Tag: reflecting back

A 2010s Sendoff: Recapping the Last 10 Years (Part 2):

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2013
Picking up where I left off in the last post, the beginning of 2013 was an emotional rollercoaster. Positively, my best friend and I had applied to be on the first season of The Amazing Race Canada, and to our surprise and excitement, we were making it through the few first rounds of casting. I vividly remember sitting in Swiss Chalet one evening running over the final details of the next round of casting forms and information. This moment was so exciting, as we had been fans of the original version of the show for so long, but it was also a little scary for me; if we were selected, it would mean leaving for 4 months, and as I mentioned previously, my Dad was becoming very sick by this time. In fact, my Dad spent almost the whole month of January in the hospital and would pass away on February 5th.

The first half of 2013 was truly a whirlwind; everything seemed to be happening so fast, yet some moments appeared to stop time. February was both the longest and shortest month of my life; the responsibility that comes with what to do when someone passes away is a long list of formalities, yet you’re also supposed to find the time to grieve. It’s a feeling I still can’t quite articulate perfectly. For me, it was really hard having so many people check up on you all the time, as mostly you end up sounding like a record stuck repeating the same few lines or phrases with every “Is there anything I can do for you?” or “How are you feeling today?” – what are we really supposed to say to people when something like this happens? Losing someone you love is always difficult and the time between my Dad getting really sick and dying was so short, it took me months and months to really process and let myself take the time to understand what had really happened. The fact that I had lost two important people in my life, less than 6 months apart, also made all of this quite difficult to navigate.

The next few months would bring about some exhilarating moments. Jeff and I would buy a house and test out our interior design skills by picking out all the little details from cabinetry to countertops and everything in between. A good friend of ours held a special dinner at their culinary school and it was such an honour to see all his hard work. Spring 2013 also had a trip to Ottawa with some friends to take in a Leafs vs Sens hockey game, The Killers’ concert, and a North Bay reunion. In June 2013 I had my 25th birthday and celebrated by ziplining and throwing one last party/get-together at the house before it sold. Summer was filled with more concerts, camping, the pop-up history of video gaming museum, rafting, wonderland, live wrestling events, and a friends’ wedding! By September 2013, I was offered a promotion at work and would be moving to a new office with new responsibilities; it was exciting and a tad scary to be moving in a bit of a different direction from being in a classroom, but it was definitely the right move.

2013 would close out with a Housewarming, one more trip to Ottawa for hockey, and taking in Les Miserables in Toronto. It probably goes without saying, but despite some great moments, I was ready to see all that 2014 would bring; and boy was it pretty damn great.

2014
Starting off much better than 2013, I had high hopes for 2014. In March, Jeff and I would be getting the keys to our brand new home and would be homeowners for the first time; all that time picking and choosing finishes and the little details would come to life in a place to call our own. It was thrilling and we were looking forward to living in a new town and having new beginnings. In early 2014 I was reunited with a snowboard, and thanks to my best friend, I felt comfortable relearning the proper way to ride. Alas, another house(apartment)warming, and a few more concerts. We were so thankful to be able to host two housewarming parties at our new home: one with our family which our two close friends as chefs prepared, and a second one with all of our closest friends. That year, the Raptors were in the playoffs and we were lucky enough to score tickets to one of the games. That spring, there was treetop trekking, more concerts, like Avicii, and even more treetop trekking. Sadly, we found out our cat Tyson had cancer, and most of 2014 was tough on him and us but we tried to make the most of it and make him as comfortable as possible. Tyson would, in fact, pass away in late August.

2014 was shaping up to be loads of fun, with every weekend bringing on some type of fun and adventure; I remember so vividly all the joyous times and memories I made that year, and it would only get better. As I’ve mentioned in other blog posts, I truly love celebrating my birthday; it’s a day I feel so special and loved and I never tire of making the most of the day and 2014 was no different. With much surprise and excitement, Jeff proposed to me the evening of my birthday. I was returning home from going out for dinner with my family, but Jeff was working later that night and couldn’t join us. When I got home, he had a card and gift ready but insisted on playing me one of my favourite Coldplay songs on the guitar first. As he finished playing, he asked me to read the card, and when I finished, down was Jeff with the box with the beautiful ring inside. Despite us being together for 9 years at that time, I was still surprised, but in the best way! Truly the best birthday to date. A few days later, we’d celebrate my birthday with friends where most of them found out the news.

