What a fortunate fellow I am !

It was one of the most bizarre days that I can remember for some time now.

Actually, you should only be entitled to ONE day like this during your entire lifetime.

However, I have actually had a few other very similar times.

Get yourself of cup or coffee and take 10 minutes to read about this wonderful occurrence:

I took Nancy to an Alison Krauss concert (one of her favorite musicians), at the Harrisburg Whitacker Center Theatre, two weeks ago.

I was overwhelmed with the Dobro player - Jerry Douglas !

I leaned over and told Nancy that she had NO idea how expensive this concert was going to end up being!

The following Monday morning I started my research about these dobro instruments.

Nobody around here sells them or has any depth of knowledge about them.

I found two second-hand ones for sale locally, but knew nothing about them to make any intelligent decisions.

I found a $35 video on the Internet of lessons from Jerry Douglas for beginners.

That seemed like the route to take as I could decide for a minimal amount of funds if I would be able to learn this or not and perhaps some history.

I've played a banjo for a couple of months and had enjoyed that, but it never fit in too well with other instruments that I would be with.

Don't know if you knew it or not, but I have played EXTENSIVE percussion and even earned a living for a while that way.

I had violin lessons as a child but was too young to get into it.

I play the harmonica.

I play the piano and have played the organ a little.

The piano would have to be my second biggy behind the drums.

I took guitar lessons, (after wishing to do this for about 15 years), two years ago just after I had that mini stoke, but I had a terrible time with chording as my hands have short and stubby fingers.

This dobro uses the banjo picking and a slide for the left hand with NO chording to fool with !!

So, back to my story.

Nancy and I had planned on going to the festival on Saturday this week as it ran from Thursday to Sunday.

Nancy got to work on Thursday and found a link on the Internet which showed that there was a workshop of some sort on DOBROs !!! being held on Friday at 1:30pm.

Nancy called me before I left for work and told me about it, as she was hoping that I could get off and we could go to it.

I told her it would not be possible as I had a new customer scheduled for the entire day and they were an hour away in each direction. It would be a long day with no hope of an early out so we'd simply have to pretend we never knew about it.

There was nobody scheduled to be at the festival on Saturday in particular as far as dobro artists go, but we were hoping to find somebody to help answer some questions for me.

Thirty minutes later, I walked into my office at work and the dispatch girl told me that I had a phone call just as I walked in.

It was a lady from this new customer apologizing to me because the gentleman I was to meet with had been called to a sudden meeting that would take him from the office for the entire day and I should call to schedule back with him next week sometime !?!?!?!?!?!

I could barely speak as I truly believe in Divine intervention.

I tried to think it a coincident so I could deal with the wonder of it all and not get too emotional at the office.

I called Nancy and of course we both made quick arrangements to take Friday off.

We left for the festival allowing time to stop for breakfast along the way.  While traveling, I mentioned to Nancy that I hadn't sat and simply enjoyed time talking with my Father in quite some time.  I see Dad from time to time, but he is always in a hurry to tend to what ever he is doing or help somebody in need at the moment.  We stopped at one of our favorite restaurants in Dillsburg along Route 15.

There was limited seating as the crowd was very large that morning.

We had to sit in a section we never use, and were next to the window at the front parking lot.

To my amazement, after we sat there a short time, my FATHER and my favorite nephew pulled into the only open parking spot directly in front of the window that I was sitting against ?!?!

Of course we got their attention and they were able to come and get an immediate seat by joining us.

They were to be fishing and it was raining too hard for them, so they decided to opt for breakfast instead.

Had they not parked there, we would most likely not even realized that they were in the restaurant.

We got to the festival after driving through terrible down pours of rain and dark skies.

We didn't care because we knew we were on a predetermined trip so we just laughed and pushed on.

(we have been through things like this before and have learned to trust with our hearts and simply enjoy)

As we parked about 9:45am, the rain stopped and the clouds began to break up a bit.

We had an umbrella and a smile to keep us dry so we didn't really take much notice to the change in the weather, but the others there that had just spent an entire day on Thursday (campers - over 2,000 of them) certainly were glad to see the let up.

We figured we bum around a bit until the 1:30 workshop and hope it was somebody of talent that could help me with this quest.

