Riffs, Rants & Remarks by Jason Hayward

Some of my friends have been asking me about my pre-Christmas road trip, which I had been planning and talking about for most of last fall.

Shortly after I got back from Korea, I thought it would be nice to to skip town for a while at some point later in the fall, clear my head and all that, get a change of scenery and so on.   For one reason or another, I ended up sticking around until a couple weeks before the holidays.  I was plannning to meet up with friends in Halifax and then in Toronto, even heading to Fort Mac for a bit before meeting Hana in Toronto.  Had I been further ahead with production on my album, I probably would have left much sooner - by the end of November for sure - but that wasn’t the only reason why I felt compelled to stay behind longer.  Certainly, learning of Robyn’s passing, took the wind out of my sails.  But, finally when it did seem right, on Thursday morning, December 10, I hit the road.  As it turned out, I couldn’t have picked a worse time to set out given impending weather conditions.

That being said, I quite enjoy driving anyway, particularly highway driving, and even in the worst conditions, provided the roads are clear enough and you can see ok.  To me, the worst condition is heavy fog, when you can’t see more than a few feet in front of you.  But driving on the open road at the quiet of dawn is nice and relaxing.  I got on the highway around 7am and even though I only had a few hours sleep, the excitement and great tunes kept me awake.  I was “introduced” to Bob Mackowycz and his 6 a.m. CBC RAdio 2 Morning show and now I’m a big fan.   He played so many great tunes that morning and some of the highlights I included in the my post called “on my travels.”  Also, that driving across the island that morning reminded of just how beautiful Newfoundland is.  For example, driving through Terra Nova park with a light snowfall was like driving into a postcard, and I was on cloud nine.  There were several other such moments throughout the day (and, admittedly, my good mood was fuelled as much by Tim Horton’s and Irving coffee as it was by the music and scenery).

The worst of the weather and road conditions were from Gander to Deer Lake.  At times i was driving so slow that I thought I would never make it to Port-aux-Basques by the end of the day.  But I arrived at the ferry terminal around 7pm after 12 hours of almost straight driving.  I didn’t stop for a proper meal until about an hour before reaching the terminal.  Unfortunately, as I arrived, the front gate had just received word that the MV Caribou would not be departing that evening as scheduled, due to high winds and sea conditions on the gulf (later I would appreciate NOT being able to set sail, witnessing the raging sea for myself on my drive back).   Since there was no firm indication of when we’d actually leave, I decided to stay in the line-up, expecting that we meet board sometime throughout the night and leave in the morning.  I stayed in my car the whole night alternating between episodes of cranking up both the car heat and the stereo volume (with the window slightly down, of course) and episodes of restless sleep under layers of extra clothes and a fleece blanket.  I woke up to a raging blizzard around 10am and some terminal staff yelling at the people in the car in front of me (license plate: New York - poor souls), telling them to check back frequently because the weather might change anytime.  Well, we weren’t so lucky.  I decided to check into a hotel and off to Hotel Port-aux-Basques I went.

It’s quite a nice hotel actually, although I felt it a little on the expensive side.  There are only two hotels in P-a-B itself, as far as I can tell,  and this one was first on the list of those in the area that I got from the terminal ticket booth.  My first room wasn’t that impressive given the $150 price tag but, lucky for me, they were still doing maintenance on the bathroom and the front desk wasn’t aware of it, so I got moved to another room on the opposite end of the hotel.  This was much, much nicer and seemed to warrant the price a little better.  Perhaps, they wer in the middle of a hotel-wide upgrade.  Either way, I couldn’t help but thinking, why didn’t they put me there first?  My synical side led me to think it might have been my unkempt appearance in my sweats and my scruffy beard that prevented me from getting the nice room at first.  Who knows?

Anyway, I enjoyed the R&R time and realized it was much needed.  I caught up on my sleep, had a nice salmon dinner in the hotel restaurant and did some reading.  On Saturday, there was still no definite schedule for the ferry but they were planning to load in the evening.  The weather seemed like it wasn’t too bad but the winds were still high.  Unfortunately, ferry officials were saying that it was likely that the ferry would not be leaving until some time on Sunday and the worst case scenario was still a possibilty - that even after a Saturday evening loading, the ferry might not be able to leave until Monday.  So, since Hana was arriving in Toronto Monday afternoon and I was still basically two days’ drive away, I decided to make the trek back across the island.  I got my dad to book a Monday morning flight for me and off I went.  

