Positive

Alazia

The chatter echoed across the ballroom as people conversed over their drinks of choice, tunes from a
forgotten era of the early millennium overpoweringly being played through speakers too small for such a hall. Rounded tables loaded with glasses, flower arrangements and an extravagant center piece that housed those who decided to sit, drink and chat.

The dance floor crowded with women and a few selected men showing off moves that at one time was the pinnacle of dance but now is considered embarrassing by the younger generation. A dimly lit room full of energy, laughs dancing and smiles. A beautiful night for those who can appreciate the beauty of one’s company of others.

Standing at the bar counter, he sees himself in the mirror, taking his hand and wiping off the crumbs off his sportscoat and checking his blue jeans for any remanence of dinner. The bartender handed him his drinks and he begin walking into the ballroom with a whiskey & seven and a glass of wine in the other hand. He scans around the room, in search of her and as if time had frozen for a moment, he spots her from a distance and stares in awe before being interrupted by a soft-spoken voice.

“Do you think she knows he’s married?” She asked as she approaches him from behind sipping her glass of wine.
“I sure hope so” he chuckled as he watches her grip the man’s arm, laughing at his jokes from a
distance.
“Interested?” the woman asks while she continues to take small sips from her glass.
“I should be” he replied quickly as she continued to inquire. “jealous type?” “Ha, not at all” he replied, still watching her from a distance. “Then why can’t you turn and look at me?” the woman asked as she takes her final sip of white wine.
“Because, she’s absolutely beautiful.” He laughs to himself before turning towards the softspoken voice that has so many questions.

Putting on a fake smile and jokingly introducing himself “Hank, the master of answers, the husband of said beauty” he extended his hand awkwardly before remembering the drinks in his hand. She smiled cutely as she introduced herself “Alice, the queen of questions, wife of the man laughing” she smiled wittingly.
“Oh!” hank acknowledged with raised eyebrows and a scheming expression. “Well Alice, my lady” he extends his arm “shall we go and see what our better halves find so funny” he expressed in an exaggerated tone.
“Two seconds” she replied, pointing at her empty glass before quickly turning around and hurried out the door towards the bar. Hank standing there, arm awkwardly still hooked, holding two drinks and looking onto his wife in the distance, sharing laughter, an expression he had missed seeing in her for so long.

Alice scurried back towards hank with a fresh drink in her hand and chuckled at the sight of hank waiting for her. He looks back Alice and smiles in a goofy expression as she hooks her arm into his and they begin skipping humorously towards their partners.

As Hank and Alice approached their partners, Hank’s wife immediately let go of her friends arm and reaches towards hank “Hey baby! This is my co-worker; he helps me out a lot around the office!” She exclaimed excitingly. “Nice to meet you, Hank!” he reaches out his hand towards hank before continuing to say “I heard so much about you! All great things so don’t worry!” the man laughed to himself while hank handed his wife her glass of wine.
“Oh I am so, so flattered” Hank said jokingly as he extended his hand back towards the man.
“Your name? “Hank adds moments before their hands touch.
“Russell” he replied
“Oh yes! Russell!” Hank paused jokingly, raising his eyebrow humorously before sarcastically adding “I have never heard of you at all” Hank chuckled to himself while reassuring Russell that he was only kidding.
“I see you already met my wife” Russell pointing towards Alice.
“Alice, have you met Becca?” Russell asked before taking a sip of his beer.
“My pleasure Becca” Alice acknowledging Becca before asking “We couldn’t help but notice all the laughter from across the hall.”

Russell begins to tell the story, but all sounds fell silent as Hank looked at his wife, staring intently in awe at her co-worker, lingering on every word that he said, watching her in slow motion slapping his shoulder flirtishly while laughing, again, as if time stood still and pieces of his heart begin breaking off.

“Hank, what do you do for a living.” Hank snaps out of his hypnotic trance and sarcastically answers with great humor “I’m a servant of words, a story teller of such a profession as old as the bible, one would call me ..” Hank says in a lavishing tone and taking a swig of his drink before being interrupted by Becca
“A writer!, hanks a writer” taking back by her response, he tones down his theatrics, coughs and quietly replies “a writer”

Becca quickly shifts her body away from Hank and continues her conversation with Russell. Hank stood there, alienated and confused but stunned by her beauty. Reliving old thoughts of how he uses to
make her smile, make her laugh and remembering the feeling of her touch on his shoulder. Hank stood in
silence, living in the past until Alice stood in his view and inquired
“A writer, what have you written?” Hank taking a sip of his whiskey before humorously replying “words, mostly, sometimes I use numbers if the story really calls for it” he smiles as she rolled her eyes from his answer.

The two strike up a conversation about literature, art and dreams from a youthful time. Until Alice noticed that Hank couldn’t help but be distracted by Becca and she finally confronted him
“Hank” she said softly as she places one hand on his “It bothers you how happy he makes her doesn’t it?” Hank pauses for a moment before jokingly replying “Who? The old lady over in the corner? “Pointing to an elderly woman doing the twist by herself.

“Hank” she continues softly “You must have a real answer somewhere” she looks at him intently as she
continues to add “The work you shown me tonight, your words, are so hauntingly beautiful, romantic, aspiring even. Can’t you express that vocally?” Hank shifts his eyes from his third drink up towards Alice “I’m scared to” he said hesitantly. His eyes begin to tear up as he continued “What if, what if it’s too late, I made one too many jokes or one too many accusations” Hank takes a sip of his drink, predicting her answer.

