570News - Gary Doyle

It’s time for a vist. I hit the road tomorrow (still cheaper than flying) to see friends and family in Saskatchewan. Between Mike Farwell and Susan C.S. you’re in good hands. I’ll be back before hockey season.

Jeff Allan is away this week. I hosted his show monday. Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran was in on tuesday. Peter Chandler sat in yesterday. Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig is in today and tomorrow, Conservative Leader John Tory will be here. They all jumped at the chance. Here’s what they didn’t know. Next monday, Jeff does my show. Tuesday he runs the City of Waterloo…wednesday he’ll look after your investments at Cannacord Capital…thursday he tries to keep Cambridge together and friday he tries to get elected. Next time, they’ll read the fine print.

I don’t golf often. (or well) But I do enjoy the conversation and laughs that tend to follow my style of play. Yesterday, I spent a great afternoon at Whistlebear with three of my best friends. When I got home and was recounting the days one-liners and three-putts to my wife she pointed out that of the foursome, I was the only one not yet retired from fulltime work. Perhaps that will explain the state of my game.

Back in 1967 the Monkees were huge. I remember the TV Show and some of the inane popish tunes that got stuck in your head. Today, you are more likely to hear one of their songs in an elevator. What made me chuckle this morning was a story that said on this date in ‘67 the Monkees headlined in New York City to throngs of adoring fans. The opening act that night was the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Talk about audience whiplash! The Who once opened for Hermans Hermits and I was in attendance at the CNE years ago when the Beach Boys opened for Chicago. Halfway through another horn section solo, the fans started chanting for the Beach Boys again. At The Centre in the Square, my wife and I watched Vince Gill open for the Judds. Just more proof it’s not where you start, but where you finish.

I was greeted at work today by two e-mails from friends who know me too well. Both were expressing sorrow at “my loss.” It was on this day in 1981 that Harry Chapin died in a car crash on Long Island. He was 38. He was also (and still is) the guy who’s story songs transport me. I know I’m not alone. The first time I saw him in concert was during college when we piled into a friends AMC Pacer and drove to Ottawa from Belleville. I couldn’t understand why so many other people were there. His songs are that personal. Most casual radio listeners will know titles like “Taxi” and “Cat’s In The Cradle”, but until you get inside the characters in epics like “Better Place To Me” (still my favorite) or “Mr. Tanner” you won’t understand. I still listen to the music of Harry Chapin almost daily. I also listen to the music of his daugher Jen Chapin, who is also gifted but not the same. The thing that makes me sad, is thinking about all the stories and places I didn’t get to go because of that tragic crash. When I get home, I will listen to “Sunday Morning Sunshine.” It reminds me of my wife, and always makes me smile.

I don’t review fiction. It’s too subjective. That’s the party line. That’s what I tell book publishers and unknown authors who are eager for publicity. That’s what I told Patrick Hughes. His book (The Valiant Unheroic) would not get a mention on the show. He sent me a copy anyway looking for my thoughts. I am an avid reader. When it arrived, my first thought was “450 pages!” This better get my attention fast. It did.

The story centers on Eric Verrity, a young man who cannot be injured. The games people play with him and his life jump off the page. From his foster brother to his shrink, everyone has a “use” for Erics’ gift, but not so much Eric. I won’t give much away, suffice to see I was glued to it and enjoyed every word. Some of which are now underlined in yellow. (I do that).

For my money, it was the highlight of the summer reading season. After I put it down, I picked up my 7th book in the last four weeks and started on it. But I can’t shake one line.

“Every gift is not be a blessing.” The story of Eric Verrity is. Well done Patrick Hughes and send me another.

The Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival may have needed temporary bailing on the weekend, but the music was better than ever. My wife and I happily sat through the friday night card. We got there early enough to secure seats in the 4th row. By the time Molly Johnson was ready for her encore I turned around to look at the crowd and was stunned at how many people had crammed in behind us. The oddest thing though. I wasn’t wearing the loudest shirt this year. I have to update the wardrobe.

The Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival ranks up there with my favorite “free” weekends. The weather looks like it will clear in time tonight for the headliner, the amazing Molly Johnson. She will be on the show with me this afternoon to talk about her music and festivals in general. If you’ve never experienced a live jazz festival, come on down! I’ll be the one in the loud shirt and the big grin. I started attending these years ago and this is the first one in three years that my son hasn’t performed. He was part of the Bluevale Jazz Choir. He has graduated (thankfully), and the driving force behind the program at Bluevale, Nancy Kidd, has retired. I still can’t imagine that dynamo sitting still for long. What a gift she has and our kids are better for spending time with her. If you can’t make it tonight, come back tomorrow for another group I like, Manteca. I’ll the one in the other loud shirt.

My wife and I have taken to early morning walks together. Early evening ones weren’t working because of June bugs and apathy…not in that order. The morning walk is a great way to the start the day…once you get over the fact you’re out the door by 5:30am, just so you’re not late for work after a 45 minute walk. It’s early. It’s the first week, but we’ve managed to crawl out the door four straight days. Tomorrow will be five. There are a few things I’ve noticed. There are a lot of people out jogging, biking and walking at 5:30am. There’s way too much traffic, a lot of rabbits and the crows are loud. I think they’re laughing at the human hustle to get some exercise and energy to spend the day sealed inside buildings staring at computor screens. If I don’t walk tomorrow, the crows will have won.

On our drive in to work this morning my wife and I chuckled when we heard the teaser line on 570 NEWS “Coming up on 5 Things Parents Don’t Have To Worry About.” We amused ourselves by trying to figure out what they might be. Here’s our list.

1. Money. You won’t have any.

2. Being Lonely. The kids may never leave.

3. What to do with leftovers. There never are any.

4. When to start doing laundry. It never stops.

5. Regrets. In our case, we have none when it comes to the kids.