Happy Holidays

Two great opportunities to hear Acadian music coming up.  Looking forward to seeing many familiar faces...

 

Sylvain's Cajun Aces 
Tuesday November 30th, 8pm

Bayside Bowl

58 Alder Street

Portland, ME 04101

zydeco dance lesson at 8:30pm, Cajun menu and beer specials the last Tuesday of every month.

 

Boréal Tordu

Saturday, December 4th, 7pm

East Sangerville Grange

Sangerville, ME 04479

http://eastsangervillegrange.com

$10 in advance, $12 at the door, call 207-564-2722 for reservations

 

 

Also, Boréal Tordu is offering the "5 for the price of 4" special again this year in hopes that you'll share the love of music with your friends.  This time it applies to both last year's release, Les Chevaliers and the earlier La Bonne Vie.  Just visit http://www.borealtordu.com/products.html and order 4 and you'll get one free. Reply to this email if you have any questions or if you'd like to mix and match CD's.  Joyuex Noel et Bonne Nouvelle Année!

 

 

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Boréal Tordu

http://www.borealtordu.com

 

Sylvain and the Cajun Aces

http://www.THEcajunaces.com

 

Gigafone Records

http://www.gigafonerecords.com

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Coming up this week

Tonight Sylvain and the Cajun Aces return to Run of the Mill Brew Pub in Saco, ME followed by their monthly appearance at Portland's Bayside Bowl this coming Tuesday.  Yes, the last Tuesday of the month is here and as always Sylvain's Aces serve up a Cajun dance party with dance lessons at 8:30 and $3 specials.  

 

This coming Thursday, Boréal Tordu is proud to have been selected as the "house band" to celebrate the anniversary of Maine's premier television magazine show, "207" with Rob Caldwell and Kathleen Shannon.  Tune in to this hour-long special on WCSH-6 from Portland and WLBZ-2 from Bangor

 

 

Thursday, October 23, 8pm

Sylvain's Cajun Aces

Run of the Mill

100 Main Street, Saco, ME

 

Tuesday, October 26, 8:30pm

Sylvain's Cajun Aces

Bayside Bowl

58 Alder Street, Portland, ME

Thursday, October 28, 7pm

Boréal Tordu

live on 207

WCSH-TV Portland, WLBZ-TV Bangor

 

 

 

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Gigafone Records

www.gigafonerecords.com

www.borealtordu.com

www.thecajunaces.com

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Opening for Beausoleil tomorrow!

A final reminder for our favorite people: please please please come see Boréal Tordu at the Port City Music Hall in Portland, ME tomorrow night and as a special treat you'll get to also see (!) the first name in Cajun music, Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet.  Yes that's Doucet as in The Douce- Matthew's father, along with Uncle David, the ground-breaking, Grammy winning, genre-crossing brothers from Lafayette, Louisiana who have inspired generations of Acadian and Cajun musicians.  8pm doors, 8:30 cajun dance lesson, 9pm band.  Hope you can join us!

 

BEAUSOLEIL avec Michael Doucet
with special guests Boréal Tordu

Friday, August 20th @ 8pm
Port City Music Hall

Portland, ME
21+ (minors admitted with a parent only)
Advanced $18 / Door $20 / seated VIP $40

FREE CAJUN DANCE LESSON @ 8:30PM FOR INTERESTED TICKET HOLDERS

taught by Cindy Larock of Lewiston - Cajun and traditional dance instructor.

Air conditioned! | Great big hardwood dance floor | State of the art sound system

For further info, call Ceci Gilson 207-837-8849

Tickets can be purchased online at www.portcitymusichall.com or at any Bull Moose Music location.

Doors open at 8 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

"THE BEST CAJUN BAND IN THE WORLD" - Garrison Keillor, Prairie Home Companion

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Boréal Tordu

La musique des Acadiens du Maine

30 Mechanic Street

Portland, ME

207.761.3931

info@borealtordu.com

http://www.borealtordu.com

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Return to Maine this week

Welcome all our new mailing list friends from the tour.  What a howling success! 16 gigs in 12 days, almost 2000 miles driven, over 80 CDs sold, 50 new mailing list subscribers, many new stories and lots of music shared.  Beaucoup de fun I'm telling you someTHING. 

