Kathleen Molloy

I have developed a long-term professional crush on Leonard Cohen. Why is it then that in my 38 years I’ve never been to one of his concerts, poetry readings, or book launches?

Not one concert.

For my birthday, I treated myself to his Live in London concert CD. And I played the CD - a lot  - on the way to and from school – to the point that the kids were filling in the words to the songs that they used to mumble.

“Mommy, is that the Hallelujah song?”

“Yup.”

 When Kiddo #1 was 2 and a half I frequently heard “Loooo-lah” screeched from the back seat of the car.

Not many years later as I celebrate my birthday with Kiddo #2 screeching “Loooo-lah” from the backseat, Kiddo #1 asked “Mommy, who is going to replace him when he’s dead?”

Who is going to replace Leonard Cohen?

At what point does a writer stop waiting for readers to point out that they are a fraud?

 Do we ever get over the niggling doubt that someone will find out that we don’t know what we’re doing? Lately, I’ve been a bit antsy about a piece of work that I have to face. I know I can do it. I’m sure I can do it. I think I can do it. Can I do it? It haunts me in my sleep. 

Last night I had a dream that I was in an elevator with 1 man and two women. As they were talking about mattes of extreme importance… I was daydreaming. The man turned to me to confirm “Kathleen, are you going to be able to pull it off?” 

My answer was perfect. I looked him dead on and promised “If I keep my stick on the ice and stay out of the corners, I’ll be okay.” 

Waking up this morning I applauded myself for convincing him. It was a great line, after all, but it was a line. A bluff. And isn’t that what writer’s do  – bluff and try to convince readers that they aren’t frauds?? I understood that by staying out of the corners I won’t get beaten up … but what was the stick on the ice business all about?

The line bugged me until lunch time when I finally called my dad to ask him what the h “keep your stick on the ice means”. Days earlier, at age 69 my dad scored 2 goals during a game of pick up; I knew he’d be my best shot for deciphering the code “keep your stick on the ice”. Dad provided “Stay focused, keep your stick on the ice, and get ready for the assist.” 

My beau disagreed. He said it meant “keep your cool, don’t whack anybody.” 

Have you ever given yourself advice by way of a dream? I figure, if I keep my writing focused and don’t whack anybody, nobody will know that I’m bluffing.  

Maybe you weren’t a brat, … but I remember chanting “No more pencils no more books – no more teachers’ dirty looks” each June in eager anticipation of the summer break. Yet I LOVED School.

In September, did we sing a re-entry song when we laced up our brand-new sneakers for the first time? I can’t recall. I think we were too excited to sing!

It’s now late August and around the Capital Region the orange school buses are loading up tittering childlets sharing hugs with long-lost friends.

And here’s something fun, did you know that the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has named 4 elementary schools after favourite CanLit icons?

Farley Mowat Public School

Roch Carrier Elementary School

Stephen Leacock Public School

W.O. Mitchell Elementary School