So much for a  road trip in 2009.

[I wrote this post this past weekend.  Since I've been having trouble lately accessing this blog for some reason,  I've been unable to edit and publish it until now]

Last week was definitely filled with both love and music.  But it was also a bit of a strange week because of its wide arrange of emotions.  It was a week filled with sadness and stress, as well…

First of all, I’ve been enjoying hanging out with my girlfriend Hana.  We’ve been having a great time over the holidays mostly just hanging out and spending time with my family.  Also, the past ten days we’ve been house-sitting for my friend Dave chafe and his wife Joan and looking after their two pets, dog Gracie and cat Sophie.  It seems we are surrounded by love all the time!

On Monday past I started working on my music again and I’m very excited.  One of my first priorities has been to finish the music for my sister’s wedding, which is coming up in a few weeks.  I’m very happy with it so far and just this weekend finished the bridal fanfare and processional music.  I’ll likely post some of it on my Myspace account real soon.  So, both love and music have been constants all week.  I’ve also begun working on my own music again this past week, preparing some new material which will probably find its way onto an album this spring.  I’ve yet to revisit my first album project which I’ll get to next week, I’m sure.  And, I’m always exploring the music world and finding all kinds of interesting stuff, some of which I’ll definitely share on my blog by providing links. 

Unfortunately, I’ve felt an increase in stress and anxiety recently.  I’ve been having problems with anxiety for quite a long time now, starting just before I returned from Korea.  It probably stems from the fact that I don’t really know what I’m doing with my life and also from feeling like people all around me sort fo expect me to know at this stage in my life.  And I figure I’ve felt it go up a notch basically because I’ve been unable to establish any sort of music “career” since I’ve been back here and I’m starting to feel a little bit of pressure.  And so I’ve been having trouble sleeping and keeping my patience under control at times.

I’ve also been quite a bit preoccupied over the holidays.  In spite of all the holiday preparations and happenings, my thougts have never been far from Robyn and her family.  This past week, in particular, has been filled with a deep sadness.  Jan 5th was the anniversary of Robyn’s passing, and so I’ve been thinking so much about her and of course the extremely difficult time this has been for her family.  After talking to her mother on Wednesday, I went to visit her grave at the Anglican Cemetery on Kenmount Road.  There is a beautiful monument - outstandingly so, actually - to mark her resting place and I spent a few quite moments there at sunset.  Her grave stone is marked “Life is a song.  Love is the music.”

(I wrote this a week ago but forgot to publish it - some stunned wha?)

I must say, I had a great Christmas.  Missed some of my friends that I didn’t get to see for various reasons but I enjoyed spending the majority of my time with my family and girlfriend.  My sister and her fiance arrived in the afternoon on Christmas day so we delayed the usual Christmas morning romp through presents until later.  First on the agenda was to stuff ourselves with turkey, vegtables, wine and dessert.  Throughout the weekend, we stayed close to home for the most part, playing a lot of board games, doing puzzles and listening to holiday music.  Hana and I went to the Ship Monday night and heard some great local music courtesy of Alan Ricketts, Sherry Ryan, and Joe Belly and the Sin City Ramblers.    We both really enjoyed all three sets and will definitely be looking out for future performances of these fine musicians/songwriters. 

Last night we went to see the new “Sherlock Holmes” movie with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law which I enjoyed a lot.  It was nice to see a disheveled, tough, somewhat obnoxious version of the Holmes character rather than the usual “refined English gentleman” sort.  Likewise, this take on Watson’s character sees him as a more athletic, adventurous type, though sophisticated as well, as opposed to the more frail, portly man always in Holmes’ shadow.  In this movie he is key part of the drama.  Admittedly, it was easy for me to like this movie anyway, because I do like these two actors and I’ve always been a big fan of Holmes and these types of stories.

Hana and I will be house sitting for friends until January 10.  We are looking forward to the the change of scenery and having a space to ourselves for a little while.  But I say “ourselves” loosely because we will be taking care of pets, too - dog Gracie and cat Sophie. 

I’m excited that Hana is now staying until my sister’s wedding on February 7th.  And this reminds me; I have to get back to working on the music right away!  I have everything composed, for the most part,  but not arranged yet.  Still a little bit of work ot do on that.   I’m also anxious to get back at my own stuff, possibly even finishing my very first album in a few weeks!!

