Not Guilty, Just Pleasure - Summer's End

Here in Canada, it's the start of Thanksgiving Weekend.  It's not as big a deal up here as it is down the states but a lot of turkey is eaten, pumpkin pie too.  Some families gather together, or not.  It's a nice break to have a long weekend in October.  Many folks will use this time to get their gardens ready for winter.

Thinking about families can be tough for some folks, particularly if they have suffered many losses.  It's never easy when someone passes but it's even more difficult when their deaths could have been prevented.  Reflecting on family and loss is what's inspired me to share this week's not guilty just pleasure song. 

This is the first time I've shared the same song twice on a Friday.

It's not a cover, it's the same song performed by the same artist although the first time I shared it (in July) it was a live performance.  Today I'm sharing the studio version.  Last week, John Prine released the official video for this song.  The video is so powerful that I felt compelled to share the song again.

When I first heard "Summer's End" (from the beautiful "tree of forgiveness" album), I cried.  The song is clearly about loss and it's difficult to imagine someone not being moved by it.  The story told in the video is also one of loss and a family trying to cope.  This particular loss was caused by opioid addiction.  A devastating and completely preventable, 100% unnecessary loss of life.

Thank you to John Prine for shining a light on a crisis which can affect anyone, any family, at any time.  If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid addiction, help is out there.  In Ontario, you can get free, anonymous support 24/7 by calling 1-800-565-8603.