We went to the main stage area to listen to the different bands that followed each other continuously on and off of the stage throughout the 4 day event from morning until late night.

After a band or two, this group came on to play and there was a Dobro player standing there.

It was none other than the one and only Mike Auldridge.

Mike is defined as one of THE best dobro players (living) in history from any part of the world.

This is not just a local opinion, but from anybody that knows anything about the instrument.

Mike is about 55+ in years but only about 30 in spirit and energy.

(much like a lovely lady that we know and I take occasion to write to from time to time - HA !!)

HOWEVER ... just before they finished and he was to head off stage and we were go to the workshop that I was anxiously waiting to attend, he said that he wanted to play one last song.

It was a song that he said he just absolutely enjoyed playing and plays every year at this festival.

Of course the regulars there started to hoot and holler as they knew what he was going to play and enjoyed it as well too.

I on the other hand, had NO idea what it was, and simply waited to hear what is was.

In fact, I was beginning to wonder if I even learned how to play this instrument, that had moved me so much the week before, if I was going to be able to adapt it to the type of music that I enjoyed.

Then ... as if by some miracle or something ... he said he was going to play House of the Rising Sun !

Shirley, while the lyrics may or may not be one that a mother may enjoy, for some reason this song has been one of the most moving I have ever heard.

I have played this song for the last 30 years and anybody that knows me would have realized that I would have been in absolute shock !

I mean, you just seldom hear this song even on the oldies any more and here the BEST of the best players of THE instrument that I am interested in hearing played, standing in front of me about to play it !

I couldn't speak. I just sat there with tears streaming down my cheeks smiling at Nancy in utter amazement of the wonder of it all !!!

I kept hoping that the clouds would open again, quickly, and pour down rain to hide my tears as I must have looked like some teenage groupie swooning over a stage artist.

I just kept thinking that God was placing his hand on my shoulder and saying "enjoy your day, this was designed for you - silly" !!

After a few minutes, I was able to gather myself as I pointed out to myself that this was not a rendition the way that I personally like to play or hear it.

Okay, they finished and I survived that emotional shock.

On to the workshop.

Nancy and I sat in the front row of the tent about 15 FEET away from the stage.   We had attended and earlier workshop that morning from a Bass player and had the idea of how these things worked.

Imagine MY surprise when I found out while sitting there waiting that MIKE was going to be the one to hold this workshop ?!?!?! along with his three other band members.

We were all on the same ground level and able to interact 100% informally !

He asked if there were any questions from the group.

He said that usually there aren't any and so he brought the fellows along to just have like a small concert for the group of about 50 that had showed up.

WRONG !

I had some questions and I wasn't about to sit quite in his presence this close to him.

After all, there was something more at work here than I would hope to argue with !

So I spoke right up and stated that I didn't know a thing about this instrument other than being moved by it and wanted to know how to get started, how costly and what to look for when heading off to purchase one.

He was absolutely DELIGHTED !! that there was somebody with questions and was more than gracious to entertain my continuos stream of obviously "newbie" questions.

From time to time, others in the crowd opened up and asked far more technical questions here and there, but then once again I would chime in with a "what is this called" or "how do you do this or that" ?

Again, Mike would maintain eye contact with me, only 15 feet away and tell me everything I wanted to know with no rush on finishing the answers to move on.

They played a bit then for us and he stopped to tell me that he has ALL of his dobros made by a fellow from Maryland.

Everybody in the group behind me knew of this guy and got excited as Mike told us that the gentleman was actually at the festival and set-up on the hill behind us.

Mike said that the instruments typically start at $1,500 and range up to about $3,000 before they started getting into REALLY strange custom things that are mostly for eye appeal.

He noted the excitement leave my eyes as Nancy and I could never afford something like that.

Or should I say that I would never spring for that in an instrument that I didn't even know how to play and simply wanted to try my hand at.

He stopped me short to tell me that this fellow on the hill buys these cheap imports for $400 and removes the working parts keeping only their body.

He then replaces those working parts with the same innards that are in the expensive ones for $200.

Mike explained that you end up with a lesser quality body instrument, but with nearly the same quality of sound and CERTAINLY what would do just great for somebody starting out, and last them a LONG time if not for ever.

The workshop ended and as we left, a fellow sitting beside us stopped me to open his dobro case and share even more insight with me.

