"This Is Here, This Is Now" - Counting Down To The Fortunate Moment

Here and Now at Wolf Trap.

I've finally gotten over that last-minute packing panic that ensued when I very belatedly realised that the brandly new 17-inch laptop was not going to come close to fitting into the old laptop bag (massive brownie points to David for the howlingly successful new-laptop-bag-in-30-minutes scramble) and then the post-shopping-excursion mad dash to the airport; I've since dealt with the two flights, one shuttle and one bus ride, got checked in, had a nap, had breakfast, then another nap. I've been farting around with the new photoediting program I just downloaded this morning via the hotel high-speed connection (try that on my dialup at home and with luck it might be downloaded by Christmas), and while working on a small series of photos from GBS's recent Wolf Trap show - from their Here and Now number, as a matter of fact - I've (more or less) figured out how to use the new laptop (Vista does not suck so much as it's a lot like a nagging fishwife), and I've even come up with some idea of what it is I want to say in the here and now of the last few hours before the London show.

I have just a bit of time before I wander down to check out the Western Fair and see what could be called the 'real" beginning of Great Big Sea's Fortunate Tour, and though I am always going to think of the spectacular Big Weekend - Quebec City, Bluesfest, and Molson - as the true beginning of GBS Here and Now, there are ways and reasons and opportunties to begin anew at nearly every juncture, by definition a steady succession of "Here and Now"s - the moment that we live for repeating itself as many times as we are so fortunate as to be present in the time and place of its blessed occurrence.  

There have been a number of very good comments made here on the past two entries (and elsewhere, as well), comments which are perceptive and thoughtful and kind-hearted and which clearly come from a genuine concern for the well-being and happiness of another. Unselfish generosity is always heartening to encounter, even more so in circumstances and situations where it tends to be somewhat rare.  It's good to be reminded how many good people there are in any particular group; perhaps that reminder should not be as necessary as it apparently is for some of us who momentarily forget that particular truth, but such is life, even this beautiful life. I still haven't had time to answer those comments individually, but they are deeply appreciated and they have certainly been on my mind while travelling.

As have the shows to come, mixed together with all of the thoughts and feelings still present from the shows most recently past, the latter of which was what sent me to those Wolf Trap photos early this morning, in search of a bit of clarity and perhaps even a measure of hopeful reassurance.  What I found there was neither new discovery nor fresh insight; instead, another necessary reminder of yet another truth I already know but had momentarily forgotten: Without caring, there is no need for hope; without caring, there is no cause for concern.

Last but always first (well, to me...just being honest here), as the final notes of Here and Now were lost in the cheers of the 7,000 present at Wolf Trap, the eloquent face that sharpens the fierce edge of hope and stirs the glowing embers of concern.

To the Here and Now of today - four hours and counting to the Fortunate Moment.

******************************************************************************************************************************

For the purists who invaribably let me know they prefer to see the photos "in colour," which in this case is going to mean "in red" (aka GBS Does Dante):