I run into Jean-Marc now and then in the Carré, my favourite parc in the city.

The Carré Saint-Louis acts as a sort of off downtown crossroads where young and old drift in and out, mill, meet, mingle and disperse. At the centre a dozen benches surround a lofty sculpted metal fountain and its spacious concrete basin. Being early June the city hasn’t come along and filled the basin and activated the fountain yet, but it shouldn’t be long now! I consider the fountain, benches and encompassing flowery hedges as the parc’s inner sanctum. Outside this sunny sanctum are crushed gravel paths lined with more benches beneath soaring shady trees where individuals and groups find solace and respite from the rush of the city.

Music from a guitar or harmonica, even a horn, can sometimes be heard. Often on Saturday and Sunday afternoons four or five friends gather to wile a few playful jazzy hours away. It is all so beautiful and joyously spontaneous. Yesterday I chatted briefly with a trio of Indigenous men sitting around drumming on a large painted traditional wood and leather kettle drum. “Keep up the good work, guys,” I said as I took my leave of them. ‘Just men finding purpose and peace pounding out the heartbeat of Life,’ I thought to myself.

Jean-Marc was reading Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha when I last sat down next to him. He said it was his fourth time reading Hesse’s spiritual classic.

The heartbeat of Life.

Have you read Siddhartha? Send me a note at omphaloscafe@gmail.com and let’s have some fun with it!