She stared deeply in his eyes, feeling the pain that he expressed “It’s okay, its okay to be vulnerable, that’s who you are, a hopeless romantic” she smiled kindly still holding onto his hand. Alice had a mischievous look on her face before asking “What if..” She pauses before continuing, gliding her finger tips against her lips. “what if I be the bad guy here?”
confused, Hank asks her “What do you mean? you wanna rob a bank or something?” Alice grins as she adds “Want to know if she still cares about you?” she quickly glances at her husband and Becca still chatting, trying to gain their attention.

Hank raises his eyebrow as she leans in close only for hank to turn away before their lips touched. she gave out a quiet sigh and softly whispers in his ear “I was hoping you’d do that” she gives him a kiss on his cheek and softly adds “Be the hopeless romantic, not the comedian”

“What the fuck!“ Becca expressed furiously as she grabbed onto Alice arm and yanking her away from hank. “Alice! I know about the divorce but that gives you no right!” Becca snapped in pure anger. Alice calmingly responds “calm down Becca, it was the wine, not me” adding apologetically
“I seen you with my husband and I thought you two were the same” Alice shrugged while rolling her eyes. Becca quipped back. Becca gave a stern gaze, a swirling expression of anger and sadness as she announced that they were leaving. Becca grabs hanks hand and begins to storm out of the ballroom. Hank looks back at Alice, standing there next to her husband with his head hanging low and avoiding any eye contact. she smiles, bites her lower lip and gives him a wink as Hank whispers “Thank you”.

As Becca holds Hank’s hand, crossing the ballroom, an old familiar song plays in the background that makes him stop in his tracks. “Hank! We’re leaving, come on” Becca tugs on his hand but he pulls her in close onto the dance floor, wrapping his arm around the small of her back, taking his hand through her hair and leaning his forehead onto hers. He slowly waltzes around in circles, holding her close as she confusingly whispers, “What are you doing?” he softly hushed her question and holds her tightly for a few minutes before pulling away from her face, looking into her beautiful brown eyes, he whispers, “I love you,” and seals it with a kiss.
He takes her head and rest it on his shoulder as they dance in circles to the familiar tune of Charles Bradley. Her heart and his, beating in union and as if time had frozen once more that night, the moment was seized and the love rekindled.

The End
Lucas Durelle

If you call, I will Answer

“I think I’m getting to the point where I can be myself again” he says to her as he looks up from the side of the bed, replaying the argument over and over in his head.

The pain, the sadness, the desperation of trying to rekindle a relationship that was once strong enough to withstand all storms.

His pleading voice falling on deaf ears as he watches her pack up her things and head for the door. Unable to move, frozen in fear, he lets out a single sentence before she walks out and says.

“If you call, I will Answer”

She paused in the doorway, leaning her head against the frame. she closes her eyes as memories of a life full of love washed over her eyes, like an old time movie reel, flashing over tears.

The moment last forever as he watches her.

The game of who loves more than who.

A romantic disaster.

in that moment, out of anger and fear he said under his breath ” you think, it’s only fair to do what best for you and you alone!

The flashback sizzles out and fades as she turns around with a furious look on her face, bags dropped by her feet as she storms back into the room.

The raised voice echoed throughout the apartment.

I’m warning you, don’t ever do, those crazy messed up things that you do, if you ever do, I promise you, ill be the first to crucify you, now its time to prove that you come back here to rebuild.

Rebuild? He asked with a relieving smile

Rebuild. She said confidently.

Rebuild, he said under his breath as he wiped the tears from his eyes.

Rebuild.

impromptu story while listening to “If you call, I will Answer” By Barenaked Ladies
Lucas Durelle

What if?

What if this old, washed up writer came back? What if he never left and continued to write publicly instead of shamefully hiding his writing, his stories from the world like a drug addict hiding his addiction. Would this writer have finally published a novel or two? would one his stories end up being picked up as a major motion film? who the fuck knows and really, who would really care?…..but if the universe has taught me anything in the last three years of my seclusion from society and the challenges that I faced, Is that it is ever changing and if you want something, you take it, fight for it, whatever that “it” is .. make it yours, own it than do it again over and over until its becomes second nature like breathing or making sweet love under the moon light. at the end of the day it’s simple..

Just Write….

Winter is over, Summer let’s go.

Modern-typewriter over the winter has taken a small break like a bear in hibernation but now it’s time to wake up the beast and find new stories, new interviews and continue the tale of Modern-Typewriter. As winter passes and summer arrives, I looked back on the journey of 2017. With countless interviews and new experiences, I am excited to see what happens in 2018.

During the winter of 2017, This writer joined the Kinsmen of The Miramichi, a non-profit organization that helps out our community in Miramichi through individual means and grand events such as Big Buck Night or the Kinsmen Trivia Challenge. Over the last couple of months of being a kinsmen, I have found a positive way to give back to the amazing community of Miramichi through being a Kinsmen.

While co-chairing a massive event such as the First Annual Kinsmen Trivia Challenge, I was able to see first hand the excitement and work put into planning such events. The night was hosted by local radio power duo Paddy Quinn and Darcy McLaughlin from 95.9 Sun FM.