His name was Larry, and I certainly was taken with his openess and willingness to share his time and knowledge with me

He said that he was lucky and got his second-hand Dobro for a "fair" price which he did not disclose.

Nancy and I headed off to find this chap that Mike buys all of his dobros from.

I simply wanted to meet him and shake his hand.

I waited until the line of folks in front of me opened a bit and simply introduced myself and told the fellow just that.

I shook his hand and tried to fade back into the crowd.

He asked if I played and was curious why I would make the effort to meet him since I just said that I didn't play - yet.

I told him that I would like to, but wasn't interested in remortgaging my home to buy an instrument.

He said to give him a minute to finish with a customer and that he would get back to me.

At this time Nancy came over to tell me that she had just found that video tape that I was going to order from the Internet.

I hadn't ordered it yet as I wanted to wait until after the workshop to see if I was still interested in this or not.

There was only ONE of them on the table among all of the folks looking through things !

We bought it for $39 which would have been the same had I ordered it and paid shipping and handling and such.

Now this fellow is back again and wanting to spend time with ME ?!?

I assured him that I was a pure upstart and that he should push on with the others there that were obviously in the know and wanted to do business with him.

Everybody knew of him and wanted to speak with him at some level.

Oh yes I forgot to tell you, his name is Paul Beard.

Some were simply hanging around to listen and pick up pointers from comments he would make to others.

He proceeded to show me one of his conversion units that Mike had told me about in the workshop.

I was as beautiful as the $1,500 ones, but again appearance has nothing to do with function OR my wallet.

Paul assured me that the sound was greater than my ear or most others would be able to discern.

Paul said that he had just started a policy where if anybody buying one of the conversion units later wanted to purchase any of his upscale instruments, that at any time in the future so long as he is in business, he will refund that FULL PURCHASE price of this conversion unit as he could easily sell it again to another person.

"So, that was like, buy it now, if you don't learn how to play it you can get your money out of it, or if you do learn how and want to move up further you have simply made a $600 deposit which you redeem later in full?"

Yes, he said, with one exception, he was selling the conversion units for $500 at the festival - TODAY.

You see, Mike and his band and Paul had to leave that night for another engagement in Virginia the following morning and would not be at the festival for the rest of the weekend !?!?!

Shirley - it was absolutely spooky and had I not seen things like this before I would probably have simply collapsed right there on the spot !

Is it over ? Not by a long shot - keep reading !

As I shook hands with Paul, Mike Auldridge had wrapped things up and was heading our way on the hill.

He was on his way up to see Paul when he ran into a long lost friend of his from high school.

As Mike showed up, I was quick to share with him that this Paul fellow owed him a commission as I had just purchased my dobro on Mike's high opinion of Paul and his work.

They joked about it between themselves and then the older friend and Mike moved on into a building which was like an enclosed empty pavilion with just three picnic benches in it.

After Paul and I finished up outside, I asked if I could go inside and request Mike to sign my new dobro which he was 100% responsible for me purchasing.

He said he thought it would be okay.

I quietly went in to find Mike sitting on one bench facing his school buddy on the other bench and another older fellow beside him.

My friend from the workshop, Larry, that had taken time to show me his dobro and offer a few pointers was sitting on the end of the same bench with Glen, listening as these gentlemen swapped stories.

The schoolmate's name was Glen and the other fellow was Mike's older brother, along with his wife that had then shown up, that were traveling with Mike on this outing.

Glen had his dobro on his lap and they had just started to play back and forth between them.

From time to time, they would play something that would move them to begin singing along as well.

This was unbelievable !

Larry leaned over to me to point out that WE were having a PRIVATE workshop and certainly fortunate to be sitting there as everybody else was simply outside looking through the windows and from the window in the adjoining camp store at the end of this building.

I'm not sure how Larry got in any more than he probably was - based on his expression.

As Larry pointed this out to me, I remembered that I had left my dear wife outside - somewhere - and just about jumped at the realization.

I mean Nancy knew where I was and that I had gone in there after asking Paul, but I lost track of how long I had been in there - completely !

I excused myself and asked Mike if he would be so kind to sign my dobro as I would have to rush off to find my wife before I got myself divorced !!

He was most pleased to sign it and was very personable about the whole thing.

