In Memory of my Father...

You might have thought I'd dissappeared, it's been so long since I've had the chance to writer. No such thing...but we've certainly been focused on other things for the past couple of months. Now it's time to start catching up on the parts of life that have been left to let slide....music, blogging, breathing....all the little things.
On March 18th my Dad passed away (this is a picture of him and I in 1962...if you download the song it'll make more sense..) It wasn't really a surprise I guess. He'd been struggling for almost two years, as a result of the stroke he'd had in 2006. I guess, though, that even when it's expected, it's still not really expected. It's made for quite the time. I don't think I could have written a whole lot sooner....the hurt was just too raw. The hurt is still there, and the missing always will be, but at least one can start to think a little again. It sure does take time.
We finished up the last of our Home Routes House Concerts last week with a performance by Yael Wand accompanied by Christina Zaenker, both from BC. What an awesome duo they are!! We all enjoyed both their entertaining and their company! It was great. What a wonderful experience hosting the Home Routes series has been for us! We've met so many amazing performers over the past year, and feel we have connections all over the continent now because of it.
I'm busy practicing for ACL Brandon's Femme Fix. It's their annual ladies smoker and one of their biggest fundraisers of the year. It's always a pleasure to perform to a group of women that are having so much fun....we all need a little more of that!
Five more weeks and school will be finished!! Whooooohooooooo! I so enjoyed all of it, but if I'd had a crystal ball to project what this year was going to end up looking like I might have done a whole lot of things differently! Oh well...its all part of the journey isn't it. And if we could see the future...would we ever step outside our own front door? I wonder.
Free download www.musicwriter.ca/tunes/06.htm
This rounds free download is called "One More Star (Grandpa's Song)" in memory of my dad, James Dickson. I remember really clearly the day we finished the recorded version of this song when I was doing my cd. Dad hadn't known that I'd ever written a song about Grandpa. On the morning after I received the mp3 of the finished product, I burned a cd of it and Shane and I stopped by Mom and Dad's on our way to somewhere, and had them come out to the van to hear it. I remember Dad listening so intently, and when I looked in the rear view at him, tears were rolling down his cheeks. When it was over, he said "Boy, those sure are beautiful words to hear about your Dad...I hope someday someone will be able to say that about me." Dad...we all do. I couldn't sing at the funeral...no way...but we played this song as the recessional. I think Dad would have been happy about that.
Well...I'm gonna run. As always my fingers are crossed that I'll get back here sooner than later, but you know how my life goes!
Till then,
Lynda
http://www.musicwriter.ca/

Lunar Eclipse

Well, another six days, and another February will have fallen behind us. It's been such a hectic, hectic months, that I'm actually at a point where I can reach out and touch my limits...and feel them every moment. The biggest problem is, I just don't know what ball to drop with this juggling act, and it feels like there are just too many in the air. I know there have been a few occasions over the past couple of weeks where it has gotten the best of me, and trying to relax results in a total shut-down...I've gotta figure out how to get better at this.

Good news is, that we now have my Mom's hip replacement behind us, and brother Mike is now here from Maple Ridge for a couple of weeks to share some of the load...so the ability to distribute will be helpful. Dad's still in the manor for a day or two, begrudgingly, so hopefully, he can hang in until we get the next stages of the care giving sorted through.

Living the life of the meat in the sandwich....what can I say.

Last Saturday we were honored to host James Gordon, for our 4th in this years series of Home Routes House Concerts. He put on a great show for all of us, and was a pleasure to have as a guest. Only two more shows for this year, Kat Goldman on March 17th and Yael Wand on April 22. It's really been a lot of fun to have participated in this, and we'll have to see if what next year holds.

Wednesday night I got home from work just about the time the Lunar Eclipse was starting, and we were lucky to be able to witness the entire event, right from our chairs in the living room. I was trying to take a few pictures (some turned out, some didn't), but I thought this one was kind interesting the way the triple pane window reflected the image....just thought I'd share. Apparently we don't get to experience this again until 2010. Boy, what a year full of events that's going to be!

I picked up my brother, Micheal Dickson, from the airport yesterday, and was glad to see him get off the plane with his guitar in tow. Hopefully there'll be a little room to breathe and jam over the next two weeks. I'll just have to find a way to make some, somehow!

