How I discovered Kajiji and became an Organ Donor

In preparation for our kitchen-family room renovation I have spent many hours pondering what changes were needed in order to gain the modern, uncluttered look I’m dreaming of. Gazing at the drawings of the new configuration I realized that I would have to be ruthless and discard all that was not absolutely essential.

So I made a list of what we use every day in our family room – a sofa, two comfy chairs and a footstool, a reading lamp, a TV & stand for all of its accompanying paraphernalia. It was at this point that I came face-to-face with a realization. After the sofa the next largest item was my father’s 40 year-old Hammond organ complete with two keyboards, a full octave of foot pedals, countless stops and settings including a very annoying one that beats time to the music imitating a cymbal or brush or whatever instrument you chose. I never did figure out how to silence it and in the middle of a majestic ‘And did those feet in ancient times …’ I would become aware of some invisible percussionist trying to jazz it up a bit.

My father loved to play the organ. As a child he had rejected the violin that his mother thrust at him but he never lost his love for music. He was a teenaged bugler in the Army Corps and later played the trumpet. But he found his true passion when he bought his first electronic organ in the 60’s. Self-taught, he played all kinds of music with expression and delight (often accompanied by electronic drums). When Alyssa was young and went to spend the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa she would always request that he play the organ until she fell asleep and he was happy and proud to do so.

When I had to empty my parent’s house I was able to part with all of the furniture except the organ. For a while it sat untouched upstairs but when Alyssa moved into her own home and took her piano with her the organ moved into the family room. Since then, however, it has been played only a few times. No little toddlers request that I lull them to sleep with my unpractised hand.

So, logically, it had to go.

This called for self-discipline and new skills. So I went on line and discovered that no matter how many J’s and I’s you type you will arrive immediately at Kajiji. The site was a synch to master; within 15 minutes I had posted my ad (Beloved family organ free to good home) complete with a photo I took and uploaded myself. WOW, that was easy! But would anyone want it?

To my surprise, I had several inquires and by that evening had arranged for the organ to be picked up and transported to a Christian Camp for young people in Brighton. I know my father would be delighted to know that his beloved organ is the focal point of their Friendship Centre and that it will once again be played frequently and bring pleasure to a whole new generation.