming and kind and what impressed me even more was that he was genuinely interested in getting to know me - he gave me a sense of value. I did not attend church there, I wasn't even Catholic yet I was welcome there any time. The first time I met him I was carrying my daughter. She wasn't very old, but old enough to have developed "baby grip". Any mother knows what I mean...that grip they have that is nearly impossible to break and it takes both your hands to pry those tiny fingers off of whatever they have latched onto. Father Olson was captivated by her and insisted on holding her...Father Olson had a beard! It took only a second for my daughter to find it and literally tangle her little fingers into the hair. Poor man was nearly in tears as I worked feverishly to free him! Surprisingly, he kept his word...we were still welcome ;). 

As I continued to practice the organ at his church, Father Olson was a constant encouragement. He would often come in to the church to check on things and would wave from down below or call to me - saying something nice. He is also and organist, so he went with our organ group on several outings and attended the meetings. He was just plain fun to be around, always smiling and joking. He lent me a book to read once that was very helpful. 

One time David asked me to substitute for him...to play the mass. Once again....I'm not Catholic and I knew nothing about the order of the mass. David of course, briefed me and I practiced like crazy, but when the day came, I was petrified! Father Olson made a special trip to the organ loft just prior to mass beginning just to check on me and assure me that I would do fine. Why is it some people say that and I don't believe it...maybe because I don't believe they really believe it themselves - but not so with him, he looked me in the eye, smiled a comforting smile and I believed him. I did do fine. Oh, he had to be patient with me a time or two, but we got through it and he even came back up afterward and thanked me and told me I had done well.  

Another time the weather report was calling for a snow storm but it wasn't supposed to hit until the evening and I decided I didn't want to miss my precious practice time so I headed down the hill thinking I would have plenty of time to get home before it got bad. I was practicing away and Father Olson came up and asked me why I was still there. I gave him a puzzled look and he told me there was a full blown blizzard blowing outside and I needed to get home!
He took me to his office to call Hubby (before we all had cell phones) and tell him I was starting out then he gave me strict instructions to call the second I got home. He was giving me a certain amount of time and if he didn't hear from me he would call Hubby and have him head down the hill while he and David would head up the hill to look for me. It was the scariest time I have ever had in a car...I could barely see the trees on either side of the road and my knuckles were white from gripping the wheel. I must say though that it was a comfort to know they cared enough to have my back!

Yet another time, I took my mother down with me and I don't remember what story he told, but he got my mother to laughing so hard she cried and then she proceeded to tell everyone about him for months after that.

I wish I had more pictures to share. I do have photos of some of the times we spent together, but I can't lay my hands on them right now, nor could I scan them since I can't figure out my new printer. Some of them are of one day when just he, David and I got in the car and drove from organ to organ and went in and played each one. We spent the whole afternoon together like none of us had anything more important to do...SO  FUN!!

Several years ago now, he was moved to another church about 3 hours south of here. I have many special memories of him and just the other day was thinking how the church just isn't the same since he left. How much I miss him...I no longer feel a part of things like I did when he was there, I feel more like a stranger. The new priest met me once but didn't even look me in the eye and showed no interest in me or cared about what I was doing. 

Second story: 
My friend Anita is always getting involved in one community cause or event of one kind or another. Anita doesn't play the organ or even the piano but she loves music. One of her causes is the local heritage around here and she became involved in what is now known as The Heritage Center which is housed in a refurbished, historical church. She was made aware of an old pipe organ that the owners wanted to donate to the center. It was being stored in an old barn and was in need of lots of TLC. Being her friend and an organist I got involved in some of that TLC, but that was around the time my mother got so sick and I missed out on a good share of it. Anyway, now that it is completely restored, it needs to be played and every summer she sets up a schedule of us volunteers to go in and play it for an hour every afternoon for the visitors as they come and go from the center. 



History lesson over...Today was my first day to play at the Heritage Center this summer. I had been playing for a little while when I had a couple of little visitors. The little sister to one of my piano students came in with her babysitter. Saima is a special needs child, so her social skills aren't the best, but she is a little dear. She climbed up on the bench next to me and was fascinated. I thought I heard my name spoken downstairs, but I was talking to her and trying to set the organ up to play something for her so I dismissed it. It wasn't long before I sensed someone else had come in and I looked up and there standing beside me with a big grin on his face was... Father Olson! My mouth dropped open and I muttered something about not believing who I was seeing. He gave me a big hug, which I wasn't expecting and we talked for some time. He still has a warm smile, his eyes still sparkle and he still values what I have to say and makes me feel important and cared about. I often wonder why there are only a very few people in my life that truly make me feel that way. He gave me a second hug and told me if I ever got down his way to stop in for a visit and that I would be welcome...and...I believe him.