The First Annual Trivia Night was a huge success with 14 registered teams, 15 companies who donated amazing prizes and 9 companies who sponsored tables! Truly an amazing night filled with categories such Lights! Camera!! Diddly-Doodly ACTION JACKSON!!!(Pop Culture) and How’s Chi’ Going? (Miramichi Based Questions)

Fellow Kinsmen worked together to prepare meals and with the gracious help from Michele Bushey-Joe and the women of suicide prevention in serving our participants throughout the night. Kinsmen First Annual Trivia Night was created to support local charities, but to also assist Michele Bushey-Joe and her the group from suicide prevention to bring a guest speaker to talk about their cause.

Over the following weeks, I was offered to take the place of communications director for social media. Thrilled, I accepted. Along with Modern-Typewriter, I now get to manage another massive social media platform which is pretty exciting.

Miramichi is booming at the moment, with new infrastructure, art movements, musicians sweeping the city, and small business owners opening up shop and following their dreams. I am excited that 2018 will be another year of great articles and in-depth look at the amazing members of our community.

Time to wake up the proverbial beast, press down on the keyboard and start typing because Modern-Typewriter is ready for summer. Thank you for following me over the past year and I look forward to all the great stories over the coming months.

Thank you

Regards

Modern-Typewriter

Lucas Durelle.

Through The Eyes Of Others…

Everywhere I travel, I carry a medium-sized, leather-bound notebook with an attached white ribbon sewed inside the book. It’s a simple book, nothing fancy, very cheap but what’s filled inside is whats most valued. A collection of past events I have attended, short stories that are written sloppy and in haste, sudden strikes of poetry, ideas and small narratives that I have observe through my daily travels. Condensed stories or biographies of interesting people I have met along my journey of Modern-Typewriter.

Personally, I find writing to be the most powerful, rewarding, time-consuming tool a person could ever use. By simply using specific and detail wording, A writer can paint a world of imagery without a single stroke of a paintbrush.

In less than 3 months, Modern-Typewriter will be one year old and since creating Modern-Typewriter, I have had the fortunate pleasure of meeting a variety of fascinating individuals from musicians that pour their heart and soul into an instrument and ring out sounds of beauty and rhyme for our ears to hear to owners of small businesses that took a leap of faith to provide a service to the community that we share. I have met kind-hearted individuals who do nothing more than give and deliver without ever asking or taking from others. I have sat on park benches with strangers and lend my ears and listen to their stories they had to share. I have sat in concerts where bright lights shined and speakers amplified the momentum of energy and brilliance.

I have been driven by members of the community to follow my passion for writing, some of those people are still compelling forces and some have passed and no longer with us but have deeply impacted me for the past year since beginning Modern-Typewriter.

One man comes to mind when I look back on the journey I have experienced during the past year and although I only knew him for a very brief time during the summer of 2017, I will always have a fond memory of the first time I met Mr.Cameron and his willingness and trust that I could write. He gave me a chance to prove something by allowing me to write the 2017 Tall Ship articles and I will always be thankful for his wisdom, corrective ways and the encouragement he showed me. Thank you Lloyd.

Although I have written a variety of pieces on these amazing people, a lot of stories are yet to be written. Stories that I have been told by people I would have never have met if I didn’t simply engage in that person.

Personal writing is very engaging and with each story and each new encounter, you have to engage in the most evident way. Everyone has a story to tell and as a writer it’s our job to simply listen and with permission, document that story to share with others.

There are many different techniques of writing from fiction to non-fiction to news journalism, human pieces, etc, etc. But one thing that all writers should live by is the responsibility to uphold the truth. To find a story that will be compelling and worth the time to read. In an age of speed and unlimited sources of news, society is constantly too busy to take a moment, to take a chance on something that isn’t going to captivate themselves.

My passion for writing is the human side of journalism. To be the narrative of someone else story. To experience life through a set of eyes that are not your own. To experience sights around our area that hasn’t been touched by infrastructure. Grass that waves in the wind instead of being driven over, packed down with asphalt. The chances given to simply listen to the stories that are being told by those who are willing to share, for those who want a voice.

I have been fortunate enough to experience rich moments of life through the last year by living vicariously through the lives of others that I have written about. Often times, I find myself sitting across from the person I am writing about, quietly sipping on coffee, frozen in the captivity of their words as they flow from their lips. Fully engaged in the rich stories and the experiences they have lived.

It’s simply comforting and beautiful to know that even though there are millions of people in this world, we all have stories in our lives that make us individuals, that make us standout in the crowd, makes us unique.

Modern-Typewriter: Adam Lordon

Over the Cove Zip-line

Dillon Ryan G&G

G&G

Escape Miramichi

Vince Music Store

Lionsault

Roxy, TUSS, Jacob S

Aftersurf

Modern-Typewriter

Stand-up Comedy

Extra-life

SPCA

Nelson

I created Modern-Typewriter in March of 2017 and what an amazing adventure I had! Although I may not be constantly posting articles, you can rest assured I am constantly writing. Constantly looking for the next in-depth piece that will captivate your time.

Modern-Typewriter doesn’t flood its readers with constant gift giveaways, endless & pointless waste of space articles on 5 minutes of fame happenings, gossip, or topics that can be found on any news source.

Modern-Typewriter is real, it’s human. It digs through the surface of something small to uncover the proverbial diamond in the rough. I hope it’s readers finds its words to be artistic and a beautiful outlook on life. A documented proof of something existential.

