Eye in the Sky

Growing up, one of my very favourite songs was Eye in the Sky by Alan Parsons Project (and remains to this day). We owned the full length album as well as the 45rpm, and I must’ve played the single to near warpage. I cannot think of any real reason as to why this song impacted me so, but it was love at first listen – and every listen after that (to this day).

A decade ago I managed an independent record store, and part of those duties included merchandising and providing backstage hospitality at summer music festivals. On July 8, 2009 I experienced one of the most truly epic moments of my life at Ottawa Bluesfest.

This day began as any other summer Festival day; get up early, head to the site, clean up from the previous day’s events, set up merch for the coming day, and wander around to meet the day’s performers while they soundchecked. This was always my favourite time of the festival, as the festival grounds were empty and it was so peaceful.

By pure happenstance, I was walking through a completely empty field, watching the sun shimmer & dance upon the Ottawa River, when three notes stopped me cold in my tracks. I slowly turned around to discover Alan Parsons Project soundchecking with MY song! As I stood alone in the vast deserted field, tears streamed down my face.

What were the chances of this band playing my favourite song to only me? And of all their repertoire, why did they decide to begin with that song at that exact moment? Fate. Magical, musical fate.

I will never forget that moment for as long as I live. [Note: I also met the band and was invited onto their tour bus following soundcheck, however the moment of being serenaded to was definitively one of the best moments of my life.]

Simply, joy.

 

 

 

Moments of Mention

It’s been awhile.

In September (2017) my Mum moved in with us after a traumatic chemical fire robbed her of her house. The 5 months following was spent investing all available energy & resources into rebuilding her home, her strength, and her spirit. On February 4th, Mum returned to her home and has been unpacking, organizing, nesting, and thriving since.

In October (2017) my brother cautiously confided in Mum that he and his wife were newly pregnant. We patiently waited for the doctors’ appointments, the blood tests, the ultrasounds, and ultimately to learn that the pregnancy was progressing well for both mother & baby.

In June (2018) my brother will be celebrating a milestone birthday, and what better way to commemorate than with one of the most wonderful gifts of all – a new baby girl or boy!

In August (2018) we will be embarking on an epic road trip heading West to celebrate our Great Aunt’s 90th birthday, as well as to visit my husband’s ancestral grounds. Rather than mapping the route and booking Air BnB rentals, we’re renting an RV and will camp along the way.

Life is good.

Simply, joy.

I Adore Life

Amidst the constant chaos of family, work, social media, friends, international news, strangers, and everything in between, I feel it important to express how much I love life.

There won’t be any rants to explain and/or justify the infinite reasons why – I just do.

I adore (my) life.

Simply, joy.

Staying In…

“Home is where the heart is.”

“There’s no place like home.“

“Home sweet home.”

While we are surrounded by an abundance of messages pertaining to the importance of ‘home’, the average person spends the majority of their life AWAY from the household due to education, social lives, careers, and travel.

One of the most common societal goals is to one day acquire your very own home; yet once we accomplish this significant accomplishment, why then do we spend so much time making plans to escape it?

We were fortunate enough to buy our house almost 4 years ago. Like all substantial investments, it requires tender loving care and attention to detail. My husband delves deep into the structural care – to ensure its strength, safety, and durability – whereas my care flourishes inwardly, to all the spaces between the walls. Together, we have established a beautiful home permeated with love, warmth, security, and joy.

There are nights we go out to dinner, concerts, social gatherings. There are weekends we spend away at the cottage, visiting friends and family, traveling. Yet no matter where we go, or how long we are away, our house remains our sanctuary.

I thrive on my time spent in our home – dancing in the kitchen while I concoct meals, reading in the living room with the fireplace on, suntanning on our expansive back deck, doing laundry in our newly renovated basement, inviting friends over for a BBQ or Games Night, taking a nap in our bed on a languid Saturday afternoon, shoveling out our long driveway, playing with the dog in our backyard, colouring at the dining room table, exercising in the spare bedroom, pampering myself with a long hot shower, cozying up with my husband (& dog) watching a movie…

Though I know the world outside has much to offer, I am so grateful for days when I can just stay inside and bask in the comforts of the Home we have created.

Simply, joy.

Practicing Hygge

Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) is a Danish term roughly translated as coziness.

Danish winters are long and dark (sound familiar fellow Canadians?), thus the necessity for hygge – essentially creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the simple joys in life with good people.

Hygge is more than a cozy room full of candles, company, and good food.

Hygge is a philosophy; a way of life that has helped Danes understand the importance of simplicity, time to unwind, and slowing down the pace of life.

