Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - Hugh's Room Birthday and Book event for Gordon Lightfoot

lighthead2toe · 11-18-2014, 04:16 PM

It was a most memorable event despite the winter wind turning heads and the gales of November remembered.

However, I would to start with saying how thankful a feeling it is to have Gordon Lightfoot with us at 76 years of age, looking real good and still out there performing for his huge fan base. Kudos to you Gord!

Celebrations for Gord's birthday began at our home during the Early Morning Rain on Sunday, Nov 16th as Marian from the Mountains and I made preparations for a family get together.

During the prep work we like to listen to works of great composers which would be a mix of Bach, Beethoven, Lizst and Lightfoot. And maybe a little Vivaldi.

So needless to say, "a feeling was there is the still morning air and outside was the song of the birds."

Kind of a "Christmas Eve" feeling sort of.

The day turned out to be a truly great family gathering, all is well, and now it's Monday, Nov 17th, the Gord birthday event day and indeed it was.

Monday morning began with a musical session of Gordon Lightfoot songs with my good friend Paul Bartlett, student of Red Shea, Gord's former lead guitar player. I couldn't find a better way to begin Lightfoot birthday celebrations than to just strap on the the big boomin' B45 and just let them roll off and hear Paul's great licks comin' in there. All is well, Ive made my peace where highways never end!

So here we are sitting on a bar stool sipping on a pint of ale at Hugh's Room close to the entrance, taking in the comings and goings while occasionally turning the pages of my newly purchased book "50 + Poems for Gordon Lightfoot." How could you top that eh?

Patrons and poets, performers and players all entering the room, thankful to be in from the cold November wind.

A familiar face arrives and comes to give me a big hug. It's Charlene, our moderator and does that gal look really great. She's keeping herself in top shape.

She's anxious to get seated inside the room in order to be able to use her camera without obstructions. She invites me in but I'm one of those Never Too Close type guys so I decline as I prefer to hang out at the bar in my observation point.

The moment arrives.

It's Gord and his very beautiful lady coming through the entrance. A most graceful and dignified couple they are as they smile and greet patrons and eventually get themselves seated.

There's now a line forming to where they are seated as folks are asking for their books to be autographed. Gord is most obliging though and signs them all despite the slight delay in the opening of the show.

There were many familiar faces in the crowd tonight and one in particular was Karen Hilfman Millson, a poet and friend of Gord's from Orillia, who appeared at the recent Gordon Lightoot Tribute celebrations there.

Karen's very moving poem is called "The Interview" and it's on page 76 in the book.

The evening was interspersed with powerful recitations of poems; songs and stories and the ambiance in the room was sustained from beginning to end.

A very very special event it was indeed.

11-18-2014, 04:16 PM	#1
lighthead2toe Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada Posts: 920	Hugh's Room Birthday and Book event for Gordon Lightfoot It was a most memorable event despite the winter wind turning heads and the gales of November remembered. However, I would to start with saying how thankful a feeling it is to have Gordon Lightfoot with us at 76 years of age, looking real good and still out there performing for his huge fan base. Kudos to you Gord! Celebrations for Gord's birthday began at our home during the Early Morning Rain on Sunday, Nov 16th as Marian from the Mountains and I made preparations for a family get together. During the prep work we like to listen to works of great composers which would be a mix of Bach, Beethoven, Lizst and Lightfoot. And maybe a little Vivaldi. So needless to say, "a feeling was there is the still morning air and outside was the song of the birds." Kind of a "Christmas Eve" feeling sort of. The day turned out to be a truly great family gathering, all is well, and now it's Monday, Nov 17th, the Gord birthday event day and indeed it was. Monday morning began with a musical session of Gordon Lightfoot songs with my good friend Paul Bartlett, student of Red Shea, Gord's former lead guitar player. I couldn't find a better way to begin Lightfoot birthday celebrations than to just strap on the the big boomin' B45 and just let them roll off and hear Paul's great licks comin' in there. All is well, Ive made my peace where highways never end! So here we are sitting on a bar stool sipping on a pint of ale at Hugh's Room close to the entrance, taking in the comings and goings while occasionally turning the pages of my newly purchased book "50 + Poems for Gordon Lightfoot." How could you top that eh? Patrons and poets, performers and players all entering the room, thankful to be in from the cold November wind. A familiar face arrives and comes to give me a big hug. It's Charlene, our moderator and does that gal look really great. She's keeping herself in top shape. She's anxious to get seated inside the room in order to be able to use her camera without obstructions. She invites me in but I'm one of those Never Too Close type guys so I decline as I prefer to hang out at the bar in my observation point. The moment arrives. It's Gord and his very beautiful lady coming through the entrance. A most graceful and dignified couple they are as they smile and greet patrons and eventually get themselves seated. There's now a line forming to where they are seated as folks are asking for their books to be autographed. Gord is most obliging though and signs them all despite the slight delay in the opening of the show. There were many familiar faces in the crowd tonight and one in particular was Karen Hilfman Millson, a poet and friend of Gord's from Orillia, who appeared at the recent Gordon Lightoot Tribute celebrations there. Karen's very moving poem is called "The Interview" and it's on page 76 in the book. The evening was interspersed with powerful recitations of poems; songs and stories and the ambiance in the room was sustained from beginning to end. A very very special event it was indeed.