 

Tuesday August 10th back in Portland Sylvain & the Cajun Aces continue the Fat Tuesday groove at Bayside Bowl, with Emma Holder teaching Zydeco Steps at 8:30pm and guess who is back in town and sitting in tonight?  The Horny Horns return! For directions see www.baysidebowl.com

 

Also this week on Thursday, August 12th Sylvain and the Aces appear at Festival Plaza in Auburn, ME for the noontime summer concert series sponsored by L/A Arts.  See www.laarts.org for more.

 

Friday August 13th Boréal Tordu returns to the Maine Coastal Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, ME for a special lawn party concert at 7pm.  For tickets and more info see http://www.mainegardens.org

 

Looking ahead please save the date: Friday, August 20th the incomparable Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet (yes THAT Michael Doucet) comes to Port City Music Hall in Portland with our own Boréal Tordu opening.  Stay tuned for more info and keep an eye on our site below.  This is a show not to be missed!

 

/*/  /  /

Boréal Tordu

La musique des Acadiens du Maine

30 Mechanic Street

Portland, ME

207.761.3931

info@borealtordu.com

http://www.borealtordu.com

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Day Twelve and the Great Return

Day Last was beyond compare.  Castleton outdid itself.  Our third year there and the audience is bigger and more welcoming each year.  Due to weather we moved the show inside to a beautiful hall on campus with great acoustics and a great sound crew.  We ended up playing later that expected but we were only too happy to stay.  Dick and Gloria Nordmeyer are ever gracious hosts - pizza backstage and a warm introduction from Dick.  Our old pal Tony Cardamone was there taking photos- we used his shot of us at Castleton last year on the inside cover of Les Chevaliers.  We ended up selling more than three dozen CDs.  I'd be lying if I didn't say we were pretty tired out by this point, but the energy in that room lifted us up.  Quelle Belle Vie!  Quelle encore!  Merci Castleton!  

Stevie treated us all to Stewart's ice cream after the show.  I can't really remember what happened after that.  We made it home at about 4am.  Thanks to Pip and Andy for driving all the time.  Big thanks to Andy for booking an action-packed if grueling 12 days and thanks to our families for helping us get out to play.  It was hard to be away but I wouldn't trade the experience.  So many cool people and places.  Did I mention Hong's Dumplings?  Anyway my next adventure starts twelve hours after my return: flying to Minneapolis to see the family and relax on the lake for a week.  Then back at it with Aces at Bayside Bowl Tuesday, in Auburn for L/A Arts on Thursday noon, and Tordu's homecoming show at Maine Coastal Botanical Gardens in Boothbay on Friday.  On y va!

Day of Rest

Last night we went over some new material and did a few of Memere's
notebook songs with double fiddle. Very beautiful. Then a down-to-
the-wire cribbage match that exposed a Muise-Sylvain rivalry we didn't
even know was there. Today we spent a beautiful day on the lake in
Andy's Cobalt 22. We shot over to Lake George Village for ice cream
and wifi and a nice stroll. We couldn't afford the million-dollar
beach so we settled for the two-fitty be-ach. Pip Steve and I swam
out to the boat from the beach like Navy seals. Back at the ranch
Steve and I went for another run and Pip cooked up some killer beans
while Andy grilled the veggie-burgers. Thanks again, gentlemen!

Tomorrow, Castleton!

Day Ten

The weather in Millbrook was lovely, like every other day on this
tour. Nice big stage, nice big lawn, nice big crowd. The standout
here was the sound crew. Tom, Raj, and Lexi catered to our every whim
and the sound system was first class. The echo off the valley was
huge and a little strange but we had a great time time. To our
complete surprise, a local family marched across the green carrying a
big Acadian Flag. Turned out to be Les Gagnons de Millbrook. Bien
fait!

After the show we stopped at Charlotte's Restaurant to visit Steve,
who booked the show and was playing his own gig during our concert.
What a character! Hope we get to catch his set someday. We ended up
getting roped into a few drinks at Charlotte's by Renée and Laura at
the bar. Who could say no? The decor at this place was otherworldly
- felt kinda Hotel California for a minute there. Then the sound crew
showed up and we just had to stay for a few more. Good times. See
y'all next time.

