heart like a wheel

on monday kate mcgarrigle died of cancer at the age of 63.
in 1975 i moved to a small (pop. 2000) newfoundland community. i was a young wife. a young mother. i had no close friends or family there. every day my young husband would head into town and i would be alone with my children. we brought with us from toronto a large record collection. mostly classical music. but there were a few contemporary records too. lightfoot. dylan. cohen. and the mcgarrigle sisters. these were my friends. i'd put them on and do housework to them. i would dance my babies on my hip to them. they would remind me of who i was. i feel like i've lost an old friend.