Long Live Samohon!

This morning after waking up much too early and watching the sunrise, I sit with my coffee. Fresh from Toronto, the boys of the Gillam Express and I have returned from a very good time. Between experiencing downtown, reconnecting with old friends and partying with each other in Toronto, we did fulfill the purpose of the trip by showcasing at Indie Week and the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals conference.

Before leaving, I received news that a very, very dear friend of mine died suddenly. Losing someone is not easy for anyone. He was far too young and will be missed by all who met him, no matter how brief or long their meeting was.

I first met Zach Konowalchuk in August of 2006 at Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival.  I distinctly remember being backstage in costume, getting ready for an afternoon performance when I saw this tall, lanky boy with a mane of gorgeous blonde curls and piercing blue eyes holding his skrypka. Who was this person?! I checked the schedule and it was Zachary Konowalchuk from Newport, Oregon. After winning the talent competition the year prior, he was now playing a set of his lovely music on main stage. I was blown away from the first note.

I went to the upper part of the festival site with my mother and bought his album immediately after the afternoon main stage. He signed the album with a heart and some x s and os – what a tease! In all honesty though, we connected from the moment we met that day. Later that evening with a few vodkas in me, I spotted him at one of the zabavas and asked him to dance. For being a great musician, he sure wasn’t a good dancer, but I didn’t mind. While we danced, my mother and his father commented on being svakhe – parent in-laws. Zach and I hung out the rest of that evening. When it was time to part, we hugged and went our separate ways. As I happily walked, I wondered if I’d ever see him again just as he came running toward me to give me his phone number and email address. Score!

After that weekend, I rested, listening to his album on repeat. I shared it with many, to evoke in them the feeling that his music left with me. I emailed him about a week later and was beyond delighted when he responded. And so continued our friendship.  I think I told everyone I knew after that I had met the person I was going to marry.  In the last couple weeks of my Baba’s life as I visited her for the last time in the hospital, she told me to make sure I “marry that boy with the blonde hair and skrypka.” Coincidentally, today is six years since she passed away.

Through the years following our initial meeting, we visited multiple times in Canada. Although at times life got in the way, through the miles we kept in touch – whether it was through email or phone. For whatever reason or another (we also had this great ability to piss each other off all the time and forgive each other) we never did get together – although we talked about it! Oh the blue eyed and blonde haired kids we would have!

I could go on and on about us. I find myself sifting through all my memories. He was my best friend in this whole world. We talked about anything and everything.  A few years ago, he told me he dreamed of me before we met. I was told that when his car was getting cleaned up I was 1 of 3 people’s names on a piece of paper with the words “Kayla Luky - strong, independent woman” written on it. This was one of our many jokes. I can see him sitting at my kitchen table, eating his celery and peanut butter, wide eyed and laughing saying “Kayla Luky!”

The connection we had was something from a fairy tale – I don’t know how else to explain it. So many great memories I will forever cherish. A gamut of emotions have overcome me, going between crying and laughing, I mostly feel as though half of me is missing. I don’t expect that ever to go away.

He was such a special and magical person – words can’t even describe. And all who knew him would agree. For all my Canadians friends and family who had the pleasure of knowing him, thank you for your support and sympathy. I am so very glad I asked him to dance that day and that he could touch your lives too. Until we meet again, my friend, I will forever love and miss you dearly. 

Me with Zach, hanging out on my deck playing music August 2012

One of my favourite songs he did (besides Ukrainian ones of course) 

Summer's End

The other night on the drive home from where I grew up we stopped in the middle of an old dirt road, shut off the car, got out and looked up at the sky. To the northern horizon there was a long, light-green arch of northern lights, the Milky Way spanned the sky and the stars were crisp and bright on the approach of a new moon. As the wind blew through the tall grass and un-swathed fields, I felt alive.  

This is such a great time of year – the end of summer/approach of autumn. Visiting friends and family. Eating wonderful seasonal foods. Hearing a million crickets on a lazy, breezy afternoon with the hum of combines in the distance. Seeing your first flight of geese. Watching the leaves slowly fade. All these things make me feel alive too – not to mention nostalgic.