We're holding down the fort today watching the semi finals of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts curling (Mom's been staying with us since her surgery, and if there's a TV to be found, she'll find the curling on it!). The menfolk are all off to the Lavenham Poker Derby. What a great day for it to...its just barely freezing, and a beautiful sunny day. The guys have had a lot of fun preparing for it, so I hope they have just as much fun participating in it. It's good to see Cecil allowing himself to relax and go play, with all that the last several months have entailed, there just hasn't been enough of that. Boys and their toys....and man, there are some pretty nice toys out there!

Free Download:

http://www.musicwriter.ca/tunes/02.htm

February's free download has been the song 'Learn' , and as I sit here, finally having taken the time to do something that I keep telling myself to make time to do, I realize how much learning I have to do right now. The words tell me to take time and appreciate, and in the whirlwind that has been our life this past month, that knowledge has slipped terribly from my grasp. I need to regroup, regather, and remind myself of all that is good, and precious, and irreplaceable in my life right here, right now. It's too easy to get trapped on the treadmill that will just go faster as you do.....I've got to put on the brakes and step off for a while. Now the trick is to try and figure out how to do that......

Take care all,

Lynda

www.musicwriter.ca

SuperBowl Sunday

I'll be the first to admit to anyone that cares....I am not a football fan. Never have been, likely never will be, and for the most part the closest I ever did come to actually being interested in football was using it as an excuse to get the keys to the 1964 Valiant to go and cheer on the MacGregor Mustangs football team in the late '70s.
But on this day each year, it doesn't really matter if you're a football fan or not. When the SuperBowl is on...ya just gotta watch! Shane and I even had to place a call to my Dad this afternoon to see who good Lavenhamians might be cheering for...so apparently we like the Patriots, unless it looks like they're losing...then we'll likely back New York!
Today was cool though, as we tuned in just before half-time to watch Tom Petty's show. He's still got it, and even though he's certainly a little older...so are the rest of us! The show took us back! For me the clincher was when he sang "Won't back down."...
with that I was back at the Portage Legion, playing with Keith Haddad and Dwayne Watson, in our little 3 piece band, having the time of my life....funny how 17 years can feel like forever ago!
Right now, our days are really busy trying to meet the needs of both slices of bread, as we live the life of the Sandwich Generation to it's full extent. We've been keeping it all together pretty good in the 18months since my Dad had the stroke that knocked him down so badly, but right now, we're having to throw a hip replacement for my Mom into the mix....a lot of planning on any given day, let me tell you. I'm sure it'll all work out, but by the time you arrange care for Mom, care for Dad, and care for Shane....there's very little energy left for the self-care that is so necessary to keep going. Surgery doesn't happen until Feb. 11th, but I'm already tired just planning for it. Keep us all in your thoughts!
We've just survived another really, really cold snap. Three out of five days this past week there was no school because of the cold, so that means a lot of rearranging on my part... but that's okay. I'd rather be rearranged at home where it's warm, than to be out facing those elements when the windchill is at -52C. Although the weather has broken, and the last couple of days really have been pretty good....it still makes you question why it is you stay here! We actually finally got our passports and had full intentions of running away to somewhere warm, but time wasn't on our side right now. It's very, very frustrating to me, who is always preaching that we must live while we're alive!!! If only life would respect my own philosophies!
Over the past couple of months, I've felt myself starting to drown in obligations and commitments. I realized last night that the only time I've picked up the guitar in the last 6 weeks was to play at Shirley Mark's funeral. That's not right!
Therefore, I've decided to give myself a reminder of what really matters, and what needs to be at the forefront, and for this month's download I've selected
"Learn" www.musicwriter.ca/tunes/02.htm
I wrote 'LEARN' just days before going into the studio in 2005. It came to me when a friend of mine, Barb Pavlek, came to my house for a visit. Barb was barely 35, and was midway through her second battle with cancer, and knew that this time she was not going to be the victor. We were having a coffee out on my deck, by the pool, and talking about someone who was grumbling and complaining about something that seemed to be of such little consequence, when Barb shook her head and said "why can't people just learn how to laugh?". I looked at Barb with her head in her scarf wrap, and her tiny, frail body and thought to myself....my God, you could teach all of us such lessons. We lost Barb about a year and a half ago....but as I sit here trying to balance and centre myself in the chaos that surrounds me, I'm grateful for her lesson, as it all come's back to me now!
So please download "Learn" www.musicwriter.ca/tunes/02.htm if you get the chance, and take a minute to listen to the message.... It's one we could all "learn" from in these days of hustle and bustle....
Take care all,
Lynda
http://www.musicwriter.ca/

MacGregor Collegiate Institute (MCI) Class of '78 Reunion

June, 2008, will mark the 30 year reunion for my graduating class. The last week has been a really neat one, as we try and connect with the 'kids' that we celebrated the day with so long ago, and arrange a day to reconnect and relive the things that were.