This writer believes in captivating stories of truth, providing a retrospective inside look on the sensitive side of life. To capture the essence of sorrow, the warming of happiness, the rush of excitement, the staggering wave of anger and the pleasantries of love. The words that flow through my hands and fall upon the readers eyes should always be captivating, always have a humanistic drive, tangible, relatable, Real.

I look forward to 2018 and the stories I get to share with you.

Thank you,

Regards

The Modern-Typewriter

Lucas Durelle

Miramichi Spotlight: Extra Life Miramichi with Kris Jardine

Video games have always been a rapid, growing industry with millions of people playing together. Either working together with your friends to fight the big, bad boss or going on a solo adventure, trying to over come the challenges and to accomplish completion of the game.

You may remember fondly in the early days of gaming, where siblings would fight over the better controller, friends would gather together either at the local arcade or at your best friends house. Staying up all night long and sitting comfortably on the couch with your favorite snack and a steady hand on the controller and participate in hours of fun and adventure with those closest to you.

As technology grew and modern video games became more advanced, gaming has evolved as well. With a steady internet connection and a membership to either a gaming console or a P.C. The gaming community is able to connect with millions of other gamers across the world. For those who are passionate about gaming, services provided by streaming websites like twitch.com provides the ability to stream their game play for all the world to see.

The power of video games is growing rapidly, and with mega gaming industries creating tournaments and popular gamers gaining followers, there is money to be made. The average professional gamer makes around $2,000 to $5,000 dollars a month. Compare that to a top-notch professional streamer such as Pewdiepie who has reported an earning of $4 million dollars a year.

In 2008, an organization named Extra Life opened a charitable organization that helps children who are in need of medicine and medical help. In 2010, Extra Life became a prominent program with the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. By 2011, Extra Life raised its first million dollars to help children in need, and by 2016, Extra Life had raised over $30+ Million dollars with the help from over 100,000 members who contributed their time and effort into the power of gaming and helping those in need.

I had the chance to sit down with Miramichi’s own Extra Life member, Kris Jardine. The founding member of Extra Life Miramichi and learn about his story and the passion that drives him.

Kris Jardine, who is also known in the gaming community as SnaggleJ, a member of our community, is more than just a passionate gamer with a cause. He is a husband and a father of two. He is able to use the power of gaming to help kids and the families in medical need of the services that is provided by the I.W.K

Kris Jardine (SnaggleJ) With His Two Children

I asked Kris what extra life was all about!

Kris: Extra Life 4 Kids is a charity that benefits Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. It was founded in 2008, and since that time, gamers have raised over $30 million dollars. The premise of the charity is simple: sign up, pick a hospital and play games for 24-hours to help raise money and bring awareness to such an awesome cause. Some people play video games or board games, some people stream their games on YouTube or Twitch and some people just gather friends and family, but the spirit is the same. Use video games as a tool to have fun and raise money for kids.

Kris Informed me that he chosen to donate the proceeds to the IWK children’s hospital as his hospital of choice.

Kris: ” it’s an Atlantic Canadian staple. You don’t have to ask around very far to find someone who has needed their help and services at some point, and while I have been blessed with a healthy family, others have needed the IWK to get them through tough times. It was an easy choice”

The IWK has helped millions of families through its years of service. With top-notch staff and employees, The hospital is able to provide not only a sense of comfort but a sense of security and compassion during those times of medical need. This writer could fill in page after page on what the IWK does and how it has helped not only my family, but the families all across Atlantic Canada and I would like to personally thank Kris and his team for choosing such an amazing organization. Thank you.

Kris went on to inform me that he was always interested in online gaming and streaming his game play. Being an active gamer for years, Kris informed me that It wasn’t until last year that he became an active member of Extra Life.

Kris: “I had seen other gamer friends of mine participate in Extra Life before and one day, one of them showed me how easy it was to sign up and get to work. I was hooked right away because gaming has always been a passion of mine. What Extra Life allowed me to do was put that passion to work and to show my 7 and 5-year-old children that no matter what you like to do in your life, you can use it for the power of good and to help other people”.

As I stated previously, Extra life has raised over 30+ Million dollars for children and families in medical need. Kris provided some stats from his first year with Extra Life.

Kris: “Last year I personally raised $477, and our team raised $5700. My goal, personally for this year is $1000”

Kris also informed me that 100% of the proceeds from Extra life goes directly to those who are in need.

“Because Extra Life is a Children’s Miracle Network initiative, they have an underwriting in place so 100% of the money donated goes to the hospital the participant supports. There are over 150 CMN hospitals in Canada, the US and Puerto Rico that are part of the program.”

With the 24 hour stream day approaching on November 11th to 12th at 9:00 am, I asked Kris how many hours does he take out of his busy schedule to practice gaming and to prepare for the upcoming event.

Kris: “Even though stream day is only once a year, I usually spend an hour or two a week talking to other Extra Lifers in the community, talking to developers about possible donations and working on the social media side of things. As November gets closer, I will often spend around 5 hours a week working on making sure I have everything in place for stream day.”

On November 11th to 12th, starting at 9:00 am. Kris will be participating in a 24 hour live stream of multiple video games being played by himself and his team. All proceeds raised during that stream will go to the IWK through the Extra Life Miramichi Division.

If you are interested in more on Extra Life Miramichi, the Facebook page can be found here. Feel free to message the page for more information.

His live stream can be found on twitch and if your feeling generous and would like to donate to the Extra Life organization, the link can be found here.