We stayed at a family campground outside of town. Steve and I saw a
barred owl that sounded like an eastern hawk owl. Steve's still
trying to figure that one out. It hung out with us just a few yards
away, screeching and jumping around. Wacky.

The next day was surreal. We showed up for our gig in Lenox, MA at
the Lenox Community Center and the place was EMPTY! Nobody to greet
us, no signs or posters, no chairs set up. The doors were unlocked
but noone was home. We were there at noon for a 1pm start and woah!
Some signals were crossed. Still don't know what happened because
Andy's contact didn't answer the phone. Yikes! One sweet older lady
showed up at 1 o'clock who saw our concert listed in a newsletter. We
gave her a free CD and chatted for a while and then departed. Oh
well, another adventure!

Now we are back at Lake George, looking forward to some R&R before
Castleton. First thing was to jump in the lake and then Andy boated
us over to the store to get some wifi time. Tomorrow, laundry, more
swimming and boating, and rehearsals. Then the home stretch!

Day Five

Woke up Wednesday morning at 7:50am to the sound of Pip's boatswain's
whistle. The RV was parked at the radio station WNYV 94.1 FM in
Poultney, VT Shortly thereafter we were yukkin it up with Bob and
Judy for a live braodcast. Good times. Then we headed for
Montpelier. We stopped once to jump in a lake and once to get gas and
Indian Food at an interesting little convenience store. Pip's gas
line repair held to everyone's relief.

The Black Door Bistro in Montpelier is a very stylish place with two
levels. Load in was a chore because the club is a third floor walk
up, but thankfully they have a house PA. Jay at the bar served me my
first Sazerac, an amazing cocktail with rye whiskey and Absinthe. We
made some great friends there, particularly Dana from Pittsfield and
Igor, from St. Petersburg, Russia. He insisted that we come to St.
Petersburg to play at the clubs there. After another Sazerac and
several beers I was well knackered. It poured rain on the load out
which made the two flights of stairs treacherous. Floated the boat to
a campground outside Burlington, and hit the sack at about 3:30am.
Woke to another beautiful day.

Day Three and Four

Monday was our much needed and well used day off. We headed to Lake
George and relaxed at Andy's family camp. Glorious weather for a
swim. Steve and I took a jog along the lake while Pip fixed a gas
leak on the RV and Andy did our laundry. Thanks guys!! Pip also made
his famous spaghetti and spicy sauce and cooked up a dozen or so ears
of corn we got at a farm stand. Yum! We managed to squeeze in a
little rehearsal of a couple new tunes while I polished of a bottle of
pinot noir by myself. Pip needed the cork for his repair so it was
the least I could do.

Tuesday after a jog and a swim we headed to Manchester VT for a
concert in the park. What a beautiful town. It looked like a movie
set for a dream sequence. Never seen so many B&Bs. The weather was
perfect once again and the audience was very receptive. Hands down
the highlight was receiving a bouquet of flowers from an adoring fan
at the end of the show. Quelle sweetness! We also got some sweet
cookies and bars from Charlotte and her Great Gals, a very exclusive
social club with a mysterious mandate. Thanks also to Janice and her
Australian shepherd Monroes for helping us pack up. After the show we
were treated to a great dinner at Mulligan's Restaurant in
Manchester. Great food, great beer, great service, et beaucoup des
jolie filles là, I'm telling you something what!

It wasn't Mulligan's I'm sure, because my tummy was already in turmoil
before the show, but that night I felt terrible. I'll spare the
details but the guys started joking that I could power the RV if I
kept it up. Andy Pip and Steve all came up with different antacid
medications and in the morning I was feeling much better. Good thing
because we had a 8am radio show with our old firends Bob and Judy.
Pip woke us up with his boatswain's whistle. Next stop: Montpelier.

Day Three

Only two gigs on Sunday - The first was at the Blue Paddle Restsurant
in South Hero, VT, a beautiful island community on Lake Champlain.
Quelle cuisine! I had a lobster and arugula on linguine.
Incroyable! We played outside on a flatbed trailer stage. Windy but
warm and sunny. There we met road angels Phil and Cyndi, who let us
plug in the RV at their beautiful house on the lake. Merci!