Recently I spent the afternoon walking around the Luky homestead where I spent most of my childhood and where most of my fondest memories are. The once immaculate yard is now overgrown with grass, weeds and trees sprouting up everywhere. The big, old trees are dying and broken all over the property with deteriorated buildings. Come October, she will have been gone for six years. I thought about how the soul of the place seemed to leave once she did. It broke my heart finally realizing that what my memory has left me will never return again. Since that afternoon, amidst my chaos of memories, feelings and nostalgia, I’ve been struggling with the idea of choosing what to hold on to and knowing what to let go of – in all aspects of my life.

As the fields come off while the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, I’ve been reflecting on this past year as it’s winding down. Much change, growth and renewal has put me in an interesting place internally… I feel alive.

The next few weeks are filled with music across the wide-open prairies. I hope to see you and yours sometime soon! Here is a lovely poster that Kristen Berkel did for the upcoming tour – Thank you Kristen! Take care everyone and hope to see or hear from you soon.

I've been spending a considerable amount of time on a front porch in Winnipeg through the sweltering heat, thinking about everything and nothing at all. I figured it was time for an update before it was too late!


So Ukraine. Before I left for Ukraine, I was fairly angry about a variety of things. Thankfully, I seem to have lost all that baggage on the way over. Or maybe it was the way back. It's funny how it takes leaving to reevaluate what you're doing, who you are involved with and who and what matters. 


I'm not sure how to start explaining the trip - it was incredible. I saw and experienced things that made my heart jump out of my chest and cry like a fool. Thank goodness I drank enough vodka to subdue it for the sake of the others on the trip! One of those things you just had to be there. So instead, I will post these videos to give you an idea of what it was like. The culture was so rich and the people were just... happier there I think. Then I realized that hey, wait a second, I can be happy too! Although sometimes it's not so easy with us artsy fartsy types... Anyway, here are a few videos. 








Lately, I've been dancing in Winnipeg, and to say the least it is very much a challenge - physically and mentally. It makes me pretty frustrated, but I try to keep in mind I am there to learn and I can only do my best. And I haven't taken a formal ballet class in about 5 years. Also, being taught properly from the beginning prooobably would have helped me out in the long run! Oh well.  


In other news, I will be hitting the road in a few weeks. Then it will be time for Ukrainian Festival. And then I will be hitting the road again. Some road blocks have come up, but I hope things will fall into place. Even if they don't, the world will still turn. As disappointing as that is to me at times, that means there's no need to panic!


Check out the shows, and I hope to see you and yours in a town near you. I appreciate the support. I've been dreaming and scheming of what's next - music, and otherwise. I often catch myself getting wrapped up in my own head - comparing myself to others and what they are doing, and then I realize I would probably have a better time if I just live instead of worrying about what I should be doing or could be doing. So I'm working on that! 


This is a really strange update to me. Probably because I smoked too many super slims. Sorry Mom.

The Time It Takes...

Hey everyone. So it's been a while. 8 months? That's almost how long it takes for new human life to form... don't worry, I'm not having a baby! I'll tell you what I HAVE been up to. Let's start back in September. 


Many of you asked whether I got my guitar back or not - the answer is no, I didn't. Fortunately, the tragicness of that event was a drop in the bucket in comparison to the kindness and hospitality I was shown on the road. From giving me a bed to sleep in, a meal to eat or in Toronto's case, a guitar to play, many warm and friendly people opened their arms and home to me on the road. I met many new friends and connected with a few old friends and it was just incredible. So thank you, so much, to all those people. Know that there's always a spot here in Grandview for you!


After my guitar was stolen, I started my trek home. Thinking back to last spring and summer, I can't believe I pretty much drove across Canada, twice, mostly by  myself. (Mom, what was I thinking?!) So as I started to weave my way back West, playing the rest of my shows on a rented cheapo-Mexican Martin, I made the decision to return back to my 9 to 5. Not too long after that, I found out that my boyfriend was banging some other girl. After that sign from the heavens, I seriously wondered my decision making capabilities and took up smoking menthol super slims for a brief period of time. While thinking about driving into cliffs, I safely arrived in Winnipeg for the second last show of the cross Canada tour. 


