Stop the Trains at Waldron!

The 'Rails'

at

Waldron, Saskatchewan

And so it begins...it was mighty chilly this morning (-18).  A more perfect morning I couldn't imagine though because, as I set up my video camera to catch the 6:24am sunrise, in the distance of azure skies and a sundrop of radiant orange a train whistle broke through the silence calling me home.  Such sweet perfection...I couldn't have scripted it any better!

My mother went into labour while pregnant with me and, despite a snow storm and 30 miles to travel to hospital, she attended to the guests in our home by playing an encore on her auto harp.  (Seriously...that's my mother.)  On November 25, 1967 I was welcomed into the world with music in my soul and, one thing I know for certain, I shall leave having lived the soul of a musician!

Our family farm located a few hundred feet from these tracks was a very modest two room home 'strategically' built right over top landfill site mainly for old vehicles.  It was common to hoe the potatoes (did ALOT of that) and dig up an old car side mirror, handle or some other metal or glass object.  In the back yard a blue clothesline stand that we would stand on as children and shout at the top of our lungs... "Stop the trains at Waldron!!".  If my father, a CN engineer, was on the train we'd hear a couple extra toots to acknowledge our efforts.  

I was reminded today of placing my dreams and pennies to flatten on these rails.  They were my hope for freedom and now they are the very conduit of it.  This trip is a 'journey of a lifetime' and it seems like I've stepped back in time today to gather images.  

In the next blog you'll see the CN train engine with the gracious engineer who gave me two extra toots today.  You'll also see the old truck and Anglican church as well as the boarded up one room school I attended for the first six grades.  

I am overwhelmed with memories and gratitude today.  Blues music has truly saved me!

Keep on keepin' on,

Kat

PS:  I learned today that the Alberta Creative Development Initiative, a joint funding opportunity from the Canada Council and Alberta Foundation for the Arts, approved my application for financial support for the next 6 months to develop this project and my artistic contributions to blues music.  HUGE, and I mean, HUGE thanks to everyone involved in making this happen!