"A Taste of Honey"...

Summer's end never fails to summon up seemingly endless and deeply hidden nostalgic memories from within "Me." I suppose that my nature to be the capital "R" Romantic likely triggers this cycle, but I recognize as well...  that it is generally "summer anthems" that we all associate with the carefree youth... energy and vitality of our own journeys.

Music is a defining characteristic of  our Sherman family. We were raised... to resonate and respond like tuning forks... to all genres of music. We didn't merely listen passively to "our own music" as individuals. We actively shared song... raising our voices in unison and complete joy as a family choir... at home... at church... in the car while we travelled... and at our cottage with our summer neighbours.

That gift of music remains one of the enduring legacies of my dear Mom and Dad. Music strongly remains a valued and much-used "hand-me-down" in the lives of all Shermans. A number of us play instruments (whenever necessary)... and karaoke rules at the occasional Sherman gatherings 19 Kerry Point, Narrows Lane Road. We are deeply blessed blend our lives and voices in love and harmony... whenever we can get together.

I stumbled upon this vintage 60's photo ... taken at the height of the Beatle and British invasion on the world scene.... and the birth of this garage/boy band... The Counts Five. Hardly mop headed like their British idols in appearance, their faux Beatle... Dave Clark Five and Kinks musak helped them strum their way from out of Nowhere... Man... to grab the hearts of Brockville area teen and grown up audiences. At the time this photo was taken, we were..."Glad All Over"... even after more than a dozen rendition requests nightly for "A Hard Day's Night"!

They were purely magical years of intermixed play heavy duty practice, but my role in this band abruptly ceased when I headed off to Teacher's College in London in September of 1964 to pursue another life which has led me to Today. I have never regretted that decision to do so for a single moment, despite the fact that my leaving resulted in my loss of contact with all members to this day.

Change is difficult to imagine.... and to set into motion. But without it, stasis leads to disenchantment... and extinction... which was the ultimate fate of the boy band. At some unforeseen moment we all have to become...  men and women... and leave "Never Land"

I'll leave you to the task of finding the boy artist! Yup... he did paint even then... though none of the rest of the band had an inkling! HA HA!!

"Love Shines"...

Let me add yet another musical snippet... this time from the song "Love Shines" featured on the multi-talented Canadian Musician and songwriter Ron Sexsmith's recent album "Long Player Late Bloomer":

How I long to hold you with all my might

Through the night our hopes combine

To ignite our eyes like fireflies

That's when our love shines."

I was treated to an impromptu "blast from the past" on a local radio air wave. It was the Herb Albert sky rocket trumpet-driven variation of "A taste of Honey"... which became the summer anthem at the top of the pop charts in 1961. The song has been presented in variation instrumentally and vocally across many different genres ranging from The Beatles... to Tony Bennett. My personal favourite comes out of the vocal version by Johnny Rivers on his "Actions/Changes" album released in 2002.

These few lines from the song in tandem with a recent Dad-Allison "river happening" form my true reason for sharing this post with you:

The winds may blow

o'er the icy sea

I'll take the warmth of thee

A taste of honey

A taste much richer than wine

When so many must leave the quiet and remaining warmth of summer in the River we love so dearly... Allie, Orca and I shared our own "taste of honey" laughing and recalling many earlier swims with my water spaniel Mom... who urged us to... "beware of "the warn currents." We rode out the endless two to three foot swells sent ashore by passing cruisers with glee... rather than the usual anger and venom afforded these money folk by people docked ashore. "No wake" ... seems not in their vocabulary or nautical courtesy. Today... it was pure fun!

Time for the picture show folks!

Allie Dad and Orca.... giggling... and girding their loins for the plunge!

"One for the $$... Two for the show... three to get ready... and four... to go!!!! Thanks Mom!

Riding out the swells... together ... in and out of the water!

Treading water... "Do you feel the warm currents Dad?" HA HA!!! Thanks again Mom!

Sharing life's blessings... the smallest... or the largest of gifts we can offer... Time and Presence!

"Staying afloat"... and creating Joy... in childish pleasures...

And with Joy... comes Bliss. Not easily achieved in the face of stormy weather. But it is all about... Attitude ... Faith and Courage. I am so very proud of "You" Sweetheart... and am with "You" Always.

Thanks for an uplifting and much-needed respite form the deep humidity we have been experiencing here at "Islesview"!!!

All my Love ALWAYS!

Dad

XXXXXOOOOOXXXXX

Post Script: From my Mom again...

When you are troubled or feel down...

Look up!!!

I "read" you Mom!!!

Good Painting !... to ALL!!!