There is a common expression that we all know, "it is always darkest before the dawn". I would say that is very accurate and definitely true in my life. These two objects, an Old Guitar and a 2000 Dodge Caravan were both instruments of the dawning of new life after very dark periods in my life. Sometimes it is surprising the things that can be Catalysts to a new life.
Photo above: by Sandy McAfee
Photo above: by Sandy McAfee
This Old GuitarThere she is the beautiful thing that saved me, the thing that called to me from the back of the closet and inspired me to write music again. I had never really written much, only teenage awful aching anxty stuff that teens write and never play for anyone, I also didn't perform back then and was actually terrified to even speak in public. Boy how things change.
This guitar felt like home and as you can see she has lots of wear over the last 15 years. The writing of those first songs and a desire to connect to a spiritual community brought me to the people that would listen to those songs and would book me for my first gig. It was a holy crap moment and I will definitely share that story on my YouTube Channel as it evolves so do stay tuned...(see what I did there). That gig would lead to more gigs which led to me writing more and being encouraged to record a CD (ummm what?) and a magical release party. A whole world opened up for me that was not something I had ever thought I would do. I am so grateful to you old faithful guitar (it's odd that she never has had an actual name? weird) thank you for changing my life in so many ways. |
And this is the Van that changed everything......The next step in this musical evolution was for me to get the heck outta dodge... wait it's a dodge caravan so I guess it was for me to actually get
"In to Dodge" ha ha that's funny, I never thought about that before. Through a sequence of events (another story for YouTube) I ended up setting out on a sort of "Eat, Pray, Love" thing, a solo trip across Canada in my van. It was all set up to sleep in and I had everything I needed for a four month journey... ummm actually I had way MORE than I needed but it took me some time to figure that out. The image with the canvas was a cross country art project that a friend and I were collaborating on that came to a sudden halt in Saskatoon when my van was broken into. I was even on CBC News! This trip truly changed my life as I discovered a freedom I had never truly felt before and an appreciation for our country and its diversity. When I landed in Nova Scotia that was the game changer. There I learned about inclusivity and musical community and longed to experience that here out west. It isn't quite the same as it is back there and probably never will be. But I am very proud of all the work I have done in this community to bring a little part of that here. The projects I have created and collaborated on over the past 10 years were all a direct result of this inspirational trip. |