37 Story “The Pied Piper Dog.” Song: “Danny’s Song”
Naples, Florida is another winter resort area, where I played piano five nights per week from October through March at “El Pampa Restaurantâ€, located across from Sugden Theatre off 5th Ave downtown (now called Trulucks).
As a certified a/v technician with many years of experience, including photography, I have a four year B.A. in Communication (Radio,TV, Film). Then, I went two more additional years to earn my “Technical Maintenance for Broadcast Studio Operations†certificate. As a result of that, and my extensive musical track record, I am qualified to work with any establishment’s sound system, or I can use all of my own equipment.
Please enjoy my many stories on the fifty pages of songs, photos, and stories and thanks for your visit to ENTNOW.US.
Story: “The Pied Piper Dog.â€
I enjoyed visiting Blowing Rock NC. – to see my mother’s side of our family – and I returned there bringing my miniature long haired dachshund with me in the photos below, a few years ago when, after my uncle, my aunt died.
My aunt’s house was right on the main street, and my cousin had a “rock shop†– she had converted the front foyer room of the house into a little store. Every house on Main Street seemed to have done this. In fact, some turned their whole homes into complete commercial businesses. My Aunt’s house was right next door to a church, which has a beautiful grand piano in the sanctuary, which had a little side door entrance which was only a few short steps away from my aunt’s side door. I played on this grand piano on a previous visit, because the minister gave me permission and, he gave me permission to play it again, on this visit. In fact, this time, he told me I could play it whenever I wanted to, day or night. This was, to me, as close as I could find to “heavenâ€.
I loved going to church ever since my dad started taking us when I was still a child. I loved listening, and learning from my church teachers because none of them were ever authoritative with me. I loved the music, and hearing the choir, so much that I could hardly wait until I was adult enough to join one. I sang in church choirs every year for over sixteen years, and when I traveled playing my music, I discovered that volunteering felt as good, or better, than playing my music, which I did while working as an activity director in skilled nursing, and retirement facilities. Many years after volunteering for the military, and moving to Naples, I volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, which felt greatly rewarding too, as was volunteering at the Physician’s Regional Hospital where my mom was, and I was informed, she died. However, she remains alive and well, and with me daily, in my heart. She suggested that I write a book about my life, and this website is filled with stories in my attempt to honor that. It will appear, in some of the following stories, that I am dishonoring my father but, let it be known, before reading, that my father tried to be the best father that he was capable of being, while never having a father of his own. He provided, protected, and cared, for the welfare of all three of his children, in my opinion, far better than most fathers. I have the privilege of remembering the things which happened to me, and to tell some of my stories for what they’re worth and, possibly, for the understandings they may convey. Now that both parents are gone, I pray that my siblings can can honor and love them the way that they deserve.
On the first Saturday morning of my visit, I went out of my aunt’s side door with my dog, and soon walked the few steps over, through the soft grass, into the church’s sanctuary for some quiet time. I prayed and played on the piano for awhile and, then, exited the sanctuary by going out from the other side, which led onto the church’s square grass courtyard. It was in that courtyard, on that lovely morning, that something wonderful, unexpected, and totally unforgettable happened.