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In 1755 the Governor of Nova Scotia expelled approximately 10,000 Acadian's (say it fast and with a Francois accent and you'll hear "Cajun"). The French speaking Catholics of Nova Scotia refused to dedicate their political and religious allegiance to Protestant Britain. The expulsion occurred quickly (the painting above) and many Acadian people died en route from Nova Scotia to the lands now known as Louisiana. (Louisiana is the only state which divides itself by 'parrish'es not counties. In fact, Lafayette is part of the parrish of Evangeline.)
The poet Longfellow wrote a beautiful poem, Evangeline, about the journey of the Acadian people and the cultural values and principles that kept this rich community of Cajuns alive to be enjoyed by me and countless others who visit here and take the time to understand an important part of Canadian history and the history of the Acadian people.
Last December when I realized that I needed to make this journey I never realized at the time what magic was occurring in my life. Shortly after making the financial commitment (prior to knowing about the grant monies) I received many new songs. One of them, Passin' Time, was a beautiful gift to write. Prior to writing this song I was not aware of the story of Evangeline, the first time I had the blues, my connection to Acadiana or the memories of waiting outside the bar for hours as a child while my father got drunk.
The lyrics are these:
First time I had the blues I was the age of nine
My father flipped me a nickel, flipped me a dime
Said "stay with the car child, I won't be a short while"
Passin' time
Chips with the nickel, cold pop with the dime
Got my very own jukebox I jus' spin the dial
Minutes to hours I go travellin' in my mind
Passin' time
Emmylou singin' 'bout Evangeline
An' I hop on board that Mississippi Queen
Sweat rolls down my neck in the Delta heat
Blues was sent to save me
Folks stop and stare I tell 'em my father's gone blind
Truth is he done drank a tub of that Beausejour wine
I could...but I ain't gonna cry
Passin' time
This ol' Ford's my Mississippi Queen
I hold sorrows in my heart jus' like Evangeline
My mouth might but my eyes don't lie
Passin' time
The power of music in my life is a healer, a salve. It is a way to begin to understand my childhood experiences in balance. Passin' time is perhaps the most healing song I've ever written and reading Longfellow's poem Evangeline in the Acadian Village amidst antique images of my own story on the farm in Saskatchewan was spectacular!
I know that I've been really deep in this blog but I wanted you to know the importance of today. Picture it in your mind...the film is rolling and the image is me looking in the mirror as a child. Then from out of nowhere a stone is thrown against the mirror. It cracks, fragments, splinters and some pieces fall off completely. If you reverse these images...the film rewinds...then I am looking at myself in the mirror as a child, as an adult. Complete, whole, beautiful and precious. It feels as though I have turned back time so that I can now move forward into the life I was meant to live...this one! Maybe this is why the Zydeco and Cajun traditions have so much joy in their music...because it healed them too...who knows? C'est possible!
Bon nuit mes amis,
KD xo
