Friday, May 21, 2010

The way life goes.....

I was thinking this week (just in a general way, not in a depressing way at all!) and I was thinking about how funny it is where life takes us. I've said before that I always love the quote from John Lennon's lyrics 'life is what happens to us when you are busy making other plans'.
There are some things we wish for and some things we just do. There are some things other people presume about us and other things we just do. There are things that are expected of us (from ourselves and the people around us) and the things we just do!
As a child of the age of six I can remember thinking that school wasn't for me! I can remember lying on the floor of my parents lounge room looking at the imprinted triangles in their ceiling (yes we are European and my parents house was built in the seventies so there was/is a pattern imprinted into the ceiling) listening to records (YES, records, they were what we listened to before CDs, there was no Itunes back then!!) and wishing to be 17 and out of school. Most kids love school, but I wanted my freedom, my Independence, from such a young age, I already recognised that I was a little different.
I had such a different upbringing from my brother and sisters. With such a huge gap between me and my siblings, I had the best of both worlds. In some ways I was raised as an only child and in other ways I was raised with so many people trying to play the role of my parents. My dad was the provider who went out early every day to earn a living to provide for his family. My mum had quality time to spend with me because all the rest of her children were at school or university. She taught me to read and write earlier than most and the games, oh the games! Mum had so much time to play with me that I really didn't know how good I had it, and the dancing, oh the dancing!!! Mum and I used to dance together like crazy people! (these are memories I cherish). Every Thursday night Dad and I used to go to Morley shopping centre (before it was the Galleria) and buy lotto and scratch instant lottery scratchies together. We would wander around window shopping together. Sometimes on Saturday mornings(back when the shops closed at 1pm on a Saturday) we would go into the city on the bus together and wander around and then get doughnuts from Boans (yes pre Myer!!!)I really had the life. These moments will stay with me forever! I was blessed!
I was always a very independent person. When I was 8 I used to hang out at my next door neighbour's house while her parents were at work. We were two 8 year old girls with total reign over her house, free to do whatever we wanted. It was never questioned, we just assumed it was o.k. We would go to the park and the shops whenever we wanted (usually on roller skates). We watched Grease, Grease2 and Xanadu almost every single day! We had the life.
When I was 16/17 I never felt the need to lie about going to bars where I needed to be 18, I told my parents. My siblings called me a spoilt brat (they still do!)! I was just honest (about most things) and I felt no need to lie. Of course I kept secrets, all teenagers do, but I was so independent that I never felt the need to ask permission. When I was 15 (1990) I set a date to go to England in November 1996 ( when I was 19)I never told anyone about this goal. In November 1996 went to England for nearly a year!
I'm still independent! I always have been. I find other people's opinions interesting. I find it interesting that people are so concerned that I am a 34 year old single women. People became so concerned that I actually started to question myself!I don't do that any more. In the last 3 years Ive learnt more about myself than I have in my whole lifetime! I find it interesting to note that (some) people fail to see how truly blessed I am. I have a strong family and amazing friends. I find it interesting that people can question me so much that sometimes I question myself! I find it interesting that people like to remind me of what I don't have, (a husband and children) when I feel completely blessed for what I do have.
It took me a long time to get here! I don't know what the future holds for me, no one does. Of course children and a partner would be nice but if it doesn't happen, is it really such a tragedy?! I'm not the kind of person who pins all her hopes on one thing, I never have been.
I've learnt so much in the last 3 years. I've learnt not to hope, not to dream, not to wish! I've learnt to live for today and to block out the negativity. I've learnt that this is where life has taken me and I can either live my life or hope for something else. I choose to live my life, why wouldn't I? I'm blessed, and this is where life has taken me.....it really isn't as bad as people make out!!! Honestly!!!

Until next time,
the last single 34 yr old woman

Monday, May 10, 2010

In Memoriam-a bit left of centre

On May 10th 2007 a married couple, who enjoyed their time with each other after retirement, decided to go for a ride together on their motorbike. This was something they did often, but probably not as much as they liked to. Winter was approaching fast and there were very few 'fine' expected days left. The forecast said there would be rain for the next few days so this particular couple decided to go out on the bike on this day because it was possibly the last sunny, no rain day for a while.

They had no idea that this would be their last ride together. They had no idea that a man in his early twenties would be driving fast. Too fast, way above the speed limit! They had no idea that this guy would fail to slow down, even after being flashed on a speed radar. They had no idea that this guy would be going way to fast to be able to stop when he saw a motor bike with two people on it. They had no idea that this moment on their bike would be their last moments together, in this world.

This couple were both killed by a speeding driver who was simply going too fast to stop.
This couple had no idea they would have their lives cut too short on the bridge almost directly above where they had first met so, so many years before.


On May 10th 2007 a 33 year old man was driving his truck/pick up type vehicle back to his work when he suddenly saw his father's motorbike on the other side of the road. The young man stopped and went over to see what was going on. He saw his father lying on the road and went straight to him. He removed his father's helmet and was with him while he drew his last breath. He then looked for his mother, she was nowhere to be seen. Then through the shouting of a fellow motorist,(the speeding driver) he realised his mother had been trapped beneath the car.

He ran across the road jumped into his vehicle and drove it across the road to where the motorbike had been attached to a car. He used his truck/pick up to lift the car and free his mother. She had been dragged face down over 200 metres, she didn't survive (obviously). What that young man saw that day, no one should ever be allowed to see. An image that will no doubt haunt him for the rest of his life.

This blog is written (in respect) In memoriam of Uncle Gerald and Aunty Yoke, who were taken way too soon!
And yes, to say that speed, does in fact kill.

Take care on the roads!

The other point is, be thankful for the life you have and the people you have around you, I am, every single day!!!

Until next time,
the last single 34 yr old woman