Soon Jim arrives in a taxi and comes right in. He has a favorite stool at the bar but we can't all fit there, so we sit at a table. Phillip has joined us at the table. He is a Newfoundlander who has spent the last 12 years in North Carolina missing Newfoundland. He finally decided that the longing to be home was a need that must be satisfied and picked up - lock, stock and barrel – to come home to stay. He was adamant about being home, that THAT was the only place for him to be.
We just sat there for hours chatting with Jim and Phillip about music, politics, various cultural influences in Newfoundland, computers, chatrooms, etc. The man is fascinating to talk to and very punny, too. We laughed and groaned a lot. Jim also expressed thanks that in our conversation we did not use the “N” word nor had we been screeched in. He said some “NFLD traditions” are not traditional. And the screeching in as it is done in some places is not traditional. We discussed using the word “Newfie” and the general feeling at the table was that Newfoundlanders don’t like to be called Newfie because of the negative connotations involved with the word. Just like in African-American circles where fellow African Americans can call each other “nigger,” but no one else better. Newfoundlanders can call each other Newfie, but please don’t call them that if you are a CFA (Come From Away).
While we were talking with Jim, various and sundry band members from all different groups walked into the bar. Larry Foley arrived with his guitar after the thing at O’Reilly’s was over and I recognized the voices of Mark Hiscock and Chris Andrews from Shanneyganock, another member of the Punters entered and a couple people I didn’t know. But an impromptu jam session began and I recognized the collective voices of the Government Rams. It was interesting sitting there listening to them sing the old, old trad songs and some 70’s tunes while Jim was talking about finding new and different sounds to make tunes. |