Click here for video of Kris and Extra Life

Thank you Kris for sitting down with Modern-Typewriter to talk about your passion as a gamer and the noble cause that you and your team supports.

From the millions of families that the IWK has helped as well my own family, Thank you for choosing the IWK as your choice for charity.

We look forward to watching you live on Twitch on November 11th to 12th 2017.

Thank you

Regards

The Modern Typewriter

Lucas Durelle

Miramichi Spotlight: Adam Lordon

In November of 2016. The people of Miramichi elected and voted for the youngest mayor in our city; Adam Lordon. While you are able to find hundreds of articles and briefings on his political standings and his agendas. I notice there wasn’t much on the man himself. Who he is and what he enjoys in life and the passion and energy he carries not only for himself but for our community here in Miramichi.

On August 19th, 2017. I had the chance to sit down with Adam at Creative Grounds Cafe, A small local coffee shop that loudly voices creativity in our community. Once the coffee was ordered and introductions were made, I began to ask Adam who he was and what his passions were for this city.

Adam Lordon was born on August 2nd 1984. He is a local grown boy, who grew up on the Gordon road in Miramichi. A former student of James M Hill High school and raised by his single mother Nancy Lordon. As a youth, He spoke fondly of riding his bike with his friends and playing road hockey with the neighborhood children.

In High school, Adam was very involved in student council, drama and different clubs. He spoke briefly about his time playing hockey in high school.

Adam: “I think I knew at a very young age, that I had no illusions that I was going to the NHL but I stuck playing hockey at semi competitively level though high school mostly for the comradery with friends and my mom was a die-hard hockey mom! You enjoy the road trips and stuff and when we were younger, hockey was all that we had back then!.”

After high school. Adam took charge of his life and he was accepted to Saint Mary’s University in Halifax Nova Scotia. He earned a degree in business and majored in Marketing and ended up spreading the four-year degree over five years while working two jobs during those years to be able to afford for his education. While at university he was actively involved with his school, by not only being an event coordinator with the student union but also being a resident assistant for a few years.

Adam informed me about his uneasiness about leaving Miramichi for University in Halifax Nova Scotia, He was very nervous at first. Coming from a smaller city into a diverse area like Nova Scotia can be shocking to anyone at such a young age but as he started getting comfortable in Nova Scotia, he bravely made his way to Toronto to experience life in a bigger way.

Adam: ” I went to Halifax relativity sheltered I guess, we didn’t travel much as a kid, only during summer I guess but I hadn’t really left the maritime until I was 17-18 years old. Going from Miramichi to Halifax was quite a big change. The first year of university, I hardly left campus and while Saint Mary’s is a small campus, you eventually spread your wings. After being in Nova Scotia for five years, I went to Toronto, and Halifax didn’t feel so big anymore. Toronto felt so incredibly, infinitely large when I first got there but over time it became a community and I loved it!

University and College is an amazing time in a person’s life. Not only is your mind open to new ideas and suggestions but also you get to meet like-minded individuals who share a common interest. I asked Adam what he loved about his time during university.

Adam: “University was just an incredible experience and opens your mind, you get to experience different people, cultures and different view points and different ideas. When you’re exposed to diversity, it’s stimulating and being fascinated with people and cultural backgrounds. It was simply great to meet new people and have some fun.”

Photo Taken by Adam Lordon

When first arriving in Toronto, Adam arrived with a business degree in hand and drifted from job to job but it wasn’t until he realized that being in the heart of Toronto, he could live his dream job of working in Media and Television.

Adam: “Living in Miramichi, My dream was to always work in Media or on Television but it didn’t feel tangible, but as soon as I got to Toronto and realized that I could work in media, I applied for a post-graduate course at Humber College in television writing and producing and I got in and then I had to decided if I was going to go or not and I just finished my degree and I had a pretty good job by the standards that it paid well but I didn’t love it and I thought it was one of those moments, one of those decision moments in life where you ask yourself, If i don’t do this, I will wonder for the rest of my life..What if? and I didn’t want that regret. I knew that I needed and wanted to try that out. It was an obvious right choice”

After studying at Humber College in Toronto, Adam Lordon interned at MTV Canada and got his first job at “So You Think You Can Dance Canada” As a driver. He began to tell me in a humorous way that his primary job was to drive around dancers in a Mini-Van. After a shared laugh, Adam went on to explain how the entertainment industry works.

Adam: It’s one of those industries where you start at the bottom and work your way up and you have to prove yourself and work hard.”

From driving dancers in a mini-van, Adam worked his way through the industry as a Production Coordinator. Production Assistant. Audience Coordinator then over to the creative side of the network. Adam went onto explain that it took two to three years of proving his self-worth to the media industry before moving over to the Marilyn Dennis Show for the next 5 years.

Adam: “When I moved into the Marilyn Dennis show, is where I spent five years inside the network on C.T.V and that’s where I really moved up quickly because it was a new show and like a start-up business, you’re really trying to figure out what works, who works, where do they work. I was fortunate at that show because there was so much turnover because it wasn’t right for them. I was able to move from coordinating and the logistics parts of the show into more of the creative side to produce and direct and I was good at it and they kept giving me more. So I moved up there pretty quickly. It was an amazing experience.

The Marilyn Dennis show is a mix of lifestyle and entertainment segments featuring experts and celebrity guests. Being unfamiliar with the Marilyn Dennis show, I asked Adam what it was and what he loved about working on a national network show.