Well, it’s time to get back to work on my music.  One of my projects already in progress is  a collaboration with my friend, Mark Hoffe, who is a local writer and film-maker.  We are working on a short (4-6 min) music-film piece called “The Key of W.”   This title is taken from a quote by saxophonist Roland Kirk during a live performance, which was featured on a documentary about music and sound (also featuring narration by composer John Cage).  The following is a description of our project.

The central idea of the piece, in musical terms (and in vague compositional terms), is to explore a ‘melodic process’ whereby a motif geminates from a small cell into an extended line.  This, of course, can happen in a seemingly infinite array of procedures and contexts (just look at the history of Western music!).  Specifically for this piece, the idea is to have a central pitch (and, actually, a series of them) from which the melody stems gradually as notes are added above and below.  The central pitch serves as a melodic axis point and notes are added in succession at equal intervals above and below -intervals which increase in size (semitones, whole tones, minor thirds, major thirds, etc.).

As the melody expands, shifts in meter are necessary as cell groupings proceed from groups of two to three, then four, five, etc.  Because the duration of each note is the same (an eight note, to be exact), the melody spins out into increasingly longer groupings and thus, the feeling of where the accents are placed - the principal one being the return to the starting pitch - changes or unfolds as the piece does. this lends the music a playful and unpredictable character.

While any given “central pitch” or melodic axis point serves as somewhat of a tonal center, the tonality of the piece is necessarily and intentionally ambiguous (hence, the title).  As you can easily hear, the piece is very chromatic and there is little, if any, blatant reference to the major-minor tonal system, and certainly no appearance of familiar scales or modes nor tertian chord structures (chords built in thirds). to further enhance the tonal ambiguity, two harmonic techniques are used: quartal harmony (chords built in fourths) and parallel chord motion.

Apart from the idea described above, which is more about specific procedure, the broader concept is, as mentioned, toying with tonal ambiguity, and also, exploring the aesthetic continuum between a very systematic approach or process and the sense of the unpredictable. On the surface these two notions seem contradictory, but it is through the music and its “affect” that the camaraderie of the two becomes evident.

As for Mark’s interpretation and what he’s trying to capture through film…well, you’ll have to ask him.  [Perhaps, he'll leave a comment here to explain further.]

…I discovered some new Canadian music. I’ll make a list here so people can check it out.

Two artists from Toronto, both with a classic, retro sound steeped in swing-style jazz and blues, but with contemporary, cutting-edge style lyrics:

Lily Frost - gorgeous!  People should check out, among the others, a song called “Enchantment” - a real gem!! www.lilyfrost.com
www.myspace.com/lilyfrost

Big Rude Jake - very cool!  I heard “Swing Baby” first, which I loved.  His other stuff seems to be a bit more mellow, but i think that’s simply the direction he’s taken for his latest album, Quicksand.

www.myspace.com/therealbigrudejake
www.bigrudejake.ca

I think people should check out CBC Radio 2 morning show with Bob Mackowycz.  I tuned in for the first time on Dec 10th and now I’m a big fan.  Unfortunately, it’s a chore to get up for the 6am start, but it’s a great way to start the day for those early birds out there.  I’m inclined to get up, put on a pot of coffee, and catch up up on some email and other internet stuff while listening to the show and then take a nap when it’s finished!

Some great “new” (at least, new to me) artists I heard that first morning (and you can check them out on MySpace, too):

1) David Myles: East Coast folk/blues guitarist won ECMA Folk Record of the Year

2) Chloe Albert: her music is acoustic folk/pop that is seriously groovy and tinged with jazz and country - excellent singer and songwriter

3) Jeremy Fisher: acoustic folk-rock that you can to party to, but with lyrics that make you stop, listen and think.  check out the song “Sula” - it’s so much fun!

4) Alex Cuba: Juno Award-winning, Cuban-Canadian singer/songwriter now based in B.C.; music is a blend of pop and Latin jazz

Believe me, you won’t regret taking the time to look these artists up on the internet.  Do it!  Go, go, go…

I was reminded today of a great quote that I read last week - in a collection of essays about music called Best Music Writing 2009 - which I think everyone should read and consider.

