Dear Australia

In honor of Australia Day, here's a post I wrote nearly two years ago:

Dear Australia,

You and I had a rough beginning.  I had never thought about you much until R came home one day and rocked my world by telling me there was a great job opportunity for him in Melbourne.  I thought that I had prepared myself for this big moment, only I expected the job would be in London, Brussels, Paris or perhaps Berlin.  But Melbourne?  Was there a city called Melbourne outside of Florida?  I gave myself five seconds to consider it.   Absolutely not, never, no way, not us.  I told R he wasn't allowed to even say your name again in my presence.

Three months later, on a snowy February day, we departed for magical Melbourne. We were charmed from the start to the end of that exploratory visit. By the time we returned with the children in July,  however, I was fairly certain we had made a big mistake.  Although he wouldn't say so in as many words, so was R.  The nights were long.  The days were long.  The kids were bored, and they missed their friends.  We had landed in a winter that was far wetter and colder than we had anticipated.

One year later, we were again convinced that we had made a big mistake.  Only this time, we realized, the problem was that we might never want to leave.  You weren't supposed to grow on us quite that much.

"What do you like about living here?" curious Australians would ask occasionally.  I never felt like I gave an adequate answer to that question.  Today I hope to compensate by answering the question, "What will we miss about you?"  Undoubtedly it is your people that we will grieve far more than anything else.  But here, for fun, is a list of 100 things we have enjoyed while living within your shores.

Australia,  you have blessed us with so many things that we will miss.  Australia, how do we love you?  Let me count the ways ...

1. Flat whites
2. Sunday drives in the Dandenongs
3. Lush vineyards
4. The Block Arcade
5. Fresh rosemary on the walk home from school
6. Honey eaters outside our windows
7. Rainbow lorikeets soaring
8. The clickety clack whir of trams
9. Fitness in the park
10. Sunshine pouring through our stained glass windows
11. The mad rush to Coles just before school pickup
12. Long-sleeved shirts and ties on school boys
13. Plaid school uniforms 
14. Black boots, cardigans and scarves in winter
15. The sparkling waters of Port Phillip Bay
16. Kite surfers
17. Autumn colors that linger for weeks
18. Blossoms in our garden every week of the year
19. Backyard cricket 
20. Baby penguins at St Kilda
21. Hot air balloons on clear winter mornings
22. Kookaburras laughing
23. Rowers on the Yarra
24. Walking everywhere
25. The marvels of the Great Barrier Reef
26. Fruit bats swooping overhead on late night walks (but not the possums)
27. Fish and chips at the Port Campbell Foreshore
28. Ham and cheese toasties
29. The avenue of trees at our local park
30. Succulent mangoes
31. Golden kiwis
32. Passion fruit tart
33. Passion fruit gelato
34. Passion fruit yoghurt
35. Lemon slice
36. Athletics day
37. Swim carnivals
38. Sausage sizzles 
39. Smashed avocado on toast
40. Piccolo lattes
41. Puffing Billy
42. Cool changes (but not the heat the precedes them)
43. The hairpin curves on the Great Ocean Road
44. Deliveries from Costco by Rob of Fairdinks
45. Conversations with David the plumber (but not our pesky toilets)
46. Shopping at Snappy Legs
47. Steam rising off the local swimming pool in winter
48. Magnificent eucalypts standing tall and proud with their white bark and gray green leaves
49. Birthday presents from Carol
50. Walking along the beach at Lorne
51. The Switchboard Cafe at the corner of Collins and Swanston St.
52. Laughter around our fireplace in winter
53. Tim tam slams
54. Bathing boxes at Brighton Beach
55. Music concerts 
56. Riding the tram into the CBD
57. The magnificent display of desserts at the Hopetoun Tea Rooms
58. Piano lessons with Jacob
59. After dinner strolls to get gelato from Trampoline
60. Lemon-scented gum trees
61. Jasmine bushes
62. Wombats at Wilsons Prom
63. Roses blooming in October
64. Christmas at the beach
65. “No worries” every day from Nathan the crossing guard
66. Morning tea
67. Scones, jam and clotted cream at the Kallista Café
68. Sushi Saturday lunches
69. Bright yellow posties whizzing around on motorbikes
70. The southern cross
71. Mutton birds on Phillip Island
72. Tram bells
73. Fern trees gullies
74. Mountain ash forests
75. Sunsets at Cape Schanck
76. Rounded tops of eucalyptus trees in the far distance
77. Australian pelicans
78. Bircher muesli
79. Deserted beaches
80. Term breaks
81. Enthusiastic tour guides
82. Royal botanic gardens
83. Smash repairs and other colorful phrases
84. Floaty summer dresses
85. Goannas
86. Blue-tongued lizards
87. Free lemons from the neighbors
88. Hanging out the laundry (but not taking it down)
89. Popping in for a cuppa with friends
90. Saying ‘Cheers’ and “Ta”
91. Wattle trees
92. School diaries (but not having to sign them every day)
93. Lamb kebabs, lamb chops and lamb cutlets
94. Netball games (but not the Nazi umpires that govern them)
95. Barracking for footy teams (not really, but I like the word ‘barrack’)
96. Compulsory sport
97.  School uniforms in general 
98.  Lollies and icy poles
99. Superb fairy wrens
100. Koalas (but I’ve seen enough kangaroos to last me forever and a day)

Australia, we are so glad we gave you a chance.

 

Comments

[Kathy]

This list has a different meaning to me reading it now than when I first found it. Thanks for reposting!

[Crystal Keller]

This is a wonderful and creative way to make a toast to your friend - Melbourne, Australia.

[Wendy Hawkins]

What a beautiful and highly emotive blog. Well done!