Rolling into the heart of the continent with a broken heart and feeling like I just ran a marathon, I thought things couldn't get any worse. Then, my car broke down in downtown Winnipeg. After contemplating throwing myself under a bus, I made it to Aquabooks in the nick of time, sweaty and dirty and gross. (Good thing they had red wine.) I was opening for the band Tailwind. I'm not sure if it was the wine or the Winnipeg air, but I asked them if they would be interested in backing me for some upcoming shows. To my delight, they said yes and the wonderful group of men learned all my songs! Not all was lost in the world, and believe it or not, it kept turning. Tailwind was the beginning of something new and wonderful for Kayla, which I will come back to shortly... 


So, in the meantime, I came back to Grandview and went straight back into the regular schedule of 9 to 5 and teaching dance 4 nights a week. As much as I loved all the things I was doing, it took a lot out of me emotionally and creatively and eventually physically. To be honest with  myself, it's been a really tough 7 months. I was trying to fit in music when I could, and visit friends and family. I feel like I've been in robot mode just to get through the day. The amazingness of the album release and the travelling I've done hasn't even set in yet. I can't believe all that happened. 


Thankfully I had a bit of an awakening. There's a feeling I get on the road that I can't explain, but I think the people who get that feeling know what I mean. During the last week of March, "the Gillam Express" (the re-formed Tailwind) and I went on a 9 day tour out West and back. It was SO much fun - and these guys are great people and great musicians. I am so thankful I met them and they actually wanted to play  music with me - my music! It's hard to find people you mesh well with musically - especially living in a small town. Again, we met many great and interesting people - thank you for your hospitality and welcomeness! It was a real treat. And to those 5 smelly boys, I'm not sure if they'll ever know how much all that means to me. 


As you may have gathered, you might say I am a bit of a dancer. When I arrived home from those 9 epic days, a few things immediately happened. I got word that I received funding from the Manitoba Arts Council to help out with a two week Ukrainian Dance tour I had applied for funding for. I have always dreamed of going, and I took this as a sign. Then, I also found out that I was accepted into the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's teacher training program for the summer, and I took this also as a sign. Then I broke up with my cheating boyfriend. I didn't have to feel shitty about myself anymore, and that is a nice feeling. Things really do work in 3s hey? 


So this brings us to right now. I am sitting on my deck with Steven on a beautiful sunny and windy Sunday morning in Grandview. I am trying to recharge my spirit and my body for the summer to come. Things are slowly winding down in my everyday life. For those who are wondering, I have not taken a leave of absence from my 9 to 5 - I quit. I have met and worked with some wonderful people and have seen amazing things happen when people come together. I do not plan on leaving Grandview any time soon, but I am excited for what is on the horizon. I am headed for Ukraine in a few short weeks, then will be dancing in Winnipeg for a few weeks. There are many shows planned for the summer, and some much needed R & R for a couple weeks with family and friends. Check out the Performance section for some upcoming dates - there are some good ones on there! Some will be with the band, some with less of a band, some with just me. And there are more to be announced, so keep checking back!


Someone once told me that I often take the long way around things, but eventually make the right decision. I hope he's right about this one. Thanks for coming by and reading. Now with a little more free time, perhaps I will come by and update it more often! 

P.S. Happy Mother's Day!! xoxox

Toronto

Somewhere between 3:30 pm - 4:20 pm my Martin DC-16GTE Premium Guitar was STOLEN from the trunk of my car in the Bay Street/Dundas Parkade in downtown Toronto.

I am fairly certain I missed the thief by minutes, as I could hear the tinkling of glass from the small passenger side window making its way to the ground.

The guitar has rough marks on the back of the head and a few bang up marks on the back. (I dropped it on some rocks when I was drunk... needless to say, me and that old girl had some good times together in our short time together.) It has a colourful strap, that's kind of ratty looking (this is sentimentally what means most to me) and was in a green velvet guitar case with a plain black exterior. There were some harmonicas, a patch cord, capo and some other stuff in there too.

If you could pass on the message to help me find this guitar, that would be much appreciated! Thank you for your help!

200 K !!

My Adventures...

