Normally I save Saturdays for a long run in the woods on the mountain of love. But I am taking a little vacation from volunteer chores at the street mission, so I can change the running schedule as I please.
I walked from my shack over Mt. Royal and down the other side, towards the mighty St. Lawrence river, to the neighbour- hood called Monkland. A big street festival going on there, thousands of happy hip people on a hot, sweaty day. Good music, food & drink.
The main reason for going was the screening of the last concert by The Tragically Hip, live from Kingston, on huge big screen provided by CBC.
I run out of words to describe the show. It was a deeply moving, spiritual, magical event, to be sure.
The front man, the one and only Gord Downie has an inoperable brain tumour. Cancer. This was the last show of a country-wide tour. Unbelievable atmosphere out on the street, singing and screaming with about 6,000 sweaty people, ecstatic, but sad, as well. I have never seen so many people crying, singing, laughing and crying again.
Something deeply magical happened last night, all across this country, with outdoor screenings and combined CBC Radio and television. The Olympic coverage got interrupted for it.
Very unusual emotional convergence and coherence last night.
Lots of people got kissed by total strangers last night. We all came together. Unprecedented.
My legs started to turn into jelly after about 75 minutes standing on the street. I came back home by bus & metro. As I came back to my shack and turned radio on, I heard the second and third encores, with tears streaming down my face.
It has started to rain just now. Tears from the sky. I think I will have a good run on the mountain of love. |