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"Published in The Ottawa Citizen, March 14, 2004"

#3 Writings from the road

"The most important relationship you will ever have is with the present moment, regardless of what is happening in your life, or in the rest of the world." Daniel Millman

By Wendy DeMos

Edmonton, home of the West Edmonton Mall.

Okay, I admit it. I love the place.

My brother John, his wife and daughter live a couple of blocks from Canada's largest mall and during my week-long stay, I made good use of this convenience.

I connect well with my brother. John's the most musical of my three siblings. He's a major music lover and probably has one of the largest music collections in Alberta. It was his record collection that I listened to as a youngster. It was his guitar that I first learned to play as a teenager.

But soon enough, this week of home-cooked meals and family comfort is over with a six-hour drive to the next destination: Lethbridge.

This is one of my most "prestigious" gigs of the Canadian leg of the tour. A listening folk club in Lethbridge, a few hours south of Calgary.

By all accounts, it was a successful concert. An encore even! Made my heart fill up five times its size.

Then, as icing on the cake, the manager put my signed poster up on the wall by a couple dozen posters of others who have played there: Lynn Miles, the Wyrd Sisters, Tamarack, Michael Jerome Brown, Aengus Finnan to name just a few.

I felt so proud to have my poster up there with these singer/songwriters that I admire so much.

But I couldn't linger too long after the Lethbridge concert. I had to be in downtown Calgary by 9 a.m. the next morning to play for a yoga class at Lululemon, a yoga experience.

Arrived just in time to grab my guitar, sit at the side of the yoga class and follow the pace of the yoga teacher with instrumentals. The energy in the room was wonderful. Yoga makes you very present. Very aware of your senses, and therefore, highly conscious of the sounds from my guitar and voice. It was very satisfying.

Next stop, Vancouver.

The drive across B.C. from Calgary was beautiful. Stopped in Banff for breakfast and the rest of the drive continued to be gorgeous. And uneventful - thankfully. I was a bit nervous about going over the Rockies.

Drove down the stunning Coquahalla Highway to cut time and made it into Vancouver while it was still light, and I could walk my dog Mieke in Stanley Park.

While in Vancouver, I performed at Lululemon and met Diane Mulvey, who is opening a Lululemon store in Ottawa this spring. She's originally from Ottawa and told me the story of how she recently dropped a well-paying corporate job in Vancouver to start with Lululemon, move back to Ottawa and open a shop in the Westboro area.

"I decided to surround myself with people who have similar beliefs in spirituality, health and well-being."

I also felt like family at this Vancouver store and was sort of sad to say goodbye to my new friends, to leave Canada and head south into the U.S.

I reached the U.S. border early on a Monday morning and was worried the Customs officials would make a mess of my organized van. To call such a small place your home, you have to be very orderly with your clothes, shoes, cooler, toiletries, books, CDs, dog food.

Speaking of which, the only thing the officer at Customs was concerned about was Mieke's kibble and where it was manufactured. Fortunately it was made in the U.S. so Mieke got to keep her dinner.

In Seattle I noticed a different attitude to live music. Canadians are appreciative with applause. But in the States, Americans show their appreciation through applause and tips, with cafe owners providing only meals and drinks. Helps out between the better paying house concerts.

Every once in a while I'll get a rush throughout my body and a sense of gratitude. How delightful to be in Seattle, to be singing my songs, my great dog with me. The company of thoughtful people I meet. A dependable van. I feel so grateful for all the amazing events and people in my life.

Though sometimes I miss the closeness of friends and conversation on this tour, I realize I meet more people and find out about how others live when I travel alone.

And Mieke is a definite friend maker. Her shaggy, huggable body along with her gentle temperment makes everyone fall in love with her. On the streets it's "What kind of dog is she?" "How old is she?" "Where did you get her?" "She should be in the movies."

I'm starting to sound like a recording with "She's a Bouvier/Collie cross. Almost five years old and I got her at the Pound."

Yes, I think I will check out animal agents once I reach L.A.

For now, destination: Ashland, Oregon.

I arrived in early evening to this delightful town and home to a popular Shakespeare Festival. I love it here! Friendly folks. A small town with a big-city feel. And synchronicity happening all over the place.

It started when I arrived and realized why I pulled off into Ashland in the first place. I thought I recognized the name because I had played there before but it was because many interesting new-agey types live here or nearby.

People like Neale Donald Walsch, who wrote "Conversations With God." Or other spiritual authors such as Jean Houston, Gary Zukav, Ilana Rubenfeld and more.

Once I arrived in Ashland and ate dinner, I checked out a club called the Wild Goose that had nightly live entertainment.

The staff and patrons welcomed me and arranged for me to play a few songs before the scheduled band began.

They seemed to like my songs and some music-bookers even offered venues for me to play in coming months.

Though I know I'll be back in this great town of Ashland, Oregon, tomorrow I head off to Berkeley, Calif.

I look forward to surprising Sherry. My friend in this progressive, university town knows I'm coming but has no idea when I'm arriving.

While driving down the 5 toward Northern California, I plan my surprise.