Exit Poll, 2016

2016 has left me speechless. That's all I can really say today. I plan to ring in a new year with my chosen family, Chinese food, jammies, merriment, belly laughs, champagne, with the same wish in my heart as always: that goodness will prevail.

But, even when the chips are down and the cards are stacked against you, there is music. These, the three songs that got me deep in the heart muscle and shaped my insides:

The Sound by Matt Epp featuring Faouzia - Everything Matt does is a revelation, I discovered this wonderful human being in my Myspace days and it has been so much fun watching him share Amoria and incredibly moving music with the world. He is, hands down, one of my favorite people on the planet. I listen to CBC Radio 2 Morning faithfully and this song is swinging into some heavy rotation and rightfully so. Matt is an artist worth your time. And this song, so deeply resonates with every soft heart that has known love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYWVePW6Ovo

The Stranger by Gord Downie - The inclusion of Gord Downie goes without saying. I will keep this to a minimum to not go so deep in to poetics and emotion of all things he means to me because his Secret Path project, his passion project, changing a whole layer of the Canadian landscape. It may be his greatest legacy and I think he'd be okay with that. I still believe, after losing Leonard Cohen this year, Bowie, that Gord will live forever. 

Rehtaeh by Adam Baldwin - It has been a good year for Adam Baldwin musically, off on tour with his exceptional band in support of his new record with July Talk and open here at home for Sam Roberts Band. I stood in the Forum during his set, in awe of the crowd; eyes forward on our Dartmouth brother, singing his words back to him. That has to be a good feeling. And still, in all of the rock splendor, when he pulls out his ode to Rehtaeh Parsons, the gooseflesh pops and the tears form. It's a powerful song and it's beautifully written and executed. Should have one all the awards, and at my gala it did.

**

However you choose to bring in a new year, I wish you well. Hug your people. Be present. Be kind.

In propinquity,

Nic

Caught In The Act

I tried desperately to squeeze some joy out of my mid-week holiday this week. Canada Day came, the sun poured through the windows with the promise of hours of enjoyment ahead. I struggled, the second my feet hit the floor, to ‘get with it’ for lack of a better phrase. Not wanting to waste a perfectly gorgeous day, I forced myself outside into the throngs of people and strollers and wheelchairs up and down the Halifax waterfront. Big mistake. Doing this activity alone and aimless: no plan, no comrades, no sense of direction; bad idea. I was already in a dark frame of mind, weighed down by the pressures and anxieties currently plaguing my days. I should have stayed home. That became evident when the sun gave way to the dark menacing clouds and it started to pour. I was on Barrington Street in short sleeves, no umbrella, minimal cover and solo.

My only goal in the weeks leading up to my country’s birth was to head down to the free show at Alderney Landing to catch the Glorious Sons from Kingston, ON. I’d seen them open for Airbourne at The Marquee and I fell in love with their particular brand of rock ‘n’ roll. When I set out across to Halifax, the idea was to eventually end up back at Alderney Landing in time for their set. But I got drenched en route to Dartmouth so I just kept on going until I was home in my comfies curled up with my eyes closed, agitated beyond comprehension. The only bright spot of the whole journey was a wee visit with Hannah.

Checking the clock and in with a friend, I opted to force myself back up, change into something warmer and go do what I wanted to do for weeks: see Glorious Sons. Timing was perfect, I arrived at the grounds just as they started their set.

A strange thing occurred to me as I watched them rock and then roll. I was standing in a crowd of thousands of people and had never felt lonelier. A profound sadness washed over me and it was all I could do to keep the tears in.  

But then, there was that kick drum … that fortuitous power filled up my being with authority.

Music does save. It did me in that exact moment.

I went to bed less filled with the dread of the day and more with the hope of making my tomorrow better. I can sometimes get very low but then my inner-optimist wakes up and slaps my feelings silly, reminds me I can do better, be better and kinder to myself. With struggle comes progress, right?

So, in addition to being brought back into the light but a rousing dose of rock, I also started reading a sweet little book: ‘Hector & The Search for Happiness. It is teeny tiny trade-paperback written by Francois Lelord, simply written yet insightful. It’s a wonderful little parable about modern life, about happiness and unhappiness. If you’re looking for a quick read with heart and lessons learned, pick it up. It is just what I needed. I found my copy under a pile of writing folders. I forgot all about it but it was like I was meant to forget so I could find it now when I was most in need of the directives.

Today is Friday. I missed the OHF gathering last night and I have this poem in the current issue. I really could use a gathering to get up and share some writing – better yet, I could really use a decent spurt of energy to create something worth sharing!

**

Caught In The Act

a singular vehemence instigated

a triumphant return to buoyancy

the near absence of preeminence

enacts an aesthetic  to serve admirably

the idiosyncratic ringing of the bells

bewitched an unleavened expression

to recite lengthy open-hearted verses

a rising narrative of subtle nuances

on the poetic condition

caught in the act of rhythmic climax

a surreal phrase

on a brisk winter morning

**

Happy weekend, friendly readers and loves.

Be happy.

Be free.

Be safe.

In propinquity,

Nic