Marcrumors

So I want to enter the Lincoln Brewster guitar contest. Check the rules – only continental US residents. Grr. What’s up with that. It’s not like the grand prize is a new Strat or something. Anyway, I’ve decided to submit it anyway along with a note stating that I am not a US resident and that, even though that may disqualify me, I’d love it if they judged it anyway.

There were two options: 1) copy Lincoln’s solo and be judged on accuracy (never in my limited skill set), or 2) devise your own solo and be judged on creativity (now there’s some hope). So I opted for #2. I love improvisation anyway and it gives me a chance to work up my chops a bit.

Funny thing is, some of the ideas in my head don’t translate as well in my hands as I’d like. That’s what lack of consistent practice does. Consequently, some of this is a bit choppy. But I like the ideas I’ve come up with. I feel like it’s a good combination of melodic movement and unique guitar ideas.

Here’s the youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_cKO2EstBw

My favourite parts are the pinky hammer-on at 0:17, the simple melodic phrase and pause at 0:19, the combination of sliding arpeggios at 0:29, and the harmonic hammer-on at the last note. Have a look. Share it with your guitar playing buddies and pick it apart or praise it.

Army Photo of My Dad

I thought I would post a recollection of my Dad’s recounting of his day of capture in World War II. If memory serves me right it was April 29, 1945. Much of Germany had been pushed back but there were many pockets of soldiers still fighting.

My dad was a private fighting in northern Germany at the time with the Regiment Maisonneuve. He was entering a city (I believe it was Bremen) when his group walked into an ambush. They withdrew into a shed. However, their commanding officer was killed in the skirmish. There was also a gentleman that was hit with a phosphorus grenade. My dad described the awful feeling he had, listening to the man cry out in agony as he slowly burned to death overnight while holed up in that shed. Snipers had their sites on the spot so no one could venture out to help.

There was now no commanding officer in the group – all privates. After waiting overnight, they decided to put out a white flag and surrender. My dad, along with his comrades in arms, was taken prisoner and kept in a nearby barn. His food rations were two two slices of (mostly mouldy) bread and a glass of water per day.

Click to Enlarge

Ten days later, the war ended.

One single story brings to life for me the depth of effect war has on people. I can still sense the emotion in my dad’s face and voice when he recounted the story to me.

On this Rememberance Day, stop and think about the horrors that other men and women have endured for our freedom. Even those who never were on the front lines made great sacrifices as part of a national team of people united in preserving freedom and, ultimately, peace.

Thank you to all the veterans for your place in Canada’s great history.

P.S. I welcome the family members to add clarification or missing details of this story.

Today marks the tenth anniversary of my dad’s passing. Wow. Ten years goes by quickly. It’s amazing how something can seem so far away and so close at the same time. I still find myself missing him – especially when I have a question about something. He was such a smart man. I’m sure that if he had been given the opprotunity for an education, he would have become an engineer or something. Unfortunately, he lived in a time when he didn’t even make it to high school.

He lived through the great depression in a large, impoverished family. He lived through and fought in World War II. He married and fathered five children. He worked many years at the now defunct Atlas Steels.

He gave his life to Jesus Christ in 1968 (9?).

He faithfully served at the the church I currently pastor, helping in many ways and running the recording and duplication department (cassette anyone?).

He was a man who stood by his convictions – even when they made no sense to anyone else.

I still think back to the stories he told of his experiences in the war – the sadness of lost friends, the deep fear in battle, the food he shared with his fellow POW.

I’ve posted the video of the slideshow presented at his funeral here.

Pa, you are stilled missed.

With love and honour.

Marc (ton fiston)