summer in two boxes

it's the summer of 2003 and i'm still living in ottawa. feeling the stifling grip of the town closing around me, i'm walking home through "downtown" when i see a mini poster on a telephone pole:

VIVALDI'S FOUR SEASONS: SUMMER
THIS SUNDAY AT THE NOTRE DAME BASSILICA

suddenly i'm very excited about the whole thing. i'd been wanting to see the bassilica ever since i moved into the area and here was the perfect setting: a classical performance of one of my favourite composers. after much coaxing and a little complaining from chrystal i manage to convince her to come with me to sit in the hot and humid old church and enjoy the show with me.

"the show" consists of no more than 7 musicians who, seated at the front of the church are almost entirely hidden behind the heads of others who thought to arrive earlier. the lead violinist, a slender girl with long curly brown hair stands up, and with the small accompaniment behind her, she makes the church sing... this is vivaldi's "summer", and i am near tears.

yesterday i was taken back to that moment in time thanks to taavi's new audio system at home. he's gone out and bought brand new $2500 studio monitors (note, these aren't speakers. such a word is an insult to these beautiful things). he sat me in his chair, the monitors pointed at me and loaded a cd into the tray. it wasn't perfect, but it was almost exactly like being back there in the bassilica.

thanks taavi.