This week has been, emotionally, much better than last. I was able to have a wonderful iChat conversation with the man who possesses my heart; the result of which is a heart that more or less floated through the week with very few moments of sorrow. There were certainly moments of tristezza, but moments so much easier to bear for my having been face-to-face across 10,000 miles with him for an hour. Somehow, simply having the visual experience of his vitality and seeing the love in his own eyes as we spoke relieved so much of the angst that had accumulated with and since my departure from New York. We laughed some, cried a bit, gave one another our usual hard time and even fell into some of the comfortable, conversational rhythm we have shared, before...
I'm far better, this week. Though I continue to miss him profoundly and deeply; the tears are not so close to the surface - at least, not until I begin writing about him...! I am looking forward, at what I am here to do, here to accomplish, and I focus on that, most of the time. Having love in my arms and in my bed is something I had not expected to experience, again, and certainly not to this degree of intensity; and there is a powerful gift in discovering that I am capable of these feelings, still, and have been given the opportunity to experience such a powerful love at a time in life when many have left such intensity behind... That, and the wonderful synchronicity of having a deep and powerful, passionate love returned to the same magnitude, at the same time, by the man I love...how rare is that?!
In my heart of hearts, I know we will see one another and be together, again; even as life continues for both of us through long periods of separation. It may evolve and change, yet it cannot but remain profound and powerful. And, it will be so sweet.
Damn, he is a wonderful guy.
We did discover that we shared the same, favorite quote: "If you love something, let it go; if it does not return, hunt it down and kill it."
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Speaking of wonderful. I was surprised and deeply, deeply moved at the number of sincere, supportive and downright loving missives and messages I received from so many friends; written after having read my posting of last week. I heard from men and women who carefully took time to tell me of love held for me and to share memories of experiences had with me that I had not remembered for a long, long time. Some of you shared with me things, events and moments, that I did not even know, effects I'd had on others of which I had been completely unaware. ...and thanked me!
It is I who thank each of you. It is having and having had you in my life that has made my life the unique experience that I treasure, and you have reminded me of so much that I must hold close in the times that may seem dark. In the past, when I have acted glad to see you, when I have lit up and embraced you, it has been because I AM glad to see you...I WANT to hug and hold you, in greeting. The outpouring of love from you, just this last week, shows me what great instincts I have for finding and befriending Good People. Thank you for reaching out to me and catching me, as I was experiencing imbalance...you caught me, before I might fall.
Your support could not have been better timed nor more eloquently expressed.
Thank you, and Good on Ya!
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By the way; a tidbit about my new place in the Docklands... The address is on Waterview Walk; and, it wasn't until the lease was being signed that I learned the building is named, "The Watergate." ...not only that, but walking around the corner to the local market, I discovered that the restaurant, immediately behind the building, is named "The Nixon." Yikes.
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Tomorrow is Australia Day; the annual celebration of the day that Captain Cook and the British Fleet entered Sydney Harbour. And, if we think that Americans get Patriotic around Independence Day, I'd say the Aussies give us a run for the money when it comes to exuberant pride. Since Friday, everywhere one looks are people wearing the Australian Flag as a cape; and, now, the hats have come out! All sorts and kinds of hats, most with broad brims and festive decor, festooned with multiple Aussie flags - the more flamboyant and ridiculous, the beddah... And that's the conservative folk; LONG before we even get to The Gay and well before the Drag Queens!
I'm almost afraid to look!
I'm out at the beach house of my new employer, Dave, and his family (beautiful wife, Kathryn, and daughter, Jasmine) at Cape Schanck, the Southernmost point on the Australian Continent - only Tasmania is further south; by overnight ferry from Melbourne. The other member of our Management Team, Brad, is here with his girlfriend for a weekend of relaxation, surfing, backyard cricket and this afternoon's barbecue, replete with Shrimp. Yes, 'tis the Full Cliche Weekend and I'm most definitely up for this.
Southern Cross station is three blocks from my building, and a quiet and comfortable one-hour train ride brought me down the peninsula to Frankston, where Dave picked me up and drove me to this hilltop, paradisiacal villa, overlooking Bass Strait, which runs between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, separating Tasmania from the mainland. From where I am sitting to write this, all I can see are green trees, the occasional rooftop, sandy beach, crashing waves and rolling ocean, stretching toward the hazy horizon.
It is 73 degrees Fahrenheit, 23 Centigrade and, no matter how the temperature might be articulated, the day is fantastically comfortable and balmy. Occasionally, a blustery wind blows through; but it's so warm that it calls to mind the quick, welcoming, Aussie embrace that this open culture seems to offer every visitor or newcomer.
The early mornings are so quiet; the air is virtually still and even the birds seem to whisper, barely audible over the conversation of the surf that is more sensed and felt than heard. It is as though each part of nature takes care to not intrude on another...
Today's Lesson in Strine: As I am writing this, Kathryn turned and asked me if I know what "The Tip" is. My response was that I, um, am aware of several meanings but wasn't clear on what might be that to which she was referring. Well, The Tip is where, when one has a lot of garbage to scrap, one fills the trunk (boot) or truck (or "ute," for Utility Vehicle) and takes it to a place where a pit is dug and "tips" the garbage into it. The Tip would, then, be what we would call the Dump...or, politely, the Landfill.
This week has been pretty wonderful. We brought the entire staff in from Perth and Melbourne to initiate the Relaunch of the Company; a full day-and-a-half of conversation, evaluation and education on the process of rebranding we are about to undertake, including a full-on seminar on my own philosophies and methodologies of experiential storytelling, based in human physiology, cultural anthropology, decades of experience and no small number of mistakes made and learned-from...essentially, the reason(s) Dave brought me down here, in the first place.
It was a high-energy experience for us all, and sparked lively discussion on ways to create storytelling, messaging and celebratory experiences and market our evolving firm in ways that will set us apart from others...pretenders to the Throne of Standards we intend to set. Not everyone was thrilled with our new, "dress the part" philosophy, but I think the Team'll come around as each realizes the far-reaching value of the First Impression.
This is such a good Team; they're all young, exceptionally sharp, committed and talented. I think that, over the course of the next few months, we can begin to build a brand that distinguishes us from what might otherwise be perceived as competition, and discover ourselves and our company being sought out even more than before. Up to now, the appeal and draw of this company has been the persona of Dave, the founder and owner: what we want is to expand that identification in such a way that his compelling persona permeates and emanates from whatever combination of Team members is assigned to any client, task or production.
From creative methods to production organizational technique to expression of the brand in print, online, on site and on sight; it is my job to inspire and nurture the growth of this company and the respect and appeal we want to build and enjoy as we set the standards we hope to set.
I hope not to frak it up!
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