“Never explain.  Your friends do not need it, and your enemies will not believe you anyway.” 

These are the words of Elbert Hubbard, an American philosopher, illustrator and (apparently) soap salesperson, in 1896.  A writer by the name of J. Bennett cites the quote at the beginning of his essay on punk musician Jay Reatard (a.k.a Jay Lindsey, from Memphis Tennessee) called “Shit Magnet” - can’t help but smile when I think of this piece.  Jay Reatard alludes to the quote in the interview that is the basis of the article.

I really like this quote.  I often feel compelled to verbalize my rationalizations for doing various things - like going  on this road trip, for example, or anything else that might seem out of the ordinary for me to do.  And, most of the time, it kind of bothers me - that I feel like I somehow owe it to people, that is.  My teacher, Valerie and I were talking about this today.   We both agree that I don’t owe anyone an explanation for why I’m taking off on a road trip at this time of year.   I misquoted Hubbard’s words, basically saying that anyone but friends often won’t understand explanations, so why bother?  With that in mind, I’d actually like to amend the quote to the following:

“Never (feel the need to) explain.  Your friends do not need it, and your enemies will (either) not believe you OR not understand you anyway.”

It would seem, then, that I share a similar philosophy to a famous punk musician from Memphis, not to mention that we have a similar first name and not to mention that my friends often call me a…oh, never mind…

…for anybody checking in occasionally.

I got a new keyboard on Friday - a Korg M50 (61 keys).  So, basically, you know what I was doing every spare moment over the weekend! Now my little home studio consists of a PC, on which I run SONAR, a Tascam digital recorder, an AKAI MPC 5000 and my new Korg. It’s certainly shaping up nicely.  If only I can figure out how to use it to make money… hmmmm.  The biggest question I have is: can I at least produce a decent quality demo with this gear?  I’m pretty sure I can, but I’m still ramping up on how to use it all.  It’s taking a lot of time.  I must say though, I’m having a blast - and I suppose that’s the main thing (well, something to show for it financially would be nice).  In fact, in spite of all the ups and downs lately, I think I’m having more fun making music these days than I ever have!  [more on my how my first album is coming along another time - it's in process, most importantly].

I spent most of the day today organizing and de-cluttering and doing last minute errands before I head out on my road trip on Wednesday (shooting for arrival in Toronto sometime on Saturday).  I’ll be back on Saturday Dec 19th, if all goes well.   Since my plan to travel has been delayed so many times for so many reasons, I’ve been debating whether or not to actually follow through on it.  But, I just feel the need to get away for a little bit.  I know I’m a little crazy for going on a road trip this time of year, especially considering the huge snowstorm we just had yesterday, but…there it is.

So many of my thoughts and prayers continue to be with Robyn and her family, and I’m certain this will always be the case.  I hope anyone reading this will take it upon themselves  to remember, at least occasionally (and in prayer, if you can handle it), all those, whose Christmas season - a time so much about love and family - has been brutally and irreversibly scarred by the loss of a loved one.  My heart constantly aches for them.

[and, Robyn, we love and miss you SO much]

We all walk what we regularly refer to as thin lines from time to time.  You know the kind - the kind where one side is basically the opposite scenario or situation from the other and it doesn’t seem to take much prompting to end up on either side of that line, one side being a negligible distance from the other.  Well, I feel creative artists often walk a thin line between inspiration and despair!  I say it’s a thin line between these two because the same kind of stimulus - listening to great music for example, which I alluded to in my last post - can send you either way, depending, perhaps, on whatever mood you’re in or some other unpredictable factors.  So, upon hearing that heart-wrenchingly, beautiful piece of music you might slip to either side of that line.  On the one hand, you’re really inspired and you dig into your own projects or start something new with great gusto and zeal.  OR… you find yourself thinking, “I have so much work to do” or “I could never come up with something so wonderful”, etc. and then you become stalled in despair.  There’s SO MUCH fantastic art out there that it can sometimes be overwhelming, either in a positive way or a negative way.  It seems to me that what should always be such a positive experience could easily send you spiraling in the opposite direction sometimes.  Of course, if you’re one of those perfectly self-assured and confident artists you needn’t ever worry about this.