Second up was an adorable cafe in Morrisville called The Bee's Knees.
We barely had the energy to get there and set up, but the audience was
so enthusiastic that we soon ramped up and couldn't stop. Great vibe
and excellent beer selection = happy Rob. We were also joined on
triangle by a local fiddler named Alan for one song. Fun stuff.

Monday we have a well deserved day off. Heading to Lake George to
Andy's family camp. No wifi no cell service. Tune in Tuesday!

RS

Day Two

Three gigs today. Three (3) gigs in one day, in Barre, Johnson and
Canaan, Vermont - with 130+ miles between them. We had some great
audiences, funny stories, and awesome music, several bourbons, and
now, sleep.

But first the disaster du jour: somewhere between Johnson and Canaan
one of my $600 powered JBL speakers TUMBLED OUT of the storage bay in
the side of the RV, presumably onto the side of the road, or perhaps
into a bed of clover or a cow patty, we don't know because it was
discovered only on arrival in Canaan at the Northeastmost point in
Vermont, just before the gig. Not to worry the authorities are on it,
and more importantly we played with one speaker no problem.

Highlights of course are the great people we met, particularly Don
Belleveau, an Acadian in a sea of Quebecois in Canaan- funny how they
make that distinction. Also, the drummer for the band that played
after us in Johnson had his arms on backwards and three fingers on
each hand but still played a killer set and sang to boot.

Staying in a motel tonight in a real bed. Mmm. Big day tomorrow.
The wonders never cease!

Day One

Last thing first: we made it to our gig in Barre, VT on time! Unfortunately we missed the Press Gang's set on account of, among other things, a tire blowout on the RV somewhere on I-93 a few miles from our rendezvous point. Pip and I had to flag someone down to use a non-iPhone since (surprise) AT&T had no service. Andy & Steve came to pick us up along with our friend and savior Judy Zinc, who heroically waited for AAA to change the tire while we beat feet to the gig in Andy's van, and the white knuckled the 29 foot RV to Barre after us. Thanks Judy! The weather held for us until the last song when it rained on the mailing list but all in all a success if not disaster averted. The highlight was certainly all the little kids dancing. Super cute!

This morning I returned to the Barre festival to do my educational presentation on Acadian Culture through music along with Steve & Andy. Again, lots of kids, beautiful weather and lots of fun.

Looking forward to a great tour. Already a memorable adventure. What next?

Sent from my iPhone
Http://www.borealtordu.com

Boréal Tordu Champlain Valley Tour

Today begins a run of 16 gigs in 12 days throughout Vermont and New York for Boréal Tordu.  Looking forward to reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones.  Check it out and spread the word. Allons-y! 

 

Friday, July 23rd, 6:30 pm 

Barre Heritage Festival

Barre, VT

Saturday, July 24th,  10 am
Acadian Culture in Maine, a Musical History with Robert Sylvain - 
Barre Heritage Festival Barre, VT

Saturday, July 24th, 1:30-3 pm
49th Annual Lamoille County Field Days

Johnson, VT

Saturday, July 24th, 8 pm
Northland Restaurant and Lounge

Canaan,, VT

Sunday, July 25th, 3-4:30 pm
Blue Paddle Bistro

South Hero,, VT

Sunday, July 25th, 7:30 pm
Bee's Knees

Morrisville,, VT 

Tuesday, July 27th,  6 pm
Tuesdays on the Green -Manchester Summer Concert Series

Manchester, VT

Wednesday, July 28th,  8 am
The Morning Show with Bob and Judy -
Lakes Region Radio, 94.1 fm, 1340 am

Poultney, VT

Wednesday, July 28th, 8pm
Acadian/Cajun Heritage Show 
The Black Door Bar and Bistro

Montpelier, VT

Thursday, July 29th, 3pm - 4pm
Vergennes Farmer's Market  Vergennes Town Green

Vergennes,, VT

Thursday, July 29th, 7pm
Ballard Park Summer Concert Series
Ballard Park Performance Pavillion

