I am still trying to complete my blog posts around my months shared with Dad in Belleville, Ontario. Sometimes the present really must squash out the past…but at other times, the past needs to be integrated into what we have in this moment. I treasured my time with my father above any other time we have shared and I never wish to forget the fragile and strong of that couple of months. Through my father, I met so many lovely people, people like Andy and Sherry of the Chit Chat Cafe & Corner Market. This afternoon, I updated a Blog that Sherry and I set up for her business and linked it to a Facebook site, so I think their social media is about as current as it can be.
For years, Mom and Dad drove out to Napanee, Ontario; sometimes after church for a piece of dessert or sometimes on a weekend for a Dinner Buffet and Live Music concert. Most important to me and my family was the kindness that these two folk showed my parents, especially through these last couple of very difficult years. Always having time for kindness and cheerfulness, these two have a way of making others feel special and then feeding them the very best of food.
During this journey of grief, some Sundays Dad and I left the parking lot after church and turned north east to Napanee…and somehow the coffee, the good people and the eggs benedict managed to do some comforting.
The best eggs benny I’ve ever eaten.
The second dinner concert I attended, with Dad, was a performance by Jay Aymar. A fantastic story teller and an authentic song writer, Jay left us with lots to think about. Music is a big part of our family, so music coupled with good food is an especially magical combination. Jay Aymar’s blog, Road Stories, is very entertaining for the real-life experiences he shares.
I arrived early and so I went for a walk to collect a few photographs. The evening air was full of summer changing and so a walk was the perfect thing to do.
Lisecki’s work in the Theatre Junction Grand! Whoot!
The show consisted of two 60 minutes sets where Eliza Gilkyson, Kevin Welch and Gretchen Peters shared the stage, alternating and creating back-ups for one another in a whole collection of ‘magical’ tunes. Dustin Welch and Barry Walsh rounded off the stage musically, with rich guitar and keyboard sounds. Directly from the publicity that circulated before show night, this.
Eliza Gilkyson The Grammy-nominated Eliza Gilkyson is a politically minded, poetically gifted singer-songwriter, who has become one of the most respected musicians in folk and Americana music circles. www.elizagilkyson.com
Eliza’s performance was so inspiring and I was pretty sad that by midway through the intermission, her recent release, Roses at the End of Time, was gone. Her tune, Tender Mercies, caused me goose bumps.
Tender Mercies by Eliza Gilkyson
Across the world she tapes explosives to her chest
steps into a shopping mall
a life devoid of all of mercy’s tenderness
really isn’t any life at all.
Tender mercies, tender mercies, come before despair
shine down all your tender mercies
it’s every mother’s prayer.
Down below the factory along the riverside
children swimming in a poison pool
playful afternoon of unintended suicide
gone before they ever knew.
Tender mercies, tender mercies, come before despair
shine down all your tender mercies
it’s every mother’s prayer.
Across the world she holds her loved ones to her chest
lays them down and listens at the door
everybody safe and warm among the truly blessed
how can we even dare to ask for more.
Tender mercies, tender mercies, come before despair
shine down all your tender mercies
it’s every mother’s prayer.
Gretchen Peters Singer-songwriter, Gretchen Peters, is well-known for composing hits for performers like Martina McBride, Etta James, Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, George Strait, Anne Murray, Neil Diamond and others. She has won the Country Music Association Song Of The Year for “Independence Day”. She is rapidly becoming known now as a wonderful performer herself. www.gretchenpeters.com
Kevin Welch Kevin is a well-known & respected Americana roots songwriter and performer who has plied his craft since the late 70s. Along with musical buddy and frequent touring companion, Keiran Kane, he formed his own record label Dead Reckoning in the mid 90s. www.kevinwelch.com
The song writing was exquisite and I’ve been playing Gretchen’s music again and again the last few days…the only CD I picked up that evening, but with an interest in following up on Amazon for the others. When Gretchen introduced St. Francis, she talked about the impact of the BP oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico and about the cottage on the gulf where she writes. She said that this song was born out of thoughts around this event. At that, I knew that I wasn’t leaving without that tune in my pocket.
Keep an eye out here as I’m going to post upcoming events!
Calgary was hit with some amazing light shows last evening…lots of hail in the deep south. After the worst of it, I headed down to The Blue’s Can for Joe Nolan’s show, sharing the stage with Steven Halvorson. Rich, rich, beautiful music. I’m listening to High as the Moon as I type. My buddy, Lorne, purchased me a CD. He had a good day on the VLTs that day…so, he picked up music for all the ladies at the table.
In the front cover of Joe’s CD case…”I remember walking into the Rendering Plant of the first morning of recording. I felt far away from home. I picked up my guitar. The red light turned on. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Here are the songs that climbed out…” Joe gave me a hug as I said my good-bye last night. Looking forward to more music and to sharing it with my children.
