Loving Difficult People
We woke to the lowing of cattle and the calls of sheep. A sliver of silver moon and fifteen thousand sleeping people. The night before Bonnie Prince Billie played a two hour set. The poetry and the voice would be stunning enough but the presence of the man made the performance out of this world.
I can hear a conversation behind me through the tent walls. Discussing last night’s performances, gigs from ten, twenty years past. Male voices. Gentle. Earnest. Lovers of music.
It struck me as Billie’s voice and guitar took us by the hand and pulled us into his world, that we make music, isn’t that one of the most beautiful traits of our species?
Why we feel so for the song birds? Yearning for their wings. To be free the way we know we are, deep down.
The joy of living inside a song.
As soon as the people awake the song of voices begins. We made it early to the showers and brewed a pot of coffee on the gas stove.
Now the voices are all around.
Billy sung of the self knowledge that comes through personal loss. Brought light into the dark places. Tripped over the stage wires as he left the stage. They way he had during sound check.
He sang about love:
How we love difficult people.
Especially if the difficult person is ourself.
Till tomorrow
Love
Mikey