It seems incredible that that much time could have slipped through our fingers, amazing really! But journeying through the past, with our old high school yearbook as our guide, I realize how very, very much has changed....looks, lives, dreams, goals. Sometimes the people in the pictures seem a world away, not just years.

But also, I realize how very, very much has remained the same....friends, confidants, values, dreams...the ones that put a smile on your face and in your heart thirty years ago, still seem to have the ability and the gift of being able to do that today. The ones you haven't had the chance to talk to, in many cases for years, can pick up a conversation with you like we spoke yesterday...Connections formed in our school years, really can be remarkable things...something to treasure.

We've been busy trying to find folks that we haven't had the chance to talk to, in some cases years, so it's a rather daunting task at times. Still, it's remarkable that when the word gets out there, that it does travel fast, so for everyone that's working on this...good job! Every name helps.

I had a few people wonder if there was a website, and no, we're not that high tech or with the times I'm afraid, but I figured if folks were trying to search for information via the web, that this might help them to get started....

Our reunion date will be July 26th, 2008, and we will be getting together here at the farm for a day. We're welcoming not only those that graduated with us, but those that shared our journey, even if they chose a different path midway through, or completed it before us. It should be a fun day!

I've started the required "holy smokes a reunion's coming" diet, and have effectively gained about 3 pounds this week!! I'm pretty sure I'm not alone! Whatever, we are who we are, and we are so lucky to still be in this race!

That's all for today....but will keep posts and updates here, and hopefully our list of MIAs will continue to shrink as the weeks move on.

Don't forget this months free download is www.musicwriter.ca/tunes/04.htm (Heroes)

Till next time,

Lynda

http://www.musicwriter.ca/

Happy New Year!

2008 has arrived, and once again we're left wondering where the old year went so quickly! It's been a hectic couple of weeks with all the festivities and the company, but we're so lucky to be in a situation where we're graced by that. I realize that other's are not.
The holiday season leaves me so nostalgic year after year. You celebrate those that are with you, but can't help but remember those that are not. I find that even when I don't consciously think of the ones we've lost in the daylight hours, they sneak into my dreams at night, to remind me that they were here, and should not be forgotten. I wish I could assure them that they are not.
It's also the time to bring out that good old list of resolutions....I've been working off the same list for the better part of my life I think, so I fold it carefully, so that I can use it again next year....1) I will lose weight, 2) I will save more money, 3) I will live a healthier lifestyle, 4) I will be a better person....it goes on..... I'm glad in my life that I have been able to stroke off a few of the "I wills", but certainly not enough! Maybe this will be my year!!! My 2008 horoscope says it's going to be an awesome one, so I'm going to go with that!
As I started in December, I'll be giving away free downloads here on a regular basis, to those who would wish to download them. I've been having trouble decided what one to highlight for January, but I've decided that I'm going to go with my song 'Heroes'. It seems like the most logical of choices, as the song was written as a tribute to my own heroes...my son, my husband, my parents. With Shane and Dad both celebrating birthdays in the next couple of weeks, I think I'll dedicate January to them.
I wrote 'Hero' just the week before I started to record my cd 'Reflections'. I suddenly realized out of all the songs I'd written and chose for the project, none spoke of those who were most important to my life and well being. I've told Shane for years that he was my biggest Hero, but as I started to write the lyrics, I realized that I had a number of heroes, past and present, who have supported me to get to today. This song is for all of them, named in the song or not. I hope you enjoy it.

www.musicwriter.ca/tunes/04.htm

To the New Year, and to new beginnings

Let us start fresh, right now,
To make this the very best year ever.

May it bring more joy and success , and less grief and regret.
May we all try to go with the flow a little more and stress a little less.
Let us focus on our goals and work toward our dreams
And as for our dreams...
May we never stop believing in them
And taking the actions that will make them a reality.

To our friends and loved ones,
May we take the time to let them know
how much it means to us to have them in our lives.
May they come to appreciate themselves, as much as we appreciate them.

Let us encourage more and criticize less,
Give more and need less.
And whenever we can, let us create harmony and peace.

May we focus on each other's good points
and choose to overlook minor annoyances,
to create mutual happiness and contentment in 2008.
Here's to 2008:For each and every one of you,
may it be filled with significant steps toward the fulfillment of your fondest wishes.
Here's to 2008 ! Enjoy the journey

The best to all!
Lynda
http://www.musicwriter.ca/

From my house to yours...

