8-1-00 - EDITORIAL
- Remember, a beautiful life is merely prayer in motion, and a world without prayer has no center to it. God bless us all.
- (Photo by Eva Johansen/Sweden)
Farewell to Sweden…
- On Saturday, July 29th, I gave my final evening performance in the country of Sweden.
- Herman, Leon, Deborah, and ET were all present with me. For the first time in more than 5 years, we closed the performance with a song other than either Closer to Far Away, or 500 Nations. I’d asked Herman if he would close this final performance with a Native American Church song. And he did. And it brought me to tears. Fat, wet, shiny drips and drops of intimate moisture, that started rolling down my face, first slowly, gaining speed like an emotional locomotive. By the end of his song, my jacket was as wet as if I’d been in a rainstorm.
- Sweden will always hold a special place in my heart. The fans there are amazing, driving as many as 20 hours to see and hear a 90 minute show, standing around for as many as 3 hours, just to get a photo or an autograph.
- Some of my sweetest memories are, and shall always be of the west of Sweden. “Closer to Heaven” was made about Sweden, about Varberg in specific. Josh and I went fishing on the ocean there, and some of my fondest memories are from that trip. Walking the castle, sneaking into the cannon rooms with Rob, sharing the most special of times there.
- So at this, the last of the performances in a country I have visited at least twice a year for the past 4 years, I shed many tears, saying goodbye to old friends and new. Knowing I’ll not return there to perform ever again is like observing the passing of an old friend.
- In Sweden, they always place many flowers on the stage. The young children climb the stairways to the proscenium, where they can sit and watch the performance from less than 5 feet away. Often times, I’ll place my flute in the mouth of one of the younger ones, and have them blow the flute while I move my fingers. It’s a hoot to see the look on their faces when they realize that they are playing the instrument that is being enjoyed by a couple of thousand people.
- The fans there are never shy about what they are feeling. When the cigarette lighters come out, or when they stand to applaud, the waves of emotion are as overwhelming as the largest breakers that the ocean has to offer. I’ve heard it often said that Scandanavians are quiet, conservative people, and perhaps outside of the performance arena, that is true. But for this night, and others like it, they cheer, cry, laugh, clap, dance, and show their true spirit.
- This performance, I met several fans from the Spotted Eagle chatroom. It was great fun! JoJo, Carina, Charlotte, Dan, Lise, Ingar, and Frieda were all there. Most of them did not know each other until this night, and so it was a treat to see them all meeting and interacting. I hope you will all stay in contact even though I won’t be returning to this wonderful place.
- Katrin, Lasse, Eva, Mick, Helena, and all the people who have attended the shows, flute classes, lectures, and events over the past years, thank you. Thank you for making this happen, thank you for being a part of my career, and thank you for listening. I know I’ve been blessed for it, and I hope you feel the same. I’ve learned a lot, and hopefully have shared a lot as well. May peace always be within your journey, and may love always be your destination. Hozho naa naa’……
Your ardent admirer,
Douglas Spotted Eagle
- Folkared/Gothenburg
- July 31, 2000
Let love for mankind reign.
- Send us your comments, arguments, and opinions