Summer 2014 featured a few family weddings, more treetop trekking, the Canada Day Blue Jays game, concerts like One Direction and Linkin Park, oh and visiting our friends in Port Carling where we would fish, go golfing for the first time ever and have sushi, and Rogers Cup!

In the fall of 2014, I had the trip of a lifetime, as I was able to visit Walt Disney World with my best friend; it was a dream come true, as I always dreamed of visiting Disney World. While in Florida, we were able to visit Universal Studios, as well as two Disney parks: the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. It was a jam-packed week but absolutely amusing and amazing. At Universal, Simpson Land was definitely a highlight for me, as were the parades and taking photos with characters like Optimus Prime. There was so much to be thrilled about at Disney World; it was incredible meeting so many characters but also seeing how so many of my beloved stories came to life. Highlights included meeting Gaston (arguably one of the most spot-on characters at Disney), getting stuck on the Seven Dwarves Mine Train Ride, and eating at the themed restaurants and snack bars (i.e. Pizza Planet). I truly had the trip of my dreams, and I couldn’t wait to plan the next one. Oh, and in case you were curious or keeping track, that year Michael and I weren’t supposed to eat bread and cheese but I was allowed a free pass so I would be able to have a Krusty Burger and Pizza Planet meal while on my vacation.

2014 would close out with more trekking adventures, a North Bay reunion, boardgame nights, a semi-surprise birthday bash for Jeff, snowboarding nights, oh and a fun work Christmas party and New Year’s Eve bash. All in all, 2014 was fantastic and full of fun, laughs and adventure. Looking back, despite losing Tyson, 2014 was definitely the recharge of light and energy I needed after such a whirlwind of emotions and changes brought on by 2012/2013. I can easily say that 2014 was one of the best years of the decade.

Prepare yourselves for the next blog because 2015 was EPIC!

The Power of Music

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We’ve all had those moments in the car or at home, or even at a party or event where we hear that song and right away we are overcome with memories and emotions; usually about a particular event, time in our life, or perhaps a particular person. More often than not in my own experience, these moments are happy ones that make me smile, laugh, reminisce and even think fondly of the people who are part of those memories. For me (and I am sure most people agree), music has the power to evoke emotion and change my mood, always for the better. The cliche is true in that music is therapy, and lately, I’ve had some artists on repeat (ad nauseam) because I have been thinking about certain people in my life lately and also some specific memories. Thus, I am dedicating this post to some of my favourite artists and will shed some light on what comes to mind when I hear any of their tracks.

Coldplay
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Coldplay, ever since Parachutes was released in 2000 and I was only 12 years old. Coldplay’s music ignites my soul in a way that no other artist can. When Coldplay is blasting through the speakers, more often than not, I am singing along; belting out the lyrics with passion and emotion. For me, Coldplay holds a special place in my heart for many reasons as their music is tied to many memories and moments in my life with the most important people in my life. Most prominently, I have the best Coldplay associated memories with my husband. Our first dance at our wedding was In My Place off of their A Rush of Blood to the Head album; a song that he also played for me on guitar on our prom night, and the night he proposed to me on my birthday. Our first concert together was Coldplay, and we always listened to Coldplay on our dates when we were hanging out. My husband and I have been together for 14 years, so many of the lines about love resonate with my love for him. I’ve also had some great memories associated with Coldplay’s music with my best friend and a few other close friends too. Some songs have gotten me through some trying times emotionally and life-changing events, other songs are instant joy-boosters for me. Some of my favourite tracks include Don’t Panic, Violet Hill, Fix You, Viva La Vida, The Scientist, The Hardest Part, Every Tear Drop is a Waterfall, Hymn for the Weekend, Everything’s Not Lost, Talk, Ink, and Charlie Brown. I could list so many more, but that’s just a start.