Westport,, NY

Thursday, July 29th, 1pm-2pm
Shillelagh Safari with Celtic ED

Burlington,, VT

"The Radiator" 105.9-FM

Friday, July 30th, 8 PM
Caffè Lena

Saratoga Springs, NY 

Saturday, July 31st,  7 pm
Millbrook Arts Group Summer Concert Series -
Millbrook Band Shell

Millbrook, NY 

Sunday, August 1st, 1 pm - 3 pm
Lenox Community Center

Lenox, MA

Tuesday, August 3rd, 
14th Annual Castleton Concerts on the Green

Castleton, VT

/*/  /  /

Boréal Tordu

La musique des Acaidens du Maine

30 Mechanic Street

Portland, ME 04101

info@borealtordu.com

http://www.borealtordu.com

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Sylvain & The Cajun Aces

Tuesday, July 20 8pm @ Bayside Bowl 58 Alder Street Portland, ME

Once again Sylvain & The Cajun Aces take the stage tonight at Bayside Bowl.  Last week was a blast with all the dancers who came out to learn to Zydeco, so we're doing it again this week with the INCREDIBLE Emma Holder showing us the moves.  So come early and get some beans and rice for $3 so you can carb up for dancing all night.  Dance lessons at 8pm, Live music shortly thereafter, and as always, $3 Sebago drafts all night.  

 

Thursday, July 22 8pm @ Run of the Mill, Saco Island, Biddeford, ME

The Cajun Aces return to L/A by the Bay's favorite Brewpub in a fantastic old Brick Mill building.  If you've never been down, or up as it were, it's well worth the trip.

 

****  Tuesday, July 27 Cozmik Zombies @ Bayside Bowl

 Rob & Pip will be on tour all over the Champlain Valley next week with Boreal Tordu, so Pete Witham & the Cozmik Zombies will be filling in at Bayside Bowl next Tuesday.  You'll see, Zombie music is great for Zydeco dancing too! see www.petewitham.com

 

****  Thursday, July 29 Lost Bayou Ramblers @ One Longfellow Square

If you're sticking around Maine while we're on tour, please check out our awesome friends from Lafayette, Louisiana when they return to Maine for a very special show at One Longfellow.  This is the band that The Deuce was playing with before and after he lived and played with us in Portland, and they're every bit as crazy as our boy Matthew.  Sorry I'll have to miss it.  Tell 'em we said quoiss'up?  see http://www.lostbayouramblers.com

 

http://www.thecajunaces.com

 

stay tuned for dates from Boreal Tordu's upcoming VT-NY tour 

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French Music in Maine

 

Tuesday means Sylvain & The Cajun Aces are playing again at Bayside Bowl on Alder Street in Portland.  This is such a blast every week with specials on Cajun food, Sebago brews and more, plus prizes for dancers.  for more information see http://www.baysidebowl.com or http://www.thecajunaces.com  You have to experience this place to really get it.  You'll see....

 

This weekend marks the beginning of the northern leg of Boréal Tordu's 2010 Home State Tour, including stops in Eastport, Presque Isle, and Lille, Maine.  That's right, we're heading all the way up to the heart of Acadian Country.  Always worth the trip to see our cousins in the county.  For more details see http://www.borealtordu.com

 

Saturday, July 10th, 7 pm

Eastport Arts Center

Eastport, ME

Sunday, July 11th, 1 pm
Presque Isle Summer Concert Series @ Riverside Park

Presque Isle, ME

Sunday, July 11th, 7 pm
Musée culturel du Mont-Carmel

Lille, ME

 

Thanks for supporting live music.  Keep in touch.

 

Robert Sylvain

Gigafone Records

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Tour du Maine de Tordu

Summer's here and Boréal Tordu is ready to hit the road, starting with a series of dates all across our great state of Maine.  See below to find a concert in a town near you.  True Tordu-têtes will get a special prize for showing up at three or more venues.  For more dates, including our upcoming Champlain Valley Tour please see our website at http://www.borealtordu.com/calendar and please pass this on and spread the word.  Hope to see you all out there this summer.

 

Monday, June 14th, 7 pm
430 Bayside House Concert Series

430 Bayside Road
Ellsworth, ME
Reservations: 207-667-4298

Price: $15
reservations required.