I’ve heard such great music since I’ve been back in St. John’s, some it live (and, some of which, I’ve written about here) and some of it on recordings.  Heaven knows I’ve continued to feed my addiction to buying recordings!  Also, my friend Brad Jefford, whom I mentioned last time, has a ton – literally several days worth – of fantastic (and…sigh, usually, inspiring) stuff on his computer.  We have a blast when we’re hanging out listening to all sorts of stuff and talking about the music.  Most of it has been stuff that I likely wouldn’t have come across otherwise – Brad got much of it while studying jazz up at St. Francis Xavier – so I’ve been really grateful.  All of this awesome music has kept me pumped for a while now, until this week…

In spite of the fact that I know (purely on an intellectual level) that 1) I’ve had a productive fall, writing new pieces of music and polishing or re-working older ones and 2) I’ve made great progress at the piano, playing – thanks to Valerie – stuff I would never have been able to just a few months ago, I’ve found myself bogged down in a quagmire of self-doubt and regret.  Interestingly, it all happened so fast and anyone who read my last post witnessed the moment before the transformation.  I was so hyped about the last music I heard at Brad’s and I even posted about it last time.  But then, magically (the black kind probably), a switch was flipped in my brain and here I am, feeling like I’m not worthy to call myself a “real” musician, a pro - more than just a hack.

But, I’ll keep plugging away because I HAVE to.  I can’t do anything else.  Nothing is remotely as fulfilling, even given all the times of discouragement.  I keep getting discouraged mainly because I don’t possess the degree of musicianship I keep hearing.  I suppose I just have to have faith that what I do have is ultimately “enough” somehow.  We’ll see…

I’m feeling super-inspired today - but also sort of like “I haven’t been doing enough” or “I haven’t accomplished enough” (bottom line: NOT ENOUGH) - thanks to some music I heard at my friend, Brad Jefford’s house. Man, he’s got some incredible stuff on his iTunes!

here are MySpace links for two artists that really spoke to me today:

1) Dominique Eade is an amazing jazz vocalist and composer, performing with awesome musicians.  With a rich, full-bodied sound throughout her whole range, she sings with a low register that’s reminscent of Diana Krall and also with a beautiful higher range.  Her scatting skills are astounding, delivering crystal clear lines that would be the envy of any jazz instrumentalist, let alone vocalist.  She’s a very interesting songwriter as well.

http://www.myspace.com/dominiqueeade

2) Django Bates is a fantastic versatile composer and instrumentalist originally from the U.K.  but now based in Danemark, I think.  He blends a wide variety of influences and has quite the bag o’ tricks, yet none of his music sounds cliche or contrived.  He exploits ‘chops galore’ but is never pedantic.  He weaves interesting, unique textures and demands artistry from his performers that definitely thrills and delights, but in a sincere, intriguing way rather than in a “showy” way. 

http://www.myspace.com/djangobates

OK, I have to get to work!  So much to do….

Dear Robyn,

Where do I begin?  I have so much to tell you that it could take several letters to get it all out.  What I manage to write here today is only a small token of how deeply I feel.  I still can’t believe I’m writing such a letter to begin with.  This whole past week has often seemed so surreal.  I can’t express the pain and shock I’ve felt during this time, since I learned, just over a week ago, of your tragic passing last winter.  You’ve been on my mind constantly. I’m heartbroken, Robyn, I really am.  Somehow my sorrow is compounded by the fact that I was too far outside your social sphere to receive word of your accident at the time.  I regret so much that we weren’t closer, I really do.  However, you have been closer to my heart than you could’ve ever known.  I often thought about you during my time in Korea, particularly wondering how you were doing with your music.  And, since coming back, I had wondered many times how you were, and thought how awesome it would be to finally cross paths with you again.  I’m ashamed that all these months I didn’t know. 

I also regret so much that you likely didn’t know just how highly I held you in my esteem.  This past week I’ve often wept with such wrenching sobs racking my body, I can barely breath.  Those of us who have been touched so profoundly by your presence in our lives know all too harshly the void that now exists in your absence.  Those who did not have the privilege of knowing you, even for a short time, as I did (and I want you to know from the bottom of my heart how grateful I am for this time) are mercifully unaware of the tremendous loss to our community that has occurred - loss of your humanitarian kindness (I’ve only just learned of all your charitable volunteering), loss of your glorious and heart-melting musical talents, and the loss of so much love and beauty.  I weep for the loss of so much human potential on so many fronts, as much as I weep for the loss of the greatest kind of friend, daughter, sister, etc. that anyone could ever know. 

