Of compassion and sharing

Last night, Evan and I were getting ready for one of Evan's greatest pleasures: watching cartoons in Daddy's office. I prepared a wonderful snack for this grand affair: slices of pear, and a nice bowl of raisins. While we were watching cartoons, as he sat in Daddy's office chair and eating pears and raisins, Evan looked at me sitting on a wooden box beside him. Without saying a word, he reached into his bowl and passed me a little handful of raisins. Then he went back to eating raisins and watching Max and Ruby.

A simple story, yet I promise you, dear reader, that it occurred exactly as I described it.

The importance of music cannot be understated in society. When I see world news, when I see Gaddafi using cigar sized bullets on his own citizens, when I read about lying Canadian politicians, the only thing that pulls me back is music. Its too much. The soul cannot take so much deception.

I thank God for music, for visionaries like Tom Cochrane, Tim Williams, Tom Waits, Gordie Johnson, Leonard Cohen, Mike Plume, and Chris Rea. For having the strength to create music to lift the spirits of those who listen. For having the creativity to enlighten us with a message you want to send. Whether you sing about the Alberta oilpatch, a baseball player and Marilyn Monroe, a picture in a frame, or an Inn, you have brightened my existence in such a profound way, I don't know how to thank you.

But let me just say, Thank you.