Create space and time to do nothing but enjoy the simple joys with family and friends.

Simply, joy.

MegaMix (for Sarah)

In the summer of 2004 I met a girl who would change my life.

Her name was Sarah and she was to be my new roommate. I had never met Sarah before but we shared mutual friends/acquaintances (our third roommate being one of them).

In a matter of moments we connected in ways unimaginable. How could this complete stranger know exactly what I was thinking, enjoy the same range of music, finish my sentences, share similar views, find humour in the same ridiculous scenarios, and be able to mirror the way I was feeling at a glance?!

It didn’t take long to realize we were ‘Twin Souls’; long lost friends/sisters from another lifetime united together once again at last.

Sarah and I were inseparable. The only time spent apart was when we were either in class or sleeping. Every other waking moment was filled with walks, Open Mic nights, adventurous bus rides, shopping, pub crawls, singing, reading magazines, people-watching, painting, eating popcorn, attending concerts, and laughing. There was so much laughter…

The following summer Sarah returned to her home in southern Ontario for a full-time job. It was devastating to think that we had finally just reconnected and yet here we were being separated again.

While we may have physically parted ways 11 years ago, we’ve maintained our Twin Soul connection to this day. Life has thrown many curve balls at us over the years but we’ve fought to preserve the special bond between us.

Tonight I stumbled across an old mix CD I made for Sarah when she left. The musical selection took me back in time to our days together and filled my heart with light and joy.

I am so grateful that she’s still in my life today. I love her dearly.

My life would feel incomplete without our abundance of ludicrous inside jokes…

Simply, joy.

Eclipse

It is not that I have been missing out on the millions of small joys daily; it is that I am working daily towards a greater goal.

More to come…

Simply, joy.

Holiday Hero!

Life is too short to be assaulted with monotonous ‘holiday’ music from commercials, radio stations, and stores.

A friend of mine (from Uni) spent days diligently crafting the most incredible and eclectic holiday playlist, for his wife’s work party, and has been generous enough to share it with me. I think it only fair that I share it with you as well…

Give it a listen below:

 

Simply, joy.

Music Transcends All

The blood that runs through my veins is comprised of the very same elements found in music. Harmony, melody, measure, and soul.

The other day I stumbled upon an unfamiliar song. I immediately knew it was music I needed to hold in my hands, read the liner notes for, and possess in my elaborate collection. I researched the song online, discovered the band (Pretty Little Empire), and ardently searched how to obtain their CDs. When my search ended in disappointment, I contacted the band directly via email, simply asking how a Canadian fan would go about purchasing their CDs.

Imagine my genuine surprise (and delight) when I received this the following day:

Justin here from Pretty Little Empire.

If you give me your address I will mail you our three albums. Then if you feel inclined to sharing our music with other folks your area in return….that would be more than enough. If that sounds fair.

Let me know your address and I will drop them in the mail this week.

Best, Justin

This isn’t the first time I have contacted a band looking to buy CDs and received a similar response. Naturally I wrote back expressing my abundant gratitude, promising to wire money to the band (despite his arguments!), and guaranteeing that I would pass their music on to as many friends and radio stations possible.

It’s rare that I hear something once and feel an instant connection. There’s something unique about Pretty Little Empire’s sound, energy, and passion. They’re obviously a pretty amazing group of people if they not only personally respond to emails, but go above and beyond to elate their fans all across the world.

“Thank you” just doesn’t seem to accurately describe my sincere gratitude.

I encourage you to listen (and buy!) their music here:

Facebook
Twitter
Bandcamp
Last FM
iTunes

Simply, joy.

“I’m Just Movin’ Along…”

I’ve lost my biggest critic.

My uncle Joseph and I had a strange, sometimes tenuous relationship. But it was a relationship comprised of love, respect, and genuine support beneath it all. We didn’t always see eye to eye on (many) things, ultimately because we were more alike than we were able to admit. Passionate, stubborn, argumentative,..resilient.

It was his criticism that drove me to do more, do better. Whether in regards to my writing, my job, or my family, Joseph always stated his mind. He had no patience for sugarcoating, nor beating around the bush. At times this approach angered me. There were also times when his words resounded within me. Regardless of our disagreements, we shared a strong connection and worked to maintain our unusual familial relationship.

Yesterday my dear uncle Joseph left this world peacefully in the comforts of his home and in the company of his beloved wife. As the shock subsides and the grieving lessens, I feel lighter in knowing that he is free. Though his physical self is no longer with us, he is not gone. He remains in my heart, urging me to continue forward with many laughs and great successes. That’s just the kind of man he was…

 

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

– Mary Elizabeth Frye –

Simply, joy.