All Roads lead to a local coffee house...

I played up in Yellowknife last fall and called the show "All Roads Lead to Yellowknife". I used to live and work up in the NWT for almost 5 years and was happy to be back to play a local coffee house in one of my favorite Canadian cities. This photo was taken up in a beautiful community called Gameti north of Yellowknife in 1998..showing the view out my window.

If this past spring 2010 tour had to have a theme or another name..it would be "All Roads Lead to Medicine Hat". Arriving in Medicine Hat rested and well fed thanks to Helen in Swift Current, Lyn and I found the Hatter Roastery in a downtown historic section of a city. I loved the dark blue walls filled with art photography and the aroma of roasted coffee beans as we wandered in. A windy and cloudy day, I was happy to be spending the afternoon at this cosy cafe. We set up in front of the window and were ready to start. A woman was on her laptop in the corner speaking into a headset. I quietly wondered if she was sitting in a great spot, but then I felt it would be good for her to stay where she was. I told her that I wouldn't be too loud. Midway through my set, just after finishing a song about crazy weather and prairie storms, I realize that Lyn is looking outside and a commotion seems to be going on outside behind me. As I turn around, I see a car back up onto the curb and run over a tree planted alongside the sidewalk. The driver has hit the front end of the car parked behind her and now sits in her car, slightly dazed...on the sidewalk. About 10 feet or so and she would have backed into our lovely coffee house, right into me as I sang. I am momentarily stunned as all I have seen so far is a car in a strange position, a tree moving in the wind and other gusts of wind picking up on the street. I think it is a tornado... for just an instant. With the black sky and heat we had earlier, it wouldn't surprise me. But no tornado. Thankfully no one was hurt. The tree was not so lucky. The excitement settles down and I complete my set, working to hold back the giggles as I sing my last song. Always looking for stories....

Watching Lyn perform, I also watch the activity of the coffee house. With the glass front as the backdrop, I can see the people walk by outside. I can see a little man..dwarf...midget. What is the politically correct name? He walked one way, then back the other, then back again..with the top of his head bouncing along as he passed. Then moments later, a blind man with a cowboy hat and belt buckle walked by....a blind cowboy. I wondered what he thought of the car on the sidewalk. Then the midget walks into the coffee house.... After the show was over, the woman who sat in the corner came over to say hello and introduce herself. I will not fully tell her story here, but will instead leave the link to her blog.www.sdholman.com/walkforlove/brings-you/travelogue

The hum of life. Real life. Real music. Certainly far from perfect but genuine and authentic. Her story certainly has touched me. We happened to cross paths on day 50 of her 100 day walk. The mid way point of her journey. In her blog post that day, she spoke of the Cree and the Cree word Wanuskewin.... seeking peace of mind. In the spirit of this......with the sky, land, flowers and birds to guide her, may the Creator hold her close on her journey ahead.