I thanked everybody for their contributions to my efforts and left the building excusing myself as I passed through the onlookers.

I found Nancy just outside enjoying the band on stage down in the main area.

I told Nancy all about it and how Larry noted that we were most fortunate to be sitting with this legend and listening to all these comments about the instrument and techniques he and his friend were sharing.

I apologized for having not come back quicker and slowly gathered my thoughts once again.

Nancy wasn't in the least bit upset as she was enjoying the now bright sunshine and listening to the music and watching the people passing by.

In fact, she asked why I didn't stay a bit longer as it was certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity.

A smile, a kiss and a wave goodbye and I was gone.

Back through the onlookers and back inside as though I belonged there.

Nobody followed me through the doors as I carried my dobro in case and headed back to my seat beside my new found friend Larry, to soak in all I could from Mike and Glen as they continued to share.

We were sitting within ARMS length of Mike's dobro and of course Glen was right beside Larry.

WHY - HOW - and why US ?!?

At this point, the door quietly opened and Paul walks in with a dobro that he wanted Mike to try out.

He had just finished this and brought it along to meet with Mike.

However Paul had two with him.

The one he handed to Mike, and the other one HE sat down with beside Mike.

After Mike played for while and exchanged tech talk with Glen and Paul, they all started to jam !

Exchanging the lead with each other over and over again.

Each playing the same basic music but with their own style and flavor.

Remember, Paul has customers outside and people that would just love to bend his ear and or listen to him either speak about all of this, or play dobros with.

Where are these people ?

OUTSIDE looking through the windows, and there sits Larry and myself being completely entertained and included in any and every conversation these fellows were having !?!?!

We became so comfortable with Mike that I suggested to Larry that he get his dobro out and have Mike play it.

After prodding him a bit and realizing that he had to cross the room to the doors to get his, I found myself pulling my dobro from it's case and asking Mike if he would mind showing me what this conversion unit should sound like before I took it home and started it's long life of musical abuse beneath MY fingers.

Mike smiled and took it from me as Paul kind of stared in amazement at my boldness !

Mike said that this was a great idea as he could tune it for me AND they could let his friend Glen hear what these low-end units with the conversion kits sounded like.

Just as Mike finished tuning it, and I could see that he was about to start messing around with some scales or such to warm up to the instrument, I simply would not have forgiven myself for the lack of courage if I didn't do what followed.

It was just too important to me that the FIRST song I was to hear played on THIS dobro was my beloved House of the Rising Sun.

So I mentioned to Mike that House was MY favorite song as well, and that this would be the first song that I would try to learn to play.

And with that, Mike never did anything after tuning, other than smile as he played my song.

As he started to play, he said that it really isn't that hard to learn if you play it straight...

and he played it the way that I like to hear it played !?!

It was obvious that I was moved and everybody sat quietly as he made that thing come to life !

I retrieved my dobro when he was finished and nudged my friend Larry, so Mike would play his for him as well.

It was a spiritual experience to say the very least !

I jokingly asked Mike if that was Larry's and my goal for next week and he laughed and stated that it would be three weeks yet before we were required to play like that.

Paul broke from his constant stern look and manner and nudged me to state that this was good news as Mike had told the last fellow it would be 6 months - ha!

Paul said that he would look for me next year and that I could contact him if I had any problems or questions.

I shook everybody's hand and thanked them each again and left.

Mike's band played once more a little later at 6:45pm and then they left.

Nancy and I headed for the car and before we got out of Gettysburg the weather got ugly as the sky began to darken and pour again.

It rained all day Saturday and Sunday until about 2:00pm.

Well, Friday wasn't my last day on earth obviously, but if it had been, I couldn't have asked for anything more as this was certainly another one of those beyond belief or design of imagination days that I could ever have come up with.

(1) The timing of the canceled customer, (2) the visit with my Dad and nephew, (3) the weather, (4) the personal attention at the workshop among all of the others there, (5) the meeting of Mike's dobro builder, (6) the one copy of the tape I needed to get started once I got home, (7) the private lessons while others watched from outside, (8) the willingness of this very talented and gracious gentleman to spend his free time sharing his high school buddy and talents with Larry and me, and (8) my very patient, encouraging and loving wife, Nancy, waiting to share all of this with me over and over again.

What a fortunate fellow I am !