Old Friends

So, Michael Jackson has passed away.  Dude. 

It's odd that Michael Jackson has often found his way into my journey.  First as the digeridoo playing eco-tour guide in the Blue Mountains.  Then, as a crocodile in the Adelaide River.  Next, as his own blog entry for Never Never Land-- Darwin.  And now, hmm. 

R.I.P.

Simon and Garfunkel are playing in Australia this month, on the "Old Friends" tour.  I keep missing them in each city.  Tonight they are playing in Melbourne, and the day after I leave Adelaide, they play here.  Sigh. 

For those who don't know me, S&G are my all time favorite.  They border on spiritual for my listening pleasure.  I can't tell you how tempted I've been to leap in and go see them.  But, it would entail buying a 200.00 concert ticket, 300.00 plane ticket, 50.00 hostel, food, booze, drugs, bail bondsman, etc.  I could basically buy another round trip ticket to Australia for the price of one glorious wonderful amazing night with Paul and Art.   Siiiiiiiiiiiiiigh. 

Old Friends. 

Sat on their park bench like bookends. 

The newspaper blown through the grass... falls on the round toes.... of the high shoes.... of the old friends. 

Can you imagine us years from today.... sharing a park bench quietly.... how terribly strange to be 70.

The drunk night I almost did it, too.  I jumped online and searched for tickets.  Had some nice ones right up front for 358.00.  But, hey-- that's Australian dollars.  Nowadays, with our strong economic dollar conversion rate, it'd be only 356.80 American.  A steal!

Spent some time in Adelaide today, siteseeing.  South Australian Museum, Art Gallery, Central Markets, main squares.  Took in a matinee and ate at the Central Markets.  They have an Asian Food Court-- food from all over the continent.  I ate a Singapore noodle soup with lots of meats, fishes, veggies, and spices.  Burp.  Now I'm guzzling about a quart of water-- I'm feeling very sloshy.

I'm quite ready to come home.  Before I do, there are a few more blogs to accomplish.  Tonight's blog is dedicated to the New Friends I've met along the way.  A handful of funny, lovely women who deserve mention in this journey. 

Sydney-- Marcea Klein.  How many people get to meet their pen pals?  How many 45 year-olds have pen pals?  Shoot, Marcea is 65; how many 65 year-olds have pen pals?  Except that we now know each other, so we're friends who will keep in touch. 

Thank you Marcea, for, without the slightest hesitation, invited me into your home for 5 nights, picked me up in the city (2 hours from her home), weaned me off of Jet Lag, showed me around Sydney and the Blue Mounatins, took me shopping, fed me yummy healthy meals every day and night, bought me a gift-- a scarf-- just what I needed for the surprisingly cold winter winds, and for helping me navigate my way around a new land with much confusion. 

Heron Island-- Wendy.    Wendy the chef for the Tropical Marine program.  Wendy the big, funny, gregarious "mom" of the trip who kept 18 young adults and 3 professors well-fed on three squares per day.  Wendy who treated the kids when they had cuts or hangovers, would quiet a room of late-night shrieking gals with one look (so we could all get some rest, thank god), and who was my life-saver on the return boat ride trip from Heron Island to Gladstone (From Paradise to Vomit...).  Her remedy:  2 Qwell motion sickness pills, be first to get on the boat and head straight for the bottom level, under the stairs.  Then, lie on the floor with a pillow, eyes closed, and stay there.  It worked!  Granted, it was a long trip on the hard floor, but I'll take a hard floor to a spinning room and spitting up, any day. 

Darwin-- Margaret (of Margaret and Rod).  Margaret, you ol pisser.  This is a lady of 0% bullshit.  She was a Keep It Real kind o' gal.  I should be that cool at 70.  Here's a lady who raises 5 kids and now enjoys her life traveling with her husband.  They ride motorcycles, swim every chance they get, love life, don't sweat the small stuff, large stuff, and the stuff that has to be checked-in, it's so goddamed big.  I hope you make it to the US, Margaret.  There'll be a car and friend at the airport waiting for ya.

Uluru-- Lorna.  I met Lorna Davis on my excursion to Uluru.  Lorna's a groovy gal from Scotland who now lives and works in Melbourne.  As the excursion lasted 18 hours, we had a nice bit of time to get acquainted.  I liked listening to Lorna's voice-- with that thick, curly Scottish accent.  Lorna has nice eyes, too.  They are brown and well.. glowing.  That sounds weird, but "shiny" doesn't quite describe it. 

Lorna kept talking about her boyfriend, "Cress."  I thought that was a neat name for a guy and asked her if it was short for something.  She said, "Christopher."  Doh!  She and Chris bought a puppy and they were going to name it Haggis, but instead called him Joey. 

Lorna, thanks for the fun company and sharing your stories about your store and co-workers.  Let me know if Cress pops the question at Christmas (my prediction)!  Ta, mate!

Alice Springs-- Tzu Chin

What can I say?  I still smile every time I see a young Asian woman and think of wise, warm, witty Tzu Chin.  She took a bitter, emotionally stingy social miser and converted her.  Tzu Chin came at just about the time in my journey when I needed a good swift quick in the intolerant ass.  Imagine my surprise to discover that not everybody who was born in a location is exactly the way I perceive them.  Big love, dear.  Come visit; and bring your sweet friend, Jessica. 

