Three Years, and 2000 Miles
Michelle and I were two of the lucky few who were able to get tickets to Holly Cole's sort-of-annual Christmas concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra last night. It was fantastic- she's so talented and innovative. And she has the sexiest voice ever.
I confess I teared up a little when she played 2000 Miles- my favorite of her Christmas songs (it's a Pretenders cover). Three years ago, I was scheduled to speak at the gathering during the Christmas season, and I asked my friend Deb if she would perform that song for me. The night before, Craig and Deb came over to the Woodsy Crypt to visit gabrielle, and Poe, and me. A fun time, we were sitting around talking when I got a phone call from my Grandma. Her youngest son, my uncle, had died quite suddenly and unpleasantly. In fact, he hanged himself. I made arrangements to help her take care of things and hung up. Craig and Deb stayed late into the night, just to be there. Craig said he would cover for me speaking-wise. Poe, the cat, even came and cuddled as I just sat on the couch. In the morning, gabrielle, my room-mate, made me coffee and gave me a poem she had written. Then I left to drive to Hinton, then Calgary, then Hinton, and eventually back to Edmonton- a distance of not quite 2000 miles, but far enough.
Anyways, when Holly Cole sang that beautiful song last night, and those tears welled up, it wasn't totally a response to sadness, but also a sense of gratefulness for the friends who are there for you in the long, cold winter nights.


He's gone 2000 miles
It's very far
The snow is falling down
Gets colder day by day
I miss you

The children will sing
He'll be back at christmastime

In these frozen and silent nights
Sometimes in a dream you appear
Outside under the purple sky
Diamonds in the snow sparkle
Our hearts were singing
It felt like christmastime

2000 miles
Is very far through the snow
Ill think of you
Wherever you go

He's gone 2000 miles
It's very far
The snow is falling down
Gets colder day by day
I miss you

I can hear people singing
It must be christmastime
I hear people singing
It must be christmastime

(lyrics by Chrissie Hynde)