Adam: ” The show is a lifestyle show and it crosses over a lot of different subject areas! food segments, home improvement and decor, fashion, gardening and outdoors, adventures, health and if your only working on one of these areas it can be repetitive but because there was such a broad subject matter I was able to work in a different areas and was able to work with many different people like Mike Holmes for home improvements.

Despite meeting and working with a lot of celebrity people, Adam strongly remembers the people that he met from day-to-day during his time on the Marilyn Dennis show. I asked Adam what segments he was apart of during those five years on a National Network show.

Adam: “A lot of what I did was home make overs and yard make overs. All the people that we chose for stories and make overs really had their own story to tell. We were always choosing people who were in need of help. If we could help someone, that’s the goal.

Adam shared one of his greatest moment that he fondly remembers while working on the Marilyn Dennis show.

Adam: ” We did a Christmas special for the network where a 4-year-old boy survived leukemia and he had been going to the hospital over the previous Christmas doing treatments. So we surprised him and turned his entire house into the North Pole! We had real reindeer in his driveway and the Hamilton Tiger Cats were the elves and there was thousands of lights on the house. That! is the ultimate most fulfilling experience. Making this incredible memory for this 4 year old boy with cancer and his family will forever be one of the highlights of my career!

After Adam shared his story and wiped a tear from his eye, I could tell that this was a man filled with humanity and compassion. A man who sees the world in a lighter light.

After some small talk about Modern-Typewriter. We moved onto his life outside of being a producer/director and the Mayor of Miramichi. While down time and moments of relaxation does not come often to his busy life, Adam shared his hobbies and interest outside of work.

Adam: ” The rare moments that I actually have downtime, I enjoy cooking, I really do! but also I just love being outside, I love to go hiking and going to the beach, just relaxing and hanging out with the amazing friends I have made.”

Earlier in the article, I mentioned that Adam didn’t travel much during his youth, but fortunately by working hard and being determined, he was able to travel and experience the world through the Marilyn Dennis show but ultimately he credits one person for his sense of travel; His mom.

Adam: I have to give credit to my mom for this! When I was in High School, they had this thing called travel club and Mr.Cameron was the teacher adviser, and a lot of my friends were going and I remember Mom felt it was really important to go on this trip and to get a sense of the world out there. So between grade 11 and 12 we went to southern Europe and we did Spain, southern France and Italy.

Adam went back to Europe years later with colleagues from university and explored even more from London England to Ireland making his way to Sweden Denmark, Germany Berlin and finished his trip at Oktoberfest.

As we sat in that coffee shop talking about life and personal achievements, I noticed throughout the conversation Adam talked a lot about a certain individual who has a close place in his heart; His mom. Nancy Lordon.

Adam:It’s no question that my mom represents to me the definition of selflessness. Putting other people first and I will never be as good as it as her, she will always be the role model that I inspire to be. If I can be as half as compassionate as my mom then I know that I would be in a good place. Shes my hero. I take all my cues from her.

Nancy Lordon was an executive assistant in the administration department at the Miramichi Regional Hospital. She also sat on Miramichi City Council and was the first female deputy mayor in Miramichi.

In the summer of 2014, Adam’s world was shaken when his mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and in the fall of 2014, she had passed away from her battles with cancer.

Adam Lordon and his mother Nancy Lordon on set at the Marilyn Dennis Show.

With a Nancy Lordon council seat vacant, Adam stood up and campaigned to take over his mothers position on city council, to not only honor her name but to finish what she had begun. Adam Lordon won in a by-election from 2015 to 2016 then ran again in 2016 for city council and won with the most votes to become the deputy mayor. He ran in 2016 for the position of Mayor of Miramichi and won with the most votes.

Adam Lordon being sworn in for Mayor of Miramichi. New Brunswick.

In a span of 18 months, Adam Lordons life had changed from one extreme to another and while many would find this hard to believe, Adam focuses all his energy and passion into not only living life to the fullest but also lending a helping hand in creating and developing a greater Miramichi each and every day.

I asked Adam what his favorite memory of his mother was and as I watched Adam take a deep breath and really ponder the question that I had asked. I could tell right away that his mind was filled with pleasant memories of his mother and I was grateful and lucky enough to hear what his greatest memory of his mom was.

Adam: There are so many but… When I was in Toronto and my mom came to visit me, it was the first time she ever came. I took her out for a 5 hour walk through Toronto and she was a good sport about it and being myself, I expanded her mind. My life allowed her to broaden her horizon, She came to Toronto, she came to a taping of the Marilyn Show and got her picture with Marilyn. And when Marilyn Dennis was telling my mom how much she loves me and how much she appreciates me, I knew that was a great moment for my mom.

Adam shared a fond memory which he truly believes is one of his mother’s greatest achievements.

Adam: “The other moment was when she had won her first election with the most votes to become deputy mayor and that was the happiest I have ever saw my mom! It was a moment, and I believe the only moment in her life that was actually about her and that’s why I loved it so much, It couldn’t be about anyone else but her!”

Adam Lordon sitting with mother Nancy Lordon

As we finished our coffees and were about to part ways, I asked Adam what his vision of Miramichi is and I’m going to end the article with his quote because I believe that together as a community, we can easily achieve this dream to turn it into an actual reality.