Perth-- Stevie. 

The first day of the site visit to the Aboriginal Studies program, I met a lady named Stevie. Stevie was fully decked out in a wild, wonderful purple ensemble-- head to toe-- except for her bright pink lipstick.  Stevie has a lusty zest for life, smiling, positive, ready to take on the world.  She would burst into gratitude~~  "How lovely it is to be alive!" she would cry out, intermittenly.  Stevie grabs your hands when she talks to you.  And, she doesn't just talk to you; she talks to your soul.  You know that kind, eh?  She kind of reminds me of my mommy in twenty years.  Bless your heart, Stevie. 

Stevie and Susie at the Wanju Broodjah Welcoming Ceremony,  Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre, Murdoch University, Perth

Stevie and Susie performing the Emu Dreaming at the Wanju Broodjah Welcoming Ceremony,  Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre, Murdoch University, Perth.

By the way, the gentleman in the first picture was a very nice man named Harry who invited me to join him for coffee with his friend, Jenny.  They have honored a coffee & bookshop date every Friday night for ten years!  Admirable.  Now, this is a tribute to the new women friends I've met, but I do think that Harry is... well, he wore a rainbow cap, and I do believe he'll do in this tribute.  Thank you, Harry, for inviting me to join you and to befriend me.  You went out of your way to make me feel welcome and to see the city through the eyes of someone who has a friend.  Cheers!

Enjoying a feast of kangaroo filets, smoked emu and emu meatballs, roast Australian chicken (chock), and crocodile sausage.  Along with indigenous fruits. flowers, vegetables, chutneys, and local specialty desserts.   

Perth-- Anne Marie Forrest.  Anne Marie is an young woman of Aboriginal origins who is enrolled in the Aboriginal Studies program.  Her major is in Law, preparing for a future in Australian Legislature. 

Anne Marie is a serious, focused young mind.  She escorted me back to the train on the first day, helping me out (again-- train-- minor details-- reading maps and timetables-- you got it) and showing me the way.  As we rode the bus to the station, I asked her about her studies.  Anne Marie is taking 20 units (credits) this semester.   Plus she works and spends hours each week in her tutorials, like another course.  She does not drink.  She is committed to her vision.  I commented on her schedule, saying, "Wow.  that's a lot on your plate, huh?"  Anne Marie replied with a direct gaze, "It's about knowing who you are and maintaining focus."   

Anne Marie, you go girl.  I haven't got a clue as to what I'm doing (but I do have to say, I'm pretty committed to that).

On the last day of my visit, Anne Marie and I began our goodbye.  I asked about her Graduate studies.  She had opportunities to study abroad, and they encouraged this.  She asked me if I knew about a school she had been accepted to:  a small school in America, called Harvard.  I told her that, yeh, I had.  We checked out a map of New England, and she saw how close I was to Boston.  When I mentioned I could pick her up and bring her for a visit to Vermont, that serious, tough girl cracked a bit of a smile.  Then, she asked about... moose.  She's always wanted to see one.  When I told her there were moose around our house, well, that slight grin exploded into a full wide-eyed gape!  Ha!  I got her!  Hopefully I'll have the chance to see this amazing, talented woman again. 

Just one thing, Anne Marie-- quit the ciggies.  You got too much to do in your life; you don't need to be dying of Lung Cancer in 30 years.  Love you.

Adelaide-- Miranda.   My friendship with Miranda was typical of most that happened along the way.  A simple question turns into a conversation, finding common ground, sharing laughs and stories, and exchanging email addresses.  What was nice about Miranda is that our polite conversation turned into a few hours.  Time flew as we discussed Australia, New Zealand, and then her boyfriend she met here in Australia (who lives in Switzerland and she in the Netherlands) and my hubby.  We shared, compared, and it again illustrated how simply and quickly people can enter our lives, how intense and lively a conversation can be, how real a connection is made, and just as quickly and easily, how these people disappear from our lives.  It's kind of like snorkeling:  you're just floating along in the water, and every once in a while a beautiful flash of colors, shapes and textures swim along, stunning.  You stay there for a while, and then they swim away.  But, you'll remember the flash of light and joy.   

The final woman I want to include is not who I would consider a friend, but one of the most amazing snorers I have ever experienced in my entire life.  Diane, your intensely loud and horrific nasal blarings gave me the courage to confront the hostel and ask for another room and to leave you a note about the situation.  This is tough stuff for me, so... um.... thanks for the... gift.  But, you know.... you shouldn't have.

So, it's Friday night and I have four nights left, before my return home.  I wonder if there is anyone out there who I might meet... someone who will touch my heart and affect me between now and then.  hmmm? 

Shit.  It's 8:25, and Simon and Garfunkel's concert started a half hour ago.  Oh well. 

Here's to my old friends Paul, Art, and Michael.

Here's to my new friends, Marcea, Wendy, Margaret, Lorna, Tzu Chin, Stevie, Harry, Anne Marie, and Miranda.  What the heck-- you too, Diane

Here's to great music and good times that not fade away.  Rock on.