Childhood Skies

Children ask lots of questions - lots and lots of questions. They also have wonderful imaginations. Interests and fascinations come and go, but stars, planets and spaceships seem to be a reoccurring theme for my boys. Their ceiling and walls are covered with glow in the dark stars, carefully placed to resemble the night sky.

As they settle in for bed, the intensity and rate of which the questions are asked increases dramatically.

“Can we live on Mars? Can I go to space? Would you come with me too?”

Young imaginations can quickly spark overwhelming feelings. The questions turn to tears as my son expresses that he has changed his mind and does not want to go to space, because he does not want to leave his mom and dad. Reassurance follows with me telling him that he doesn’t have to go to space if he doesn’t want to.

Very quickly the questions resume, and I do my best to answer.

“How is God everywhere? Why do we live on Earth? What holds Earth up in space?

All right. You ask wonderful questions, but now it is time to go to sleep.

To me this song is a snapshot in time. The wonder and innocence of a five year old and his little brother.

Victoria's Laundromat

For one week in December during the 90's, I found myself in Victoria.. What a fascinating place. My impression then was that it must be the beacon for the Canadian homeless - mild in the winter, surrounded by living nature and just oh so very cool. That impression of Victoria was challenged though over that short week. I was asked for change by people in Columbia jackets, saw others in permanent camps in the forests on the island, artists with their canvases on displays and buskers playing in short sleeves in the west coast winter air. Perhaps Victoria was a Mecca for anyone who wanted it to be - perhaps for anyone who wanted just to be somewhere else. Friends of mine had gone out before just to be a part of it, and others to save the trees. All in all, it was a special place, a hidden emerald, surrounded by a deep rooted enchanted forest, and a magical ocean waiting there to be found if you were called to it. A place unique in Canada.

The Laundromat in Victoria that I came to was unique as the city itself. As I looked through its guest book, I saw that it too was a beacon for travellers from all over the world. Backpacks rested against the wall in the lounge where easy conversation was made while others read or watched TV. The Laundromat had a population of its own.

Technically, I find this a challenging song to play, and don’t believe I have ever played it exactly as I wanted. I stumble on the strings sometimes.