Linkin Park
As I mentioned in my Fashion post, I went through a stage as a teenager where I was very much a skater kid, and with that phase came my introduction to punk and (heavier) rock. Hybrid Theory was, and still is, one of my favourite albums (and in my opinion, the best LP album released- yep Jeffery that is directed to you!). I wasn’t emo (for those who don’t know, look it up) but listening to LP sure let me get out any anger or frustrations I may have been harbouring. I never considered myself to be sad, upset, misunderstood or even angry as a teenager, I have always been quite joyful and happy so I wasn’t listening to LP thinking about all my pain and suffering. In fact, I only have one sad memory associated with Linkin Park, and it has to do with when my cat, Tyson passed away. The day we had to rush him to the vet and put him to rest due to his cancer was the same day that I was going to see Linkin Park in concert. I picked up my friend from the bus station and I actually couldn’t find the words to tell him what had just happened earlier that day. Right away he could tell something was wrong, but I couldn’t talk about it. I contemplated not even going to the concert that night but I knew in my heart that going to the show would be very therapeutic for me and there were songs I absolutely need to hear to align with how I was feeling in that moment. Eventually, I was able to share the news about what had just happened, and hearing those LP songs alongside my best friend really helped. So apart from this one memory, I listen to Linkin Park when I am in the mood for a “happy rage;” a phrase actually coined by me and that same friend who I attended the concert with. When Chester took his life in 2017, it really saddened me. It was the same pain you feel when an important person in your life dies. I know that his death affected me so much because LP was such a part of my teenage life, that it was as though a piece of me was damaged and couldn’t ever be repaired. Some of my favourite tracks include Papercut, Points of Authority, With You, Somewhere I Belong, Faint, Bleed it Out, What I’ve Done, Burn it Down, Iridescent, and Guilty All the Same.

Hall & Oates/Huey Lewis and the News
For the last several years I have been obsessed with 80s music, and obsessed is putting it lightly. I’ve always had an appreciation for “oldies music” – music that came before my time- because growing up with older brothers will do that to you – but also because some of the music out there lately is crap. Oh did I really just say that? Bahaha. Anyway, two of my friends and I have been so into 80s music lately it has consumed our chats and playlists whenever we are together, and yes, we’ve started sending 45-second lip-syncing clips to each other; dare I say we are at the 140+ videos mark? Simply the best! Whenever I hear anything from these two artists, I am instantly in a great mood. These songs remind me of so many special times, like Hydra Wine nights, road tripping to Myrtle Beach, and my friend’s wedding day. I love how timeless these artists are, and I never tire of their songs! Some of my favourite tracks are You Make My Dreams, Kiss on my List, Out of Touch, Man Eater, Private Eyes, The Power of Love, Do You Believe in Love, Stuck with You and If This is It … and I could go on and on!

Before I let this post go on forever and ever, I have to touch on a few songs that hold a special place in my heart because they remind me of my Dad. Bob Seger’s Old Time Rock and Roll is one song that is flooded with memories of my Dad. I recall many truck rides where this song would come on and my Dad and I would be singing along together with the music blasting out the rolled-down truck windows. At every wedding we attended as a family, this song always got my Dad up out of his seat to dance and the dance floor became like a karaoke stage. Jumping Jack Flash and Start Me Up by the Rolling Stones always remind of my Dad for similar reasons to Seger’s hit. American Pie was a song that my Dad played on repeat and always reminded me that it would never lose meaning or get forgotten. One time when my Dad was driving me up to North Bay, we talked for almost two hours straight about what some of these songs meant to him growing up and how they made him feel. What was extra special about this conversation is that my Dad and I didn’t have these types of conversations often; my Dad didn’t open up much, and while we were close when he was still alive, we never had deep conversations like these. Thus, I always think of him whenever I hear these songs.

Because music is so universal, it can be quite fascinating to talk to others about the genres and artists that influence you and flood your heart and soul with memories. We all evolve with time, and sometimes our music tastes change too. Writing this blog and thinking about the music that moves me has been quite an enjoyable experience; it solidifies to me how important some moments are to my life and hearing the songs instantly takes me back to those places in time. What a fascinating experience!

What are some of your favourite musicians or groups? I would love to hear about them in the comments!