Gordon Lightfoot Forums - The 'Corfid Express'

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- - The 'Corfid Express' (http://www.corfid.com/vbb//showthread.php?t=13827)

David Newland (performer and emcee at the Lightfoot trib. shows) took that trip with Valerie Pringle and wrote the music for the show. He has his diary of the journey on The Canadian at:
http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/ca...affixedcode=WW

Yuri, we do NOT do this without you. This is not negotiable. You will be there. In fact, you have to organise the event. I'll help if I can but I am several thousand miles away. Let me know. We can do this, guys, it would so unbelievable. I'm really excited.
:D

Humility: "The moment you realize that you have it - you have lost it..."

Yet I am continuously humbled by the tremendous support this group has offered to me on various levels.

The Corfid Express? Well, that is still some time away and things may still change for me.

I never thought I would envy those people who could scratch their knees without ever bending over. (in evolutionary terms, I always thought they climbed out of the trees long after the rest of us did.) As a paraplegic they can transfer themselves from wheelchair to 'wherever' by their own effort. A thin, lanky compact build best suits this ability.

I, on the otherhand, resmble a 'cour de bois' (runner of the woods) - a stout voyager almost as wide as I was tall. I could carry my own weight on a canoe portage as historic voyagers did, yet I cannot get myself airborne without a mechanical lift. That inability complicates everything.

I could take the 'Corfid Express'in spirit by 'cyberspace' technology with internet updates and digital photo downloads from you good folks.

It wasn't until recent weeks that I was certain I could even make the Massey concert this year. Exchanging seats for a wheelchair accessable location was only one problem. A wheelchair capable 'taxi' costs about $90 CND one way from my home to Massey. Far from being destitute, it is still an outrageous price for the distance travelled. Only for Gord!

I cannot recall having missed Gord at Massey since moving to the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) some 25 years ago, so it is a pleasure difficult to give up. Regardless, I shall have to re-evaluate this local excursion, this plilgrimage on a year to year basis.

My tremendous thanks goes out to both Char and Jenny amongst others. Without their generous support, encouragement and assistance, I would be be sitting at home this year, whistling Lightfoot tunes to myself in the dark. Thank you, thank you, thank you all!!!

I will be attending this Thursday's concert and hope to meet as many of you as possible. I, no doubt, will be easily recognizable. Pardon me if I don't stand when I meet you...

Always had a love of trains, Canadian history, canoeing, and Lightfoot. (anyone see a common thread here?)

Those of you still not yawning can check out my 'train story' on my canoeing web page below;

http://ca.geocities.com/amatniek@rogers.com/canoe.html

Thanks again,

Yuri

Yuri, I understand the mechanical lift issue. But, after working in the hospitals, ambulance, helping at the nursing home I have been in the situation many times where the mechanical lift was "unavailable" for whatever reason. It sounds like you will have a trainload of helpers, don't give up the dream....you have just inspired the rest of us. There won't be a trip without you. You think you might need a helping hand? Look beside you, that's where we all are.
Can't wait to meet you, Thursday.

I checked out your JFK link, very interesting. I have had my own thoughts on it and wonder if we will ever know the truth.

Yuri, I agree with all of the above who say we can't take this trip without you. 2 years away--imagine the possibilities of what 24 months from now could bring! I obviously do not know your circumstances, but I know that if you were to start soon(with our help and the help of professional health care people), you could perhaps make that lift you speak of unnecessary, if you catch my drift. If weight is the only issue here (because I don't believe just being in a wheelchair would be a reason to exclude you from taking this trip) then what better motivation than taking this trip with us? What do you think, Yuri? I want you to come, and so do the others. I am really, totally, seriously, and absolutely going to do this--alone if I have to, and I'm actually fantasizing about Gord and his band joining our group, once our plans begin to develop. It's going to be incredible! WE WANT YOU AND NEED YOU!! What do you say?

I'd like to ditto Gitchigumee here!!! I was thinking, prior to reading the above post by Gitchigumee, that I'd make this trip solo if I had to! and lo and behold, someone beats me to the punch! (scary how we sometimes think alike)
Someone once said "where there is a will, there is a way!" easier said than done, true. But some of lifes most memoriable events come the uneasy way.

There, unfortunatly, is no way for me to make Massey this year... I gag as I type that.
But the really strange thing is that what really pains me is that I'm missing meeting you, Yuri, and the other corfidians! I long to meet you guys as much, perhaps more, than Gord. Imagine that! Taking in a show with you guys would just be too cool!

Switching gears here...
I checked out your web site... very nice! bunches there to keep going back for. Some canoeing stories for another time.

23.5 months to go....????

Still not derailed?

Continue to wait for 'snail mail' correspondence from VIA headquarters in Montreal. (too much to explain over VIA's small e-mail window)

"there was a time in this fair land when the Corfid dream had begun - When the wild, enthusiastic Lightheads anticipated having fun...

Long before the flight, and long before the deal, when the green backs and 'loonies*' challenged us to make it real"

(with tremendous apologies to Gordon Lightfoot)

*'loonies' a term for a Canuk $1.00 coin for those
of you who are "Canadiana challenged"

http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/2069/image2mc5.jpg

Yuri

Can't wait ... this is really a dream trip!

the little engine that could:)

great concept Yuri!

i missed this year's CPR train go by:

http://www8.cpr.ca/cms/English/Gener...in/default.htm

i think Gordon would be 'on board' with this idea, also:)

http://www.charstamp.notlong.com

char, we should have added this at the U of T gallery, eh? then again, copyright issues i'm sure

pics, video, audio = red tape

lol

Beautiful idea and great artwork!

Not sure if Canada Post is the best vehicle to honour Gord. Sometimes it seems that the mail is still delivered by canoe and dog sled. On the other hand, that is SO Canadian that it may be appropriate.

Unike the U.S., Canadian postal workers have the right to strike but unlike their American counterparts, "Going Postal" is reserved for their customers.
Example Below;

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/5...adapostwo7.jpg

One last issue. My understanding is that, other than the Queen, anyone appearing on a Canadian Postage Stamp must be deceaced. So let's postpone that honour for some time to come.

Other than that jj, all I can say is FANTASTIC!

Yuri

Oscar Peterson is alive and on a Canadian stamp...it's Gord's turn now: here's a piece of art from the Exhibit that was held during Massey..Victoria Wallace is the artist and I am the proud owner...Gord wanted it but it was already sold!
C'mon to Whitby to see it Gord!
lol
I will be looking into the details that Canada Post requires to get a LIGHTFOOT stamp on every letter posted in Canada!
lol
For now this will do:
http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/5...rait002qv8.jpg

Sorry Char,

Yes, there were some exceptions made but Oscar Peterson, a Mississauga resident, was not who I was thinking of. Who else???

Let's petition Canada Post for this honour! Char can lead the charge!

Have to be careful when putting the image of former politicians on stamps. People often don't know which side of the stamp to spit on!

Yuri

Oscar is the first and only LIVE person on a Canadian stamp...other than the Queen....
so far...
I will get all Canada Post info etc. in January....

I love your idea Yuri and if it happens rest assured I will be on that train. As far as your special needs are concerned I am quite sure that there will be enough of us to help you. Is there anything I can do to help get this thing organized? By the way, can I assume from your "last hurrah" that you are a John Stewart fan? Anyway , it's so good to back on the Corfid line. To all a Happy Holiday!

John Stewart fan? Any and all speak up! Have been following him since pretty much the beginning. Top notch songwriter.