Welcome to my living room...can you see why this is one of my favorite places in the whole, wide world. Settling down in front of the crackling fire wipes away so many of the worries of the day, and I can't help but be filled with a sense of peace.
I love this fireplace, because to me it means that I'm home. I had it constructed the year after my first husband passed away. We always had fireplaces when I was a kid, because very few houses on the west coast were without them at that time...I guess it offset the damp. Some of my earliest singing memories center around singing "DownTown" in front of a fireplace in Victoria. I'd always said that someday I would have a fireplace again, and when I realized that this is the only place that I ever want to call home, I decided that this is where my fireplace must be. The rest as they say is history. So here I am...home.
It's been a great week. Not great, because of all the big, earth shattering things that happened, but great because of all the little ones. A day spent with my husband, a visit to my mother-in-law, a day with my Mom, a phone call with Dad, a snow day with Shane and Bianca....as each day ended, I just felt good! Good, that I'd had the day to share with the ones that matter , good that for all the chaos and busyness that often surrounds us, we still have days just to share. Good.
I've got another few days of work, then I'll be taking a week off with no school, and no commitments...it is going to be heavenly. The fall has been pretty hectic, but it's been worth it. Still, I'm really looking forward to a little down time over the holidays.
I got an early Christmas present yesterday that I'm so excited about. Ever since I finished painting in September, I've been looking for just the right picture for my kitchen, and have had no luck finding it. I love Rhonda Kullberg's work...it has such passion and uniqueness, and usually holds a message that makes you think. Yesterday, I was looking for last minute gifts in Treherne, and after looking down at the shelves for half an hour, for some reason I looked up...and there it was...the picture that I've been waiting to find for the past 6 months for my kitchen. I didn't know what I was looking for until I saw it...but all of a sudden it was there. Funny how the things you're dreaming of often materialize. I don't think that the painting itself has a title...it's a collage like collection of works, quotes, and pictures...but it's perfect. The one quote that sticks out to me most today is "The best things in life aren't things.".....I certainly have to agree!
My Christmas song "Upon this Christmas Star" is still available as a free download for anyone who's wishing to do so, and will be for the next week or so. To download it go to

www.musicwriter.ca/tunes/15.htm

Till next time




Lynda
http://www.musicwriter.ca/

It's a snow day!!!!!!

I took this picture out the living room window this morning....the trees actually hide them, but those are sun dogs!!! Looks like some cold days ahead of us!
I'm really excited today, because for the first time in 30 years I get to have a snow-day from school!!! I truly forgot how cool this was, and have enjoyed it immensely, even though I did manage to buckle down to do my required homework.....still it was pretty nice not to have to make the trip to the city for college today.
The wind was something else in the night last night. We're normally so protected from the reality of what's happening with the weather here in our valley, but last night, man...old man winter was screaming! I can't ever remember hearing the TV tower hitting the end of the house like that. It was a rare event, and one I don't care to try and sleep through too often. Things seem to have settled for now, and hopefully it'll be okay by morning, as tomorrow is my final class and tests for this first semester. I really want to be able to get it over with, then just take the next couple of weeks off to relax before it all starts again.
The snow day also gave me some time to practice today. Sadly, it's not for a Christmas concert, but for a funeral for the father of a friend of mine. Is it just me, or do there seem to be more of these this time of year? Maybe it's just that they hit a little harder at a time when the world expects us to be joyous. Regardless, funerals are tough at any time of year, but they are tougher in December. My thoughts are with you Mel.
On Sunday, I watched Oprah's movie production of "One More Day". I read Mitch Albom's book when it first came out, and as with all of his books, just loved the story and the message. I urged my Mom to watch it when it was on too, and it really hit home for both of us. So yesterday, I took the day, and helped Mom through her list of errands that pile on her for her one respite day a week. I try to do that as often as I can, but so many weeks go by where it's just not possible. However this week, I was really glad I made the time to do it, and it gave us 'One more Day' together to treasure. It seems as all of our parents are aging and changing, we really do need to cherish each day we get to have with them. Too soon the chances will be lost, and I'm hoping for very few regrets.
On that note....I'd better go and practice. Don't forget to get your free download of 'Upon that Christmas Star" by going to www.musicwriter.ca/tunes/15.htm Pass the message along to friends who are building their own Christmas music libraries of free Christmas downloads.
Till next time
Lynda
www.musicwriter.ca