Good day from a very foggy, mild winter’s day, here in Switzerland. Here I sit, with an opaque view of a rainy world, typing to you after such a long, long time. These days, I’m not even sure that a website is truly necessary, what with so, SO many platforms for Social Media (or “anti” social media as my brother, Jeffrey, puts it.) He might be on to something. What a peculiar way for folks to “connect.” My favourite way to be together is in real life, in the flesh. I just Love hands, facial expressions, the look and texture of skin, the delicate nature of hair, bright eyes, sounds of laughter, hand-slapping-knee moments, palpable connection; gestures, electricity, the transmission of a giggle or a yawn… how beautiful, the very real thing. Maybe I want it more or have come to appreciate it more because these “in person” moments have become few and far between. Absence makes the heart grow fonder… I understand this more than ever, as I am sure you readers do as well.
My hair, his hair
It has been a heck of a year, this past 2021. So much gained, so much lost. Gaining the ability to sit in “it” to have the time to process how life is moving around me, instead of just rushing through it all, going into the next and the next and the next. This time has sounded much quieter, the buzz of busy much fainter and I have appreciated it, I’ve even come to like it. Having the space to watch the glow of candlelight flicker its shadows across the wall… having the time to watch the moonlight rise through the black horizon of the trees. This newfound, or newly cherished ability to sit and watch, to sit and think, to sit and listen; finally learning to be, instead of the blind motions of do, do, do (an unspoken rule I have follwed for most of my life.) Finding the wisdom of how to “be” has been the best gift of all.
Finger painting as an adult is still just as fun.
In all the quiet, one must find meaning. I don’t mean purpose. Just being here has its own purpose which will reveal itself as we move through life. Meaning. Meaning is crucial.What may be meaningful to me may not be meaningful to you, and that’s alright, but my spidey senses tell me, likely, if we stop and listen and look we might just find ourselves on the same page, at the very least, in the same chapter. I used to think something had to be big to be meaningful, but lately, the small things are quite consdierable. I sat on the hill in our garden this Summer and watched while bees were collecting pollen from our flowers, bringing it back to their hive, a picture perfect view of life sustaining itself in the most delicate of ways. In autumn, I watched while my friend built a fire only to wait while it burned down to embers, the perfect temperature to cook us a gourmet meal under an almost full moon. As winter approached, I listened in awe as a child told me to dance, dance and shake all the prickles out, only to become smooth again. Recently, I felt the warm hug of an old wise man, and heard his giggle in my ear, reminscent of the boy he once was and of the innocence we all still have. Oh the stories we can tell. What a life, full of magic… it’s out there.
Under the moon by the fire, my happy place.
It took me about a half an hour to find that last photo and in the process of scrolling through them all, I was reminded of an abunance of memories from 2021. Looking back at those photos, shows me 2021 was a mighty year! But it’s funny, because on so many occasions, it didn’t always feel mighty. How very lucky I was to travel to Geneva, to swim in the biggest lake in Europe, Lac Leman, those crystal clear blue waters gave me joy and were ultimately refreshing but they also taught me a lesson; no spending time in a buoyant boat, rocking back and forth or else you might spend the next few hours battling a motion sickness attack… Sorry Leia! It was fun while it lasted! Not only did I have the chance to spend some time in the French speaking part of Switzerland, but also, had the opportuntiy to travel down to the Italian part in Ticino. We were a three minute walk away from a Grotto, featuring a deep crystal clear, freshwater pool with a water fall rushing into it, the most beautiful water in the world, straight from the mountain top and more than a little refreshing! Thanks Christina! I also spent a lot of time on nature trails around where I live, always on the lookout for forest pools to bathe in, and usually successful at that! I was extremely fortunate to have some family members come to visit over the last few months, where we wandered and ate and drank and laughed together… That human in person vibe, it is just like no other!
Thankful to be able to cool down in a forest pool!
Me on the boat on Lac Leman, pre motion sickness! Be careful of those small boats, oops!
Freshwater pool in Osogna, Ticino, paradise three minutes from where we stayed. Amazing!
As you can imagine, entertainers are having a tough go these days. I guess because I know I am not alone in that, somehow, the togetherness is a little comforting. I had concert after concert canceled, or a more positive spin might be to say they were postponed? I can’t count how many concerts over the past two years have been booked then canceled, however, I roll with it! That said, a few performances were a go, and I’ll remember them fondly. I had the pleasure to play in one of Switzerland’s hottest venues, on what might have been one of the hottest evenings of the Summer! Thanks to Cafe Mokka for an amazing night! Also memorable was a music festival I was a part of, which reminded me of Canada, with face painting, butterfly children skipping, hay bales, summer dresses, camping, dancing and of course, a little bit of rain… I was honoured to be a part of that, thank YOU Black Mountain Collective, I can NOT wait til next year! Maybe because so many concerts were taken away, it made the concerts I could play, that much more special. I really tried to be in the moment, as much as possible. It always seems like I prepare, and wait and get exctied for a show, then it’s over, I’m in bed and it’s all just a memory. The last concert I performed was a goodie, and I really tried to stay in the seconds…. I heard from some Lindsay Fans that it was my best concert yet…. Thanks to the Chäslager in Stans for an epic night. Let’s hope I can (we all can) hold onto those special moments… those meaningful moments.
Singing in Stans, thanks for the photo Markus Frömmel
On a last note and probably the most meaningful note of all, I survived Covid 19. I don’t like to bring up the “C” word, and I won’t go too far into it, but I caught it and I beat it. It wasn’t so bad, either, two weeks mostly in bed with aches, a little coughing and some dizziness. I feel great now, and lucky, because the Swiss government recognizes recovery, so for now, I have my freedoms returned and my natural immunity. We were all better by Christmas, so we went out and found a Charlie Brown tree to decorate. My Mum sent some decorations from my childhood, and I was so grateful to be able to add them to our tree. It was, of course a very quiet holiday this year, but I am grateful to have the ability to speak with my family who are thousands of miles away. I can’t hug them, yet, but our time will come.
Our cozy living room
All in alll, 2021 provided…. there were some great moments involving friends, food, water and music… a few of my favourite things…. Let’s hope 2022 will bring me back to my family in Canada, without all the ever-changing rules…. We shall see…. In the meantime, be well and thanks for reading.
