ANOTHER DAKOTA TEST

I introduced Dakota to a new part of my life. I felt he was ready to venture into uncharted waters. I have a theatre organ. Through the years none of my dogs have very much cared for this contraption. I'm sure it's an assault on their ears. I have not played it since Dakota arrived, but I just had to get back to it because of the holiday season. My life revolves around music. Music and dogs have kept me going all of these years. I am happiest when I can be involved in either. It's best when both are active in my life.

Dakota - The Saint followed me to the monster. He patiently stood by while I got my music and slid onto the bench. I made the mistake of turning on the organ before I turned on the light and the crack of noise even threw me into a spin. But the two of us recovered.

This is an old organ that I purchased in the mid 60s. Do I dare say it has "tubes?" I can hear the snickers and laughter. None-the-less, it provides me with great entertainment and relaxation. It needs coaxing now and then, but I work around it and enjoy myself, not caring what anyone else thinks.

I set it up for a very quiet presentation. I wanted to start out in a big way, but I knew that Dakota would run for cover and never trust me again. So I was quite conservative. Bless his heart, he sat next to the bench and endured my endless mistakes and flubes. He seemed quite interested in the foot pedels. I stopped playing and just played the foot pedles and he tilted his head with each different note. I kept the session short and he seemed to appreciate that.

The next day I ventured back to the organ. I turned to find Dakota looking at me as if to say, "Gee, I thought this was a one-time thing." He didn't seem quite as anxious to sit by my side and listen, but he's a pretty brave guy and stayed for a while. He didn't move very far away but he did pace a bit. This is going to take time. But I trust that he will eventually accept it or find a place to hang out far enough away to not endure the assault on his ears and still be near enough to be sure he knows when I will finish and go back to the quiet life he thought he'd found when he arrived here with his Forever Family.

I will not be able to play with the gusto I'm used to, but that's OK. It's wonderful to be back on the bench and flexing my fingers over the keyboards. I do have eye problems now that weren't there before and will have to be addressed when my eye appointment arrives, but that's a small part of the whole package. Dakota doesn't know how lucky he is that I didn't start singing along with the playing!!! I have some pride left.