The other day I went for drive along the coast of Nova Scotia. Facing the waterfront, there were beautiful, old character homes dotted along the highway, in all shapes and colours. I stopped in at Rose Bay and waded through Sand Dollar Beach. I couldn’t believe how much warmer the water was here compared to my dip in the Bay of Fundy while at Grand Manan – it felt like a warm bath in comparison. Even though I wasn’t sure what exactly I was looking for, I decided to come back to the Beach when the tide was lower. I desperately wanted to find one of those sand dollars!

I made a quick stop in the Ovens Park, and although I did not do much exploring I stood and listened to the waves crash in the bay of rock as they slowly came in off the ocean. I figured these waves were pretty small, but I couldn’t believe the sound they made! This is what I wanted to hear from the ocean for a while. Mesmerized by the way the water moved so powerfully, I realized how terrified I am of the ocean – and it felt great!

I continued onto Lunenberg. It was as lovely little town, full of old, colourful shops. I thought about how much I liked colour – almost every room in my house is a different colour. Someone once told me that that wasn’t proper decorating, but I think all those colours make things way more interesting. I was reminded of “A Mighty Wind” and thought maybe my belief is also that humankind is simply materialized colour operating on the 49^th vibration. Just kidding. (If you haven’t seen that movie, do.)

After a lovely meal by the ocean, I ventured my way back to Sand Dollar Beach. The tide was on its way out, so the sand was exposed. I combed the beach, barefoot, feeling the warm sand in my toes. I watched the waves, which were much more gentle here, wash in and out. They made a nice soft sound, and it was really quite nice. After a good hour, and finding anything but a sand dollar, I decided to give up. There was fog approaching from the South West.

As I started to drive back through the fog, I was reminded of a book I read, either Momo or the Never Ending Story. Regardless, both were written by Michael Ende and should be read, but in one part of the story there is this nothingness that takes over the land. Whenever I see fog I am reminded of that and it is eerie and also terrifying to me – which also feels great! Whenever I have moments like that it keeps things in perspective and makes me feel alive.

I am currently in Terence Bay, Nova Scotia, staying with a wonderful couple in their home with an amazing view. I can see the ocean from where I type this, and below me there are boulders scattered with brush and spruce trees. It’s pretty surreal – I feel like Momo or Atreyu in an adventure.

Long time, No Post...

Remember that time I said I was going to update this thing at least once a week? !

So it’s been a while. I’ve got a fairly decent excuse. Since the last time I updated this, I watched four beautiful couples sign their lives away (just kidding), went on a quick jaunt out West again, visited friends and family, attend and survived (just barely) another Ukrainian Festival weekend, watched the Harry Potter saga in its entirety, and of course played some music.

I am currently sitting in downtown Ottawa. Today involved three life-changing realizations. The first epiphany happened over a mug of tea and my reading of Sky News after waking up to a tent with water. Reading about all these distant stars and galaxies made me realize how small and pretty much insignificant most of my problems are in the big picture, and how very short of time we have here.

Later on, under time constraints, I was trying to take in as much as possible of the Caravaggio and his Followers exhibit at the National Gallery of Canada. Over the past few months, I seem to have developed a new fascination and appreciation with all kinds of arts forms, so I found this quite overwhelming (in a good way). Many of these fantastic paintings were based on characters and stories from the Bible. This brings me to my second epiphany: I don’t know much about anything, and I am going to read the Bible, even if I’m not religious.

After taking in as much as the Gallery as I could in two hours, I decided to wander Parliament Hill. The architecture was gorgeous and it got me thinking to all the crazy things that must have gone on and continue to go on within those walls, and it hit me again: I don’t know much about anything, and I am going to start reading the news.

I am just going to speak for myself. Perhaps it’s too much time alone in a car, perhaps it’s this self-obsessed social networking world we live in (as I update my blog…) but I tend to get lost in my own world at times. And it’s NOT good! All of these realizations helped me find a new perspective that I can’t wait to explore.

So in the joy of self-obsessed social networking, if you would like to see pictures of my adventure so far, they can be viewed here

Hope to see you at a show soon! Until next time, bye bye!