Ian was profoundly deaf in both ears, and what little hearing he had was leaving.

His illnesses required a lot of medications, and we talked about our 'stuff'.

We marvelled together at the fact that we'd be broke if we had to pay medical bills.

I was cognizant of the Ottawa Valley music, part Irish part whatever. The guys who built the Rideau, and logged the area.

I suspect Ian had a stroke or heart problem and his worn out body had had enough.

Yesterday was a very bad day. The light was poor, it rained, and I had Ian weighing on my mind.

Ian loved Stan Rogers. I listen to Stan's brother now, he's part of the eastern Canadian folk scene. This weekend is our Homecounty folk festival, I don't know if Garnet Rogers is on the bill or not.

I suggest you listen to the following, for I know we discussed 2 of these, and how we'd arrange them.

The Mary Ellen Carter (stan rogers)
Northwest Passage

BUT you should listen to the sea shanty Stan wrote when dared to try to write one:

Barett's Privateers (Sung in almost every pub in Canada...)

Stan died at 33, sitting in a plane on the tarmac in Cincinnati when it caught fire.

RIP buddy. I'm keeping the last PM..

John Conley
Musica est vita