Every year about this time I engage in an annual grounding of myself and my identity. To do this I turn to YouTube and watch the entire 89-minute episode of Stompin’ Tom Connors at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto in 1973.
Not only hilariously funny but included in this Canadian masterpiece are videos to some of the songs, that was extremely rare for the time.
At the 34th minute, one video stands out with the song Irish Moss, and although I have not formed an opinion on the harvest of seaweed locally, it was very interesting to watch men and women on horseback in the cold Atlantic surf, harvesting seaweed they called Irish moss on the waterfront at Skinners Pond P.E.I.
This brought back memories I’d almost forgotten as a young teenager living in Eaglecrest riding my gelded Morgan “Beau” (RIP) on Eaglecrest beach at every low-tide opportunity. You could do that then. So long Stompin’ Tom and thank-you.
Merry Christmas to all, and please give to those less fortunate.
Brian Jenkins
Qualicum Beach
