Uncommon Sense

A few days ago a group of fine folks - 50 or so on 12+ sailboats, who have been taking 10 day sailing adventures together annually for 48 years, made Bowen Island one of their ports. They had arranged for a private concert at Doc Morgans by the Marina and the next day they took me on a race around Bowen. My shipmates let me take the helm when the wind was doing what every sailor waits for. It was SUCH a thrill! I grew up on boats as a kid in the San Francisco Bay, but never had anyone handed me the wheel under sail. Whoah! I get it now. It gives wind power a whole other meaning! I’m telling you all this to give context to the photo as I continue to take baby steps towards reclaiming our Canadian flag as a positive symbol. To me it has always meant safe harbour, open heartedness, kindness, hardiness, and grace. In Canada, we apologize, admit our fallibility and humanity and work to move forward. The maple leaf needs to return to its original meaning. Maybe we need to add some tiny addition to convey our reclamation of what it signified before it was so sullied. A tiny heart at the stem of its leaf?

All we have to do is look down south for some perspective. I can’t even bear to comment on recent events. So much violence, insanity, and heartbreak. I’m sure others have seen this: “When my child hits another child with a stick, I don’t blame the stick, but I still take the stick away.” I’ll never understand how we got here. No country is perfect, given it’s governed by humans, but I will never lose my sense of gratitude that I landed in Canada.

How about a squirrel moment? I was looking at some concert footage from an artist I’d never heard of, a young female singer songwriter. I was captivated - loved her voice, her musicianship, her songwriting. All of it. I thought….ooh, I’m going to track her down for a SongBird North! Of course facebook is the first place I went. Though I was disappointed to see many of the cliché sexy pouty lipped selfies that seem to be de rigueur for young women these days, I was even more surprised at how provocative and sexual so many of the other photos were. Truly over the top - at least my version of the top! And trust me - if you knew my past, I have hardly been conservative! I grew up in the San Francisco Bay area in the 60’s after all! (As I’ve promised before, it will all be in the book!) So here’s my confession and dilemma - It actually deterred me from wanting to book her. And my reaction was perplexing.

It would be easy to write me off as simply being out of step with the younger generation. The defence is invariably that a woman should be able to dress and behave however she chooses without being “shamed”. If she wants to have a “come get me” vibe, or 2” long nails to spear her prey, that is her personal choice. Yes… that’s true. But is she aware of WHY she is making that choice? Is it really a personal expression or what has been fed to her as being her most accessible and reliable currency?

I remember when I went from the Pied Pumkin and Hometown Band, with my long skirts and bare feet, to a solo career and a record deal and on to spandex, sequins and very big hair! (Well, it was the 80’s after all.) I was often asked in interviews about the image change. I responded with full conviction, that it was me simply growing up and evolving. But in fact it was me trying to fit in with what was expected of me by the times and the music business. It had nothing to do with personal and individual expression. So I get it. It’s what we do when we’re young. But that didn’t stop me from wanting to tell her how it affected me. How I wished she saw her currency as her wonderful voice, her presence, her originality and songwriting and not her body and seductive poses. Of course, I feel that about most young female artist’s videos and photos. Time for another round of consciousness raising!

I should note this is more of an inquiry than a statement. It’s a loaded subject. And thanks to mulling for a couple of days if it was appropriate to share, I am now sending this on the very eve of Tuesday evening’s SongBird North which was the main reason for the timing of this newsletter! DOH!!

Ok - final squirrel! I just got dose #4. First in line for boosters and free passenger travel on BC Ferries during the week - senior perks delight me! As we continue to enjoy a return to some semblance of normalcy, travel, and long overdue memorials, weddings, concerts and selective freedom from masks, let us not miss the point that this progress is solely thanks to all who got vaccinated. For those of you who refused. You’re welcome - (laced with no small degree of sarcasm.)

The usual request for forgiveness for typos. Life is just too short to triple check. I wish you a smokeless, beautiful summer, connecting with friends, family and loved ones. Life is so damn precious.

Please do keep in touch!

Shari