Gordon

People die all the time. Usually, we sigh and nod. It's the same with the famous as with ordinary people. Yet another marker buoy along the river of life as we approach the open sea.

But some deaths knock us back on our heels and they register like wounds. That's how I felt about the death of Gordon Lightfoot just yesterday in Toronto. Two commenters in today's "Toronto Sun" proved that I was not alone:-

Gordon Lightfoot had a tuneful baritone singing voice and he inspired loyalty from the musicians who in turn supported him. He spent almost all of his life in music and was even performing at the end of last year. But the thing that I admired most about him was his craftsmanship - weaving words together to tell stories or to bare his soul in song. He had a rare gift for that kind of connection with other humans.

Here's one his most famous songs, performed for the BBC way back in 1969:-

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The vets

 The vet detected a slight heart murmur in Roger but told me not to be concerned with it

I’m not….

He was also so captivated with him, he brought two of the vet nurses into the consultation room to meet him 

“ This is a delightful dog “ the vet said lifting Roger’s chin with a finger and Roger wagged his tail and stood on hind legs to sniff faces and lick noses.

“ He’s a superb  boy you should show him “ he added 

The nurses crowded round cooing and I beamed like a proud dad at the nativity play as they tickled and hugged him. 

Roger lapped it up and trotted on tip toe 

Tonight, at college  I’ve passed my main final practical assessment in my counselling course alongside my three besties…the feedback from my tutor was lovely and very gratefully received 

Even at 61, I still need positive feedback 

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Thank you

 Lord, it’s me. I find that these are my favorite posts. I have to remember my own humanity. My own need for mercy and grace. I’m finding day by day that I need to free myself from having to explain myself. I must free myself from the need to please others. Sometimes being selfish is actually being selfless. Pray for me

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Thank you Lord

 Have to let

The anger go

The hope in

And let it

Wash over 

My being

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The Drop That Contained The Sea

Special little moments just happen.

They often catch you unawares.

That sneak under your radar, 

When you are least expecting them.

And they can brighten you heart, when you so need it.

This morning had such a moment.

The sun shining, Roger acting as co pilot his nose in the wind, we drove the seventeen miles up to the vets for his pre op assessment along wide country roads of bright spring green. 

I had bought the CD of Christopher Tin’s piece The Drop That Contained The Sea which is a collection of commissioned works for chorus and orchestra centred about water in all of its forms.

I have enjoyed one of its pieces Waloyo Yamoni before, but have never listened to the entire piece before.

Each of the ten pieces is sung in a different language, and they explore different vocal traditions so diverse it’s breathtaking. African languages Xhosa and Lango are featured alongside Bulgarian, old Norse, Sanskrit, Ancient Greek, Mongolian and Portuguese.

And this morning we listened to it for the first time

Beautiful .

It’s good to be alive today.

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