I guess part of the course, the exventure, if you will, of growing older, is that time seems to run a little more imperceptibly. It glides along, just fades away. Well, if there really was one defining hallmark of my time away in Australia, it is that the two weeks have passed in but several long and lovely afternoons, each full and satisfying, but when put together, seem to run and blur into a whole melded series, encompassed in so many long happy sighs and exhalations, shuttings and re-openings of tired eyes, rubbings of cold fingers and stretched yawns, steaming cups of coffee and slow teas of roasted lamb. Yes, it's all passed so shortly. The entirety of the pleasure, convenience, comfort and companionship, is not taken for granted. A great and gentle joy, Adelaide.
There's a certain relaxed attitude here which I like. I really don't think I'll ever be all that crazy about legal work, and to be honest, I'm much happier that way. I suppose being less careful about it means sometimes the work gets roundly picked on, but you know, that's what it is. I don't need to get stressed up and neurotic about the whole thing. It's better for me.
Of my happiest memories, I should think chiefly of these: A hearty "they won't hurt you!" cried from a runner chasing after her over-eager dogs; the twinkle in the eye of an old couple of mining days, talking about cherished times; flinging little rounded stones into a whispering, flowing river from a small clearing near its bank; kick-starting a forty-five year old refurbished chook-chaser and roaring up and down the countryside; listening to U2 on the road, with a quiet cheer in my heart for an old friend; drawing with thick, coloured chalk on a road where we went camping near Lake Bonney, a little, delightful darling of a neighbour tracing after my alphabets, answering with emphatic yes-es! and no-s!, the little, adorable darling; and visiting the old West house, with garden and shed, all fantastic, drinking beer, playing guitar and having tea with old John West and my mum. Now that was a good holiday.