Adam Lordon: “I think we need to be the best version of ourselves. We have to be authentic, we have to be who we are. we have to take the best of us and always carry that with us but also we need to grow, evolve and change. My vision for Miramichi is a thriving beautiful waterfront city. We are artistically vibrant, we are culturally vibrant. Miramichi is built around small businesses and entrepreneurs and also tourism. We accept everybody, its foundational. Being apart of an open and inclusive community, we have to embrace all cultures, all backgrounds, all religions. The progress we have made for the past two years as a community has been phenomenal! When you move here, you are a Miramichier!

I would like to thank Adam Lordon for taking the time out of his busy schedule and for showing interest in such a small thing like Modern Typewriter. I believe our city is in good hands and I know the good-hearted people of Miramichi believes that as well.

Thank you

Regards

The Modern-Typewriter

Lucas Durelle

Round & Round We Go On Life’s Carousel

As we ride this merry-go round we call life, often times we are faced with hardships and negative people. The stress of those events and people can be crippling on ones self-esteem and we are left with the numbing feeling of being flustered, vulnerable and hurt.

Life sucks, we know that. It’s a constant uphill battle, paved with loose gravel and with each step, you are constantly slipping. Life comes in waves, the constant barrage of bills, health scares, death and diseases. No wonder as a society we are clinically depressed and heavily medicated just to deal with said shit.

In a world filled with wrong doings, snarky remarks, constant pressure and hate. It’s sometimes overwhelming and difficult to find the good in people and when a good act is done upon us, we often question it’s purpose or if there’s a catch to it.

It’s a cynical feeling almost, in the way of “why is this person being nice to me and what do they want?”

The seed of doubt is often planted in our minds by past experiences with those who have wrong us. Always wondering if there’s a second motive to each action which can be quite stressful and irritating.

although we must remember that not all people are struck with the flag of negativity. Important qualities we find in people, are comforting. Trust is a huge quality we all look for in a person and in a world of unexplained actions, trust is a hard quality to find.

Life’s hard enough and here we are constantly trying to make it harder by stiring shit on those we don’t like. Gossiping. Telling rumors. Attacking and assaulting those who don’t submit or agree with your opinion…f**k those people, your never going to please them so why waste your time trying.

Fortunately we all find a crutch to help us stand against the crashing waves of life and the swarming congregation of ill-toungued people.

Some of us find religion. Most of us find love. Some find the endless bottom of a bottle and others light the end of a cigarette. Inevitably we find something or someone to help battle the unbeatable goliath called life and it makes everything easier and worth going through.

So when life gets you down and work has you stressed out. Be like the lost children of Neverland, find your happy thought. Think about the one you love. The beers shared among friends. The pretty girl who smiled at you that one time. Anything positive to occupy your mind to help get you through the day.

The only thing that should matter to anyone is the ones that love you and want to be surrounded by your presence. Don’t waste your time and energy on changing the opinions of others to shine a better light on yourself. Devote the effort to those who already know you’re an amazing person. So to tell it in laymen terms, let the haters hate and surround yourself with those who appreciate.

“Stop watering dead plants” ~anonymous

Regards

The Modern Typewriter

Lucas Durelle

A Night At The Miramichi Vogue Theater

Over the weekend, I was invited to attend a blues and funk concert being held at the classic Miramichi Vogue Theater, I was thrilled to gain access to such an event. As I pulled up to the old vogue theater, The brightly lit neon sign read Roxy And The Underground Soul Sound and opening up for them was Jacob Strang And The High Class Hussies.

The crowd surrounded the entrance and the line up was out the door. I made my way into the building and was handed a ticket. I made my way past the usher and walked into the dimly lit theater that was filled with a talkative and excited crowd of people and a stage that was filled with instruments.

The Orange glow of the stage lit up the curtain that draped the background, as the lights dim, a silence fell through the crowd when a crashing boom of the drums echoed through the hall, the band started in unity as the electric sound of funk and soul filled the room in a hazy glow.

The lead singer Jacob Strang, ran onto the stage sporting a black fedora and grabbed the microphone. He captured a unique energy as he danced across the stage to the beating of the drums and hip swaying sound of the rhythm guitar as his vocals let out a whiskey soaked howl.

The Crowd went wild as the song came to an end and he introduced himself and his band members. The lead guitarist began to play a familiar riff as the crowd screamed with excitement, the drums soon followed as the bass let out a solid lead as Jacob Strang let out a raspy scream and immediately you recognized the song. “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin. It was a surprising treat that sounded perfect.

The band went on to play a few more of their original songs then ended with a duet with the lead singer of the other spotlight band Roxy And The Underground Soul Sound. The room was lit up with energy as the band thanked everyone for coming and made their way back stage.

There was a brief intermission before the featured act of Roxy and the Underground soul sound. The crowd shared their excitement, others stepped outside for a quick smoke or to order another drink.

——————-

After the intermission, people returned to their seats and waited in anticipation as the headline act was coming in stage.

This is the first band that I experienced live that includes a brass section. The saxophone player blows kisses of sweet sorrow as the trombone player pairs nicely with the excitable lead guitar player as his fingers dance across the frets. You can barely contain your feet from tapping to the steady groove of the drums. I can only describe the sound of the band as a mellow vibe that hits your soul.
The lead singer, Roxy, has a voice that I can only describe as anger soaked with sadness with a reverb of soul and seduction but don’t let that fool you as she smiles and dances weightlessly across the stage as she moves with the rhythm of the guitars.

