'Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear' is the message you see when you look at the side-view mirror of your car. It's amazing how our vision works. Sometimes we get clarity. Sometimes we are fooled. Sometimes it takes time to focus. It all depends on your focal point.

That is the case with an unusual work of art that hangs in our music room. Up close, you're not sure what you are looking at. It has irregular splotches of different shades of brown, similar to the old sepia photos from the 1880s. Art aficionados might look at it and say, 'This is a fine example of the grisaille painting technique.'
What is it, you ask? It's a watercolour painting of Monique & Rick, created from an early photo taken in the 1980s. It was painted by Ottawa-based musician and artist Arthur II (pronounced as 2) over 15 years ago. Rick doesn't remember exactly what inspired Arthur to create it, but he does recall that he loved working with watercolour during the wilder period of his life.

What I remember is that Rick would occasionally drive Arthur home to Wakefield, Québec, because he had missed the last bus. Of course, this meant a few more hours of jamming and chatting until the wee hours of the morning. Meanwhile, I would be at home wondering and worrying. There was no way to reach him. We didn't have cellphones then. Rick had forgotten to call and let me know about his change of plans. So when I look at this painting, I remember the aftermath when Rick got home. He apologized. I forgave him. We moved on.
What else is so unusual about this painting? You need to see it to understand. Click on the image and view it as you would normally view a photo on your computer. Like the side-view mirror of your car, you look at your monitor, and you are not quite sure what you are looking at. Your eyes may be fooling you, so you squint, tilt your head to the left, then to the right, and you try to focus. You might even ask yourself — is this art or an eye exam?
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Now slowly move back while still facing your monitor. Then, inch by inch, you gradually notice the painting becoming sharper. The irregular brownish splotches slowly morph into human forms. A man. A woman. It looks like they are performing — you can make out a guitar. Now you recognize the objects in the mirror of your mind. It is Rick and Monique. You are the eye of the beholder, and you have found your focal point. You are now focused on two people in a work of art, and it just might intrigue you to want to know more about their story.

Two pairs of Dingos and one pair of Boulets are gathering dust in our basement closet. If these boots were made for talking, they would sing a tale of our country duet adventures. My beloved Canadian-made black Boulet leather western boots were worn every day when I worked at CIGM-FM Country radio. Later, in Nashville, I bought a pair of white Dingos with ornate black and red appliques. Rick, too, bought a pair of black Dingos — a little less flashy than mine, but stylish just the same.

In the 80s and 90s, country music was cool again, so it was a good idea that the Monique & Rick set list included a few new country hits. We were finally making a buzz in the Ottawa music scene and people were starting to take notice. But this isn't a blog about our dusty boots. After all these years, we had forgotten — until we watched an unlabeled VHS tape — that we were guests on a local cable show called Dusty Boots.
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This was a Rogers Cable Ottawa program featuring local entertainers. I can't say exactly what date it was, but based on the interview it had to be around 1992, because Rick mentioned the Other Voices compilation CD. We were in our early 30s. I wish I could tell you who the host was, but despite my research efforts, I still don't know.

Now, technology being what it was, the VHS tape is losing its quality. The first two original songs we sang were "When I Hear Them on the Radio" and "Do Like the Robbins Do," and the third didn't make it onto our tape. Unfortunately, the audio isn't coming through — maybe our VHS player is fading fast, or maybe it's the tape. So I had to read our lips. Luckily, I'm one of those singers who over-articulates every word, so I knew exactly what songs I was singing. There may be hope yet to recover the audio, but for now, the interview segment has survived.
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Those of you who knew us back then will enjoy this interview, and it will likely bring up memories of your own. Those of you who didn't know us then will probably comment on the host's misuse of the word "youse" and marvel at my big country hair. Yes, we are wearing our boots — this was a country program, after all. As you watch the eight-minute interview, you will see, hear and feel what we felt right then.
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Personally, listening to Rick's speaking voice after all these years conjures many emotions for me. After his stroke, Rick hasn't been able to speak in the same way. But even back then, we were able to communicate with more than our voices — with our eyes, our thoughts and our hearts. We have a genuine connection on many levels. Witness our story with your own eyes and ears and come up with your own impression of this young duet. And maybe you'll watch it while wearing your own pair of dusty boots!

It was a normal Saturday around our home. Rick and I had various household chores and errands to tend to which was normal in the 80s and 90s. One specific errand Rick had was to buy a new set of strings for his Yamaki 6-string acoustic guitar. Off he went to Steve’s Music Store in Ottawa and I knew he would be there a while. I have never met a musician who simply walked in and walked out of a music store. And Rick was no exception. He could be there for hours. Checking out recording equipment, gadgets and yes —guitars. Rick would browse, strum, pluck and play any instrument that caught his attention. That’s when he met Christian Frederick Martin.
 
The chord was struck on August 15, 1987, when Rick brought Martin home. You see Martin wasn’t your typical acquaintance. He had a wooden disposition. He had a head, a body and a perfectly O-shaped mouth that vocalized the most beautiful sound when he was played by a devoted musician. You guessed it – Martin is a guitar. Though not a flesh and blood, he is a permanent member of our musical family. We adopted a 2 year old boy born in 1985 in a craftsman’s workshop.
 
Rick met Martin mid-morning, came home late-afternoon, with strings, a story and a decision to make. That’s when he told me about Martin. “Oh, you should hear Martin’s harmonics and with his cut-away so he can reach the higher notes on the fretboard!” Rick said with elation. But, he said with a fretted tone, “I wasn’t planning on buying a guitar.” Steve’s Music had a special sale on Martin guitars which was rare. The regular price without case $2,950 and it was on sale for $2,039 with case – a saving just shy of $1000. I could see Rick was number-crunching his budget in his head. “Your 30th Birthday is a few weeks from now, I would love to contribute!” He looked at me and plucked me off the floor. Martin was purchased, gingerly carried and securely placed on the back seat with the seatbelt.
 
The Monique & Rick duet never sounded better than Martin was with us on stage, in the studio, and on-the-road. Rick does have other guitars but Martin holds the place of honour above all. He would take care of Martin, cleaning, polishing and restringing whenever it needed. Rick chastised himself when he noticed that Martin’s back was showing unusual wear-and-tear caused by the rivets on Rick’s jeans. He eventually installed a clear pick protector on the back to prevent any further damage.
 
After Rick’s stroke in December 2005, Martin wasn’t getting the love and attention he deserved. I did store him with the strings loosened and enclosed a clay humidifier in the case. I was horrified when I discovered in 2019 that major repairs where needed. The decorative trim holding the top and sides together had unglued. I located Brian Dubbeldam and brought Martin to his shop for fixing. Brian looked over Martin and confirmed that he could fix it and pointed out other things that needed attention. He said “Martin has seen a lot of action. His fretboard needs to be refretted and the cutaway needs stabilizing. But overall Martin is in fine shape.’ I was relieved.
 
Saturday, January 25, 2020, after 15 years of silence, I witnessed ‘the Rick & Martin reunion’. Just as they had done, Rick’s boyish grin was back and Christian Frederick Martin’s voice resonated with beautiful music once more when the first chord was struck.