Earlier this month, I entered a contest on a whim and a few days later, I received the email informing me two tickets to see The Decemberists were mine. So, my date and I moseyed on over to the most rural and awkwardly placed venue in Toronto. We were going to bask in the glow of free stuff!
I never considered myself a die hard Decemberists fan – although I am a die hard fan of ample amounts of musical acts. That night I was waiting to be pleasantly surprised and complately taken over by the live music.
When Colin Meloy started singing “I’m an engine driver on a long run, on a long run…” nostalgia took me on a carpet ride to the time I was 15, discovering the world wide web and discovering some damn good music. Along the way, I stumbled into the presence of a pretty stellar boy named Joel Cummings. We became pen pals for what seemed to be years. Obviously, like any Shakespearean tragedy, he was in Calgary and I was in Toronto. I only realize this now, as I’m writing this and as I’m happy in the company of a marvelous boyfriend – all handsome things come from Calgary. Seriously.
Joel and I had a pretty neat friendship as far as penpals go. We made contact as fast as Canada Post could let us. I got featherbrained whenever I checked the mailbox and his envelope was as thick as a magazine. I was smitten to receive adorable gifts like a panda pen from his trip to South Korea. Let me just state this: he was never my boyfriend. I was never the kind of girl to find boys online and declare them my paramour. He was a lovely boy who was enthusiastic about introducing me to new music and books. Nothing more, nothing less.
After a few rounds of paper, we commenced into plastic. As he kept mailing me mix CDs, I kept discovering all these great Canadian (and some American) artists I knew nothing about. If it weren’t for him I wouldn’t be an avid listener of The New Pornographers, Russian Futurists (Karkarodon Karkarius was our jam!) or The Decemberists.
The first Decemberists track he introduced me to was July, July! But it wasn’t until Engine Driver that I was truly captivated. When I heard it live during that concert, I couldn’t help but thing of my ol’ prairie friend, wondering where he is now and what he’s doing with his life. Somehow, and I’m still puzzled at how it all happened, we dropped like flies and lost all communication.
I make a lot of friends. I have a lot of first dates. Rarely do I meet people “best friend” or “second date” worthy. A lot of people come in and out of my life like I’m a revolving door to a mega mall. I’m not as bothered by it as I should be. But there are those moments like during the Decemberists set where I can’t help but miss people and want them back.
My mind wanders about what Joel Cummings is like right now. Maybe he’s a record label executive. Maybe he’s written books that I just haven’t discovered at Chapters yet. Maybe he’s selling cocaine in Mexico, God knows. I’m so curious. And short one potentially amazing friend.
It makes sense to dedicate this song to you, dude. Wherever you are, hope all is well.
