Wednesday, April 11, 2012

A little musical blast from the past

In my youth, I was a musician in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve. I didn't think much about the fact that I was in the military; I was just excited to get paid for playing clarinet. And I travelled across Canada and snagged a husband to boot!

When we were living in Montreal in 1991, we belonged the HMSC Donnacona unit. At Christmas, we played a concert for patients at the Chest Hospital. Guess who was conducting the band for part of the concert?


Yep, that's Master Seaman ME. And Gordon is playing tenor sax under the stars on the wall at left (the guy with the beard.)

That floor looks very reflective! I hope we didn't deafen the poor patients.

17 comments:

  1. Wow, a musician. How neat is that?? Do you still play?? Bet that was fun to do. Take care.

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    1. I still play piano! I have a Bachelor of Music on clarinet, but I wasn't cut out for being a classical musician. :)

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  2. Why ,oh,why were women's uniforms so unflattering...mine was!
    Jane x

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  3. I am sure they loved it!

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    1. Poor things, they were being held captive if they didn't!

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  4. I hope you played Hearts of Oak!

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    1. Ooooh yes. I still have that sucker memorized!!! Sometimes Gordon and I amuse ourselves by singing our parts. I had the melody, he had the harmony/bass line.

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  5. Talents you've never told us about. Now the story could be expanded on this romance???

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    1. Let's see, met in 1987, fell for each other in 1989, married in 1993, about to celebrate 19th anniversary. Still making beautiful music together, har har har. Plus I love a man in uniform!!

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  6. Another nice tidbit about you and Gordon. I'm sure the patients at Chest Hospital loved it.

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  7. I can't get over how young we were! I was 27 in that photo. SSSSSIGH!

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  8. Cool! I'm retired US Navy and had the pleasure of serving with many Canadian Navy officers and enlisted. They always made the Moose Milk for the various parties. (yummy!)

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  9. Hahaha! Yes, they let us drink on ships here. :) I met many US military bandsmen at the Halifax International Tattoo every summer! Especially Quantico Marines. There were always Canuck Navy girls hooking up with American marines at the Tattoo! (NOT ME!)

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    1. We were always jealous of the people that cross-decked to the Canadian or German ships - good food and good drink. We only get one beer on deployment after 45 consecutive days at sea. Last time I was so tired, I don't think I even drank it - I gave it away. haha.

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    2. Woah, 45 days?! Too long!!! ;)

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Thank you for all your comments, which I love to read!