Come on closer
This past Friday, March 28th I had a date with my daughter.
We were to meet at Stella’s on Portage Ave, across from the University of Winnipeg.
I was running a bit late and when I arrived, my daughter was already there. As I was coming closer, I heard her saying to a young lady sitting at the next table “this is my mom”.
I sat down, we placed our orders and started chatting.
At some point I looked at the young lady next to us.
She was obviously listening to my and my daughter’s conversation.
“Sorry, I am eavesdropping “ she confessed.
“No problem, come on closer!” I said … and I pulled her table next to ours.
In no time we learned that Cecilia, this was her name, came to Winnipeg for the Juno Awards from Toronto.
She told us that until the very last minute she was not certain if she will make it. She had just $ 300.00 for the whole trip.
Magically everything fell in place and she was here. Even her voice came back, a week ago she was sick and unable to speak.
She shared with us that her father has cancer and these days, are very challenging for her.
What helps you to cope with this situation, I asked.
“Singing, I love to sing. When I am creative, expressive and having fun it uplifts my spirit” she added.
“I recently auditioned for a mini ‘Choir! Choir! Choir!’
Only three people made the finale cut from my original quire group” she said.
“On Sunday I am performing with Tegan and Sara” she nonchalantly added.
My chin hit the table.
For those of you who do not know who Tegan and Sara are, these are Canadian twin pop singers; four times Juno award nominees this year.
Cecilia showed us a performer pass and clip from the morning
rehearsal. There she is, in her forties, she is the most enthusiastic and the highest jumping person on the stage.
It was in the late evening hours that it finally hit me.
This girl is an amazing inspiration.
Being a care giver to her gravely ill father, a “mother” to many, a parent and an entrepreneur, she makes the point of taking time to recharge her own batteries only to come back to her loved once with filled to full capacity heart.
And to think that I just met her two days before giving a presentation to caregivers.
By the way, on Sunday, Tegan and Sara won three Juno awards: Group of the Year, Pop Album of the Year and Single of the Year entitled “Closer”.
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