See You on the Other Side of the Light, Mr. Layton

I was stunned when I heard the news yesterday. Jack Layton, after a valiant fight with cancer for the second time, has passed away at the age of 61.

What??

I felt like I just lost a friend. Why did I feel that way? I never had had the privilege of meeting Mr. Layton. I was never a die-hard NDPer. Fact is I only voted for the NDP once – in the last election.

Ah but that’s a bit of the reason why. I had voted for the first time in decades. And who I voted for was Jack.

He was our bon Jack, born right here in Montreal. He came from chez nous. Grew up in Quebec, went to university in Quebec.

In the last election, he united Quebec and Quebecers. He brought us back to the Canadian fold, in Parliament.

Most of all, he brought us HOPE.

And we WILL work with Canadians to build the country of our hopes
Of our dreams
Of our optimism
Of our determination
Of our values…
Of our love.

Thank you.
Jack Layton”
– from Jack Layton’s July 25 statement,
which announced he had a new cancer

Hope we hadn’t felt in a long time about our politicians on the national level. He talked about the potential of Canada and wonderful things that could be done for Canada and Canadians.

He was scrappy and a fighter. He had a great sense of humour. He had a glorious moustache. And he always had an awesome smile, with that twinkle in his eye.

I voted for Jack because of that HOPE. A hope I had not felt about our political system, on any level, in a long, long time.

I voted for his integrity, his honesty and transparency. His basic goodness. He was the best of all things – a TRUE Canadian.

One thing this blog, Anima Blue’s Oasis, is about, is about love & light, and bringing that love & light, into the world.

Jack Layton shared love & light with us all, as you could see in his speeches. As you can see in the statements he shared with us, at the end of his life.

How many politicians do you see anywhere, bringing love & light in the world?

My favorite tweet, which comes from The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean :

@MichaelleJeanF Canada has lost a man of courage and great integrity who embodied the values dearest to Canadians. #hw #cdnpoli #jacklayton #layton

When he gave that speech on Election Night, I had cried tears of joy for Jack and the NDP, and for Canada.

And since yesterday, I have been crying tears of sorrow.

I cried when I read his farewell letter to Canadians.

And I have cried while writing this blog. I kept having to stop and start this blog again because I felt so overcome thinking about Canada losing Jack Layton.

We needed you so much, Jack. You had just claimed the first step of victory, in becoming Leader Of  The Opposition. You had so much more work left to do. I hope with all my heart that somehow the NDP Orange Wave will carry on without you. That they will make your dreams & great vision come true.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

All my very best,
Jack Layton”
– from Jack Layton’s Aug. 20 farewell letter to Canadians

By a sad coincidence, I seem to have been blogging a lot about grief & loss lately. See the poem I posted a short time ago: “don’t ask me to say good-bye”.

To echo my poem:

I won’t say good-bye to you, Mr. Layton.
I’ll say instead – so long.

Until we meet on the other side of the light, Mr. Layton.

All my love & sympathies go out to Jack Layton’s friends &  family.

Aurora (aka Anima Blue)
@AnimaBlue