(Vote in the Coast’s Best of Music Poll….)

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

It’s official…I’m currently sporting my full length parka with fake fur trimmed hood and I don’t want to take it off. This wearable sleeping bag is a faithful companion in this season that hauls on the mercury….double it up…brrrrrr.

On Saturday the malls had their first midnight-madness-no-tax-day…..people cramming into malls attempting to blast through their gift finding…kids with a fair excuse to be hanging around late…..what is this season even about anyway?

I desire very little this year…consumable gifts are best…time with friends…sharing a meal…going to a movie. This ancient ritual of gift giving loses its love when the thought is left out….I urge us all to think of something extra special to say to someone this year…..could be worth a lot more than a new pair of slippers (though sometimes its nice to get things you really NEED…like a tire gauge..or a good soup pot…ahem).

I wrote a Christmas song. I found myself complaining about the old tired ones we sing every year and wanted to figure out a new way to sing about the season. It’s called “A new kind of light”.

I want to proclaim that I am happy with my life. I’ve been hanging out in new places – places I’ve been to but now I hang out for hours, meet people at random times and drink good coffee. I am busy with little bits of neat work cause I can say yes when I want to. I have yet to be bored or restless. Prettydangcool. I carry my laptop with me and set up shop wherever I land. Perhaps its selfish but I feel very productive and have no shortage of things to accomplish…all on my own terms. I encourage you all to follow your heart cause you CAN be happy and do the things that make you happy….somewhere there is balance.

Past the cusp of this cold, I wish you time with your family, big lingering hugs, a ceasefire, wide teethy smiles, belly laughs, some tradition, some newness, a sense of purpose, long sleeps + intermittent naps, reflection and the knowledge that you are loved.

In my player: Joyce Saunders, Dave Carmichael, Patsy Cline, Clumsy

ps. I met Tom Jackson….AND (i’ll be on the CBC radio this Sat 90.5 in HFX @ 5pm!)

rose