Advocate
Harbour, Nova Scotia Canada, some might say, is at the end of the world
where we have to come out of the woods to hunt. It does have a few
claims to fame, home of the Mary Celeste, the highest tides in the world
in the Bay of Fundy, with lots of sailing ship and local history, but
truthfully those aren’t the most significant things it really has to
offer.
Scenic
world vistas are second to none and has a beauty embodying the true
definition of the over used word awesome, that elevates, inspires,
providing solace and comfort to the soul.
The
way of life here is simple. People welcome the stranger, are very
friendly and humble folk, who work hard. We know how to make our own
fun, and it’s a tight knit community, that truly cares about one
another.
Once
a person discovers this piece of heaven, you’ll never forget it,
because your spirit will be touched in ways that will change you, and
somehow, in someway, you’ll connect to a power greater than yourself.
This
is I believe what happened to Sam Shepard, who during the 60s and into
the mid 80s lived in Advocate Harbour, where he’d purchased a home on
the coast of the beautiful Bay of Fundy.
I
always knew this fact, as did most people here. During the 23 years
I’ve lived in the area, I know there were some who didn’t know just who
Sam Shepard was, nor did most people in the larger world have a clue
where Advocate Harbour, Nova Scotia was, let alone knowing Sam Shepard
lived there.
Hearing
recently of Sam Shepard’s death, I learned about the kind of deep
thinking individual he was, though a very private man, he’d found a way
to shield himself from the superficiality of Hollywood, and I’m certain
this helped to keep him sane.
His
plays were often about dysfunctional families and Sam Shepard grew up
in an alcoholic home himself, something I understand personally, being a
child of an alcoholic.
After
reading more about his life I felt a spiritual affinity with him, and
wasn’t surprised to find out he was very involved in the philosophical
and spiritual ideas of Gurdjieff and shared this with his life long
friend and ex-father-in-law Johnny Dark.
I've absolutely no doubt living in Advocate Harbour offered Sam Shepard solitude, peace of mind and the serenity he was searching for and
needed in his life, as many of us do whether we know it or not.
He was very much liked by the folks in Advocate as he was fun, humble and seemed to love people and nature. It’s where I’m sure he had more than a few spiritual insights.
I’m sorry to know he’s left this mortal coil, but I’m sure he’s found an even better home and a more peaceful shore.
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