Tuesday, June 15th, 7 pm
Lakeside Theatre

2493 Main Street
Rangeley, ME
Reservations: 207-864-5000

Price: $12.50/$15
Call venue for reservations.

Wednesday, June 16th, 7 pm
Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center

2 Highland Drive
South Carthage, ME
Reservations: 207-562-4445

Price: $10
Call or email venue for reservations and come early for an open jam at 6:15 pm.

Thursday, June 17th, 7:30 pm
Unity Centre for the Performing Arts

42 Depot Street
Unity, ME
Reservations: 207 948-7469

Price: $10
Call venue for reservations and come early for an open jam.

Saturday, July 10th, 7 pm
Eastport Arts Center

Eastport, ME
207-853-4650

Price: $15/$10 students

Sunday, July 11th, 1 pm
Presque Isle Summer Concert Series

Riverside Park
Presque Isle, ME

Price: free
Opener TBA, Tordu goes on at 2pm

/*/  /  /

Boréal Tordu

La musique originale des Acadiens du Maine

Original music of Acadian-Maineiacs

30 Mechanic Street

Portland, ME 04101

(207) 761-3931

info@borealtordu.com

http://www.borealtordu.com

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Tordu rescheduled, Aces tonight

Bonjour tout le monde, hello everyone:

Once again, apologies for the cancelled Boréal Tordu shows in March, but now the good news: Both concerts have been rescheduled for May and our new material will be that much further along! Also The Cajun Aces are at Gritty's McDuff's in Portland, ME tonight. Hope to see you all soon. Enjoy the beautiful weather-Happy spring!

Saturday, May 15th 7:30pm
Boréal Tordu
Nordica Auditorium at UMF
Farmington, ME
fmi 778-1062 http://artsinstitute.org
Price: $8/$7 seniors
Special Guests, the Franklin County Fiddlers, will open the show!
UMF Students w/ID and under 16 admitted free

Saturday, May 1st, 7pm
Boréal Tordu
East Sangerville Grange
Sangerville ME
fmi: 207-564-2722 http://eastsangervillegrange.com
Price: $10 in advance/$12 at the door

Saturday, April 3rd, 9:30pm
The Cajun Aces
Gritty McDuff's
Portland, ME
no cover http://www.grittys.com

http://borealtordu.com
http://thecajunaces.com

MLK Day

I don't really have time to write this and I don't think anybody even knows I have a blog. But, something strange happened to me today. We're in the middle of switching our bedrooms around since we're a family of five now. I'm giving up my office. So typical. I was a little sad, I admit, but the kids have the upstairs now and we have relative peace.

Sue and I started the day with coffee and NPR as usual. We tuned in to the end of Martin Luther King's last speech, given just a week before he died, which neither of us had heard before. We missed most of it, but got a series of verses about the things he had seen in his life cadenced with "...If I had'a sneezed!" Honestly it sounded like a parody of his "I have a dream" speech. Sue and I were both slightly amused, snapped out of it when the announcer revealed that it was his last speech, and then promptly forgot about it in the mess of sheetrock, paint, boxes and shelves.

After everyone was in bed and I had shoveled the snow out of the driveway and finished my wine from dinnertime, I checked Facebook. My brother John had posted the "I have a dream" speech from youtube. I thought briefly about making a silly comment about what I had heard this morning. Then I saw that the youtube comments had been disabled because "many of the comments were hateful and racist." That made me feel angry and sad and a little guilty. It also made me wonder about the speech I had heard on NPR.

Googling "If a had sneezed" brought up the famous Mountaintop speech right away. I looked for a transcript and began to read it. This was one week before he was assasinated, and he was prophesying it. He recounted an attempt on his life by a demented black woman with a letter opener that plunged into his chest so close to his aorta that he would have died, had he but sneezed. At the end of the speech he basically says he knows they're coming for him, but it doesn't matter, because his work was done, he had been to the mountaintop, and he feared no man.

And then something strange happened. I wept. At first I thought it might have been for the loss of my office. Maybe it's because having three children, I feel like I've been to the mountaintop, too. And like Dr. King, I'm so glad to be living in this time, in this age. I am so optimistic for their future, I too have had my fears relieved. 'Twas Grace, and MLK.