Mojave 3 - “In Love With A View”
This is my favourite song. I’m not sure why, but everything about it is just perfect to me.
Two years ago, a friend asked me to provide the music for his wedding in Stanley Park. Of course I said yes (probably more like “really?! OF COURSE I’LL DO IT! Oh man I’m so excited!” I’m a sucker for weddings), but I ended up with some pretty severe wrist problems and couldn’t play any instrument for very long—certainly not enough to soundtrack an entire wedding.
Rather than risk a wedding without music (friend is probably the most “musician” of anyone I know; this was not an option), I cancelled as soon as possible. I figured, since most of his friends are also musicians, he can just replace me. But no, friend and his now-wife didn’t just want someone playing music, they wanted me playing music. I was to be the only non-family member involved in the service. I remembered that alley in Point Grey when now-wife let it slip that they were engaged and how, except for immediate family, I was the only person who knew. I’d been so honoured they’d asked for my involvement that I didn’t for a second realize it was also important to them.
So the guilt was pretty bad. I was doing everything in my power to heal my wrist, but it didn’t look good; my wrists seemed to be falling apart. I saw an ergonomist to set up my work station, I started wearing a wrist brace everywhere, I got a list of exercises from a physiotherapist, and I essentially stopped everything that required my wrist. I make my living designing, programming, and writing; my favourite hobbies are music and cooking. It became a very stressful period for me.
The day before the wedding I picked up a guitar and started playing. About 10 minutes later I thought my hand was about to fall off, but I called friend to told him the good news: I couldn’t do the whole service, but I could definitely do at least one song. He’d prepared music for the post-service, but they were still undecided on what to do after the bride is kissed—everything worked out better than expected!
The next day I met up with friend at the wedding site to discuss the music:
Me: OK, what do you want me to play?
Friend: um, I didn’t plan anything
Me: oh…
Him: yeah…
Me: …do you have a preferred key?
I can’t remember how the conversation ended, but it wasn’t with the two of us reaching a consensus on music. I ended up finding out that friend’s uncle was my grade 11 regular substitute teacher back in Laval (he signed my yearbook “Get your bladder checked!” because I’d ask to use the washroom at the beginning of class and return 45 minutes later. A lot.) and spent a lot of time in “holy coincidence!” mode.
Next thing I knew, people were being ushered to the service area and I still didn’t know what I was going to play. But now, I somehow had an acoustic guitar strapped to me and it seemed really important to figure that out. I went to the washroom, cleaned up, and started walking towards the service. Halfway there I decided to play a love song. Three quarters of the way there I realized I don’t know how to play any love songs… A few more steps and I remembered “In Love With A View.”
I’ve never been able to remember how I first heard the song, but it doesn’t matter; I can’t think of a more perfect story.