As the night went along, one song stood out that I can only describe as perfection. Entitled “Fought The Battle”, Roxy explained that she wrote the song to help her overcome a dark period in her life. “Fought The Battle” The song of sadness, a raw emotion is captured by Roxy as she softly sings a lullaby followed by crashing waves of instrumental pieces as she belts out painful lyrics that echoes throughout the vogue theater. As the song comes to an end, she falls to her knees as she vocally holds a trembling note of sorrow, The crowd is silent and in awe of the performance in front of them. Perfection.
Encore! the crowd screamed as Roxy and the underground soul sound exited the stage. When the lead singer Roxy and her band the underground soul sound came back onto the stage, she invited Jacob Strang to accompany her on stage as they shared a duet entitled “Etta” A brilliant song that time traveled you back to a simpler time as it captured a unique chemistry between the two singers. It was an excellent ending to a perfect night.

As the crowd dispersed and the lights came on and the show was over. I made it back to my car and simply sat there in silence for a few moments to reflect on the night.

I wish everyone in Miramichi could have witness that concert and if those bands do return, I encourage all my readers to attend and enjoy a soulful night of music.

The vogue theater itself was an amazing, memorable experience. The atmosphere. The catering. The classic popcorn stand and the vintage vibe of the building itself, sets the bar quite high for other venues. It truly was an excellent night of entertainment and good music.

Thank you

Regards

The Modern Typewriter

Lucas Durelle

The First Experience

Everyday, we experience something new. From the time of being an infant and taking your first steps to saying your first bad word your uncle taught you.

To being a kid and going to the first day of school and making your first best friend, ready to conquer the world.

The first time you get behind the wheel of a car and you feel your foot on the gas pedal, is an amazing experience. When your driving down the road with your favorite song blaring over the radio and the sun sets in the distance as a warm glow of orange covers your face.
A sense of freedom draws over you as you realize you could go anywhere the road will lead you. The traffic is zooming by as you catch the small glimpses of blurred people on the side-walk and the land is covered in green grass and grey asphalt. You feel a sense of comfort. A sense of ease. A sense of accomplishment.

When you get a little older and your age hits into those dreaded teen years. You begin to develop who you are as a person, by experiencing new taste of music, clothes and friends and trying to find your own lifestyle in the mix of things.

The first time you sneak your first drink of liquor you stole from your parents liquor cabinet, hoping your parents don’t notice the liquor bottle is a little lighter than it use to be.

Experiencing college years for the first time is an amazing experience, It could be a drunken haze of excitement and partying or a chance to recognize ones self. The constant pressure of deadlines and test while being inspired by learning something your interested in. Figuring out what you want in life and what makes you the person you are.

Experiencing love for the first time is truly a scary, lustful, exciting, wonderful feeling wrapped in a ball of anxiety.

When you nervously go on your first date, not knowing if you’re gonna make enough small talk to make the night interesting. Cautiously attempting to hold hands as you walk closely together. As the night grows cold and you feel her pressed up against you as you make your move and you watch as her trembling lips grow closer to yours. The first feeling of cautiously kissing someone you like and the overwhelming feeling of joy as they kiss you back. The silence that follows with a trembling smile. The passion between two people, It’s almost like poetry.

The first time your heart is broken and everything seems grey, cold, empty and nothing makes sense in the world. You don’t know how to mend it back again until someone comes along and sew the pieces back together and the one you use to care about is nothing more than another chapter in the big book of your life.

The first time your out on your own in that big open world as an adult and life slaps you in the face with taxes, rent and bills that are over due while working a job that doesn’t pay enough to cover it all.

While all that does sound scary and stressful, it is merely a small spec of sand in the grand scheme of adult life. Freedom to do what your passionate for and experiencing new things is the biggest upside of being an adult.

Just because you age and as life happens, and you don’t land that dream job but you luckily find someone you love and you get married, have children and build that white picket fence you hear everyone talking about. What more can you ask for?. As long as you aim for happiness and new experiences, you will never miss out on the big game of life.

I find some of my most interesting experiences come in the form of conversation with people, I wouldn’t normally converse with.

Recently while I was sitting on a bench, taking my break from work. I was encountered by an old man carrying a very heavy book bag, he sat down next to me with tattered clothing and bummed a smoke. We sat there in silence for a few minutes when I realized that I should be asking him what his story was.

He went on to tell me that he doesn’t know where he went wrong in life but he knows the world isn’t like it use to be when he was young. I sat with him for the duration of my break, just talking about nothing and when I turned to leave he said something that I found to be quite astonishing.

“Times are a changing, People are too afraid to talk to each other anymore.”

Sadly, He’s right. Throughout the day, we do very little for the people around us, even though some are strangers, we should try to take the time to experience what we have to say and do for each other because in the end, that’s all we are. Just people trying to survive this hurricane shit storm of a world and make friends while we do it.

So go out in that big scary world and experience new things. Watch the sun as it sets over still waters, Compliment a stranger that has an awesome t-shirt that you think is cool. Experience something new for the first time.

Tell someone they are beautiful and watch as there smile lights up the room. Travel to exotic places and taste the food and wines of their world.

Do what excites you, Do things that you want to experience in your life. Jump in head first and be adventurous. We all share a common experience and that experience is called life.

As Always

Regards

The Modern Typewriter

Lucas Durelle