Still Spying and Still Standing

O Canada, I miss you.

Image Courtesy of YYT Photo & Design

I haven’t seen you since last July. Highlights from that trip to New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island: visiting with friends at the safehouse in St. Andrews (NB) and with other friends in the Montague (PEI) area; a Souris sunset, set to music; and a tour of the Belfast Mini Mills, where I purchased a hat that I’d wear for a good portion of a long New England winter.

I’ve resorted to staying semi-connected by electronic correspondence with friends and by these other means:

Music: Alan Doyle (from Petty Harbour, NL) and The Beautiful Band in Lowell, MA. At that outside show part of the summer music series, the lads and lone lassie fiddler filled the air with frolicking tunes. Can’t remember if “When I am King” made the setlist that evening. To keep Newfoundland and Labrador close to heart, I’ve been practicing that song on the guitar and performed it for the first time in public at open mic at the local coffeehouse.

Books: Mark Critch, a Newfoundland comedian, mentions Great Big Sea in his book, Son of a Critch. Funny, insightful and entertaining, the book also left me feeling grateful—for my childhood, my family and all the adventures my wife and I have enjoyed Newfoundland. Black Ice, a story billed as a tribute to the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes, grabbed a hold of me not just because of the hockey; George and Darrill Fosty did their homework about Maritime history that connects that part of Canada to places I hadn’t considered much. Enlightening.

Internet TV. Ever heard of Jonny Harris? I hadn’t until my wife mentioned the Newfoundlander’s Still Standing show. In the past month or so of 27 episodes, I’ve been mystified and misty-eyed as Jonny meets Canadians who dwell in small towns, from Bamfield (BC) to Fogo Island (NL). These hearty and enterprising folks have stuck together through difficult times, evolved and endured. My kind of people.

My wife and I have visited some of these towns. So many more, we’ll put on our wish list. Top of that list: Bell Island, NL.

See you in two weeks, Canada.