My weeping is often triggered by listening to your music, which I’ve done about as much as I can handle so far.  Robyn, what can be said that hasn’t been said about your singing? My God, that voice of yours is stunning!  I’ll never forget the time I first heard you sing.  It was on the Celtic fiddler’s Christmas CD.  I was in my car and I popped in the CD, immediately going to your first solo track, “Cherry Tree Carol.”  Well, my jaw literally dropped and I was awestruck.  What a lovely rich and smooth sound, so natural and unforced and 100% sincere; nothing ‘put on’ at all -absolutely no pretension whatsoever.  It resonated so deeply within me.  I became a huge fan just like that, playing this track and ‘O Holy Night’ over and over again!  You were all of 16, Robyn, sounding at least 26, even older!!  Also, very suddenly, the depth of your personality, your humility, your warmth, and your outgoing, down-to-earth nature took on even greater meaning.  I remember thinking, “Is this girl for real?” 

Now, listening to the new CD, I realize that, at 19, you’ve become a seasoned pro and, in my opinion, you sound better than many of the world’s accomplished singers.  It kills me to think what you could do given more time.  I couldn’t possibly hear enough of you.  And, I really think all these recordings are precious treasures.  We are so blessed to have your singing on record.  I bet you never knew that “Fields of Gold” is one of my favorite songs.  I hope to record it myself someday.  It has now taken on new meaning.  With all my heart, I’m looking forward to the day when I can walk among the fields of barley with you.  And, when that happens, would you do me the incredible honor of singing with me for a while? Just imagining now how wonderful that would be, certainly can’t come close to the actual glory of such a moment, which, I can assure you, I’ll be praying for.

Robyn, I’d like to make you some promises ["I never made promises lightly/And there have been some that I’ve broken/But I swear in the days still left…”].  I promise I’ll never forget you.  I promise I will always honor and cherish your memory.  I promise I will share your legacy by sharing the gift of your music, those precious treasures that are the songs you’ve recorded.  Some of those unlucky ones - the ones who never knew you - will eventually know and love you, I personally guarantee it.

Thank you for being the angel-incarnate that you were.  Thank you in advance for all the sublime moments in life and music, for me and for others, that come directly from your spirit and your memory - the memory of who you were as a person and as a musician - and in your honor.  Just to say that you’ve inspired others seems so trite in comparison to the depth of my conviction on the matter.    But the fact is, you have, indeed, inspired and touched so many people, Robyn, in so many ways and to such a great extant – much more significantly than most people who live three of your lifetimes.  Thinking about you this past week has made me want to be a better man, seriously.  A lot better, full of love and joy and compassion for others, living as you did, with warmth and good humor.

And, in fact, I feel I’m on fire right now, because of you and your spirit.  I feel you’ve given me so much.  For one thing, you’ve erased all doubts about my pursuing a career in music.  You and your legacy have ignited in me such an intense passion  for life and for music, more than I’ve ever felt before, I swear.  I’ve even dusted off my bodhran and my whistles and I will play in your honor!  Forgive me if I seem melodramatic, but I have now vowed to the heavens that I will devote myself to music and to cultivating my talents.  And Robyn, because of you, I will sing with all my heart, for you and in your stead.  Again, I promise.  If I can capture just one small fraction of the effortless beauty and joy you brought to your music-making, I will consider msyelf successful.  Most importantly, I’ll open myself to the endless array of opportunities to share joy and laughter and love with others, just as you did. 

Another thing: I feel like I’m bursting with love for you and your family.  I promise that whatever I can do to help your loved ones make it through what is undoubtedly still such a difficult time, I will do it and be proud.  I’m so proud to have known you, so proud that you came into my life and touched me so deeply. 

In my heart of hearts, with every ounce of my being, I know we will meet again, Robyn.  I’m sure so many others are counting on the same thing.  In the meantime, we can all be thankful for dreams and for visions in which you appear, as we bask in the presence of your spirit (and your lovely smile).  Wherever you are, I hope there really are golden fields, plentiful and stellar.  I hope the blue skies are clear as crystal and the breeze blows as gentle as a lullaby.  And you, the loveliest flower that has thus far graced the heavens. 

Well, my dear, the Fields of Gold await…

With love and adoration,

J