Like all good Canadians, I am a huge Spirit of the West fan. Save This House was the soundtrack of my youth. Home For a Rest was (and still is) the song that got everyone out on the dance floor at a family wedding. So when news of John Mann's passing hit my feed yesterday, I was very very sad.
Since moving to Vancouver, I got to meet John Mann a handful of times; he played M. Thénardier in a local production of Les Miz and I got to fangrrrrl at him at the opening night party (he could not have been more gracious) and I was in a writing group with his fantastic wife Jill, so I saw them together at various events a few years after his diagnosis. But my favourite memory of him is this:
Back in 2013, Katr and I and our cantankerous pooch Emmy Lou went to Galliano Island for a small conference and John Mann was the featured performer. He gave a wonderful, intimate performance and it was a magical night. The next morning, I was waiting for Katr in the hotel lobby with our cranky-ass dog and John Mann walked in. He was immediately taken with Emmy Lou and started rubbing her wrinkled head.
And she LET HIM.
Emmy Lou didn't really enjoy being touched. She ruined a lot of people's days by avoiding their attempts to pet her and barely tolerated physical affection from us, the people who fed and housed her.
But she was INTO John Mann. Like, looking lovingly into his eyes, trying to get her junkyard face close to his, her tail wagging gently. I could not believe it. But then again, I COULD believe it, because John Mann had this great energy and Emmy Lou was in thrall, like the rest of us.
This dog petting went on for several minutes and it was fucking adorable.
I'm sorry I didn't get a photo of the moment but also not sorry, because sometimes you just need to remember things. But after it was over, I gave Emmy Lou an extra big treat for not embarrassing me in front of John Mann.
Rest in peace to the great John Mann. Katr and I loved you, Canada loved you and our crusty shar pei Emmy Lou loved you too. If you see her up there, please give her a rubbins from us.
