A Glimpse in a Week

The vacuum is back upstairs and our floors are suffering for it.  Earlier this week we took a long walk downtown to pick up some supplies for the Expo I was to be involved with.  Daniel helped me make a logo for my business here and printed out everything I would need in order to be ready for the event.  We took the long way home, walking next to the botanical gardens by the river.  We had a lively talk about augmented reality and how nice that might be for our future.  I would work out much more if all I had to do was put on a pair of glasses so I could see and hear my sister, Janelle.  She’s my work out partner and it’s much more fun and easy when you’re with a friend you trust.  Daniel mentioned putting the glasses on and going for bike rides with his dad.  It will be a neat future.

Thursday evening began as an unknown to me.  Arriving at the café, I met a few women involved in the evening and we all agreed we had no idea what was about to happen.  There was one young man there who works as a personal trainer and he also had no information for me.  At least we were all in the same boat.  My table was next to a very nice Indian woman who teaches vegetarian cooking and Ayurvedic massage.  She gave me one of her candle holders because she thought my table was too empty.  It was too empty and I appreciated her gesture, funny as it was. 

Basically the event was hosted by a local young chiropractor whose intention was to gather other local holistic practitioners in the area to form a community for healing.  He had invited many of his female clients to come with their friends to meet those of us using neat modalities that assist in taking care of your body and mind.  I was happy to be a part of it.  I spoke with many women of all ages that evening.  I answered a lot of questions, gave some demonstrations, and even made most of them laugh.  At least a dozen connections have come from it and I’m quite pleased to have a busier business.  I’ll also be participating in some trades which I love to do because it means friendships are upon me.  The end of the evening was hilarious because I had set an intention to manifest a ride home and as it happened, two of the young ladies I was laughing with asked another woman to give me a lift home.  They knew I’d walked, thought I was crazy for doing so, and were quite pleased with themselves for helping me.  I would describe the evening as awesome. 

Friday evening was lovely as well.  The weather has threatened us all week that it’s going to rain with thunder, and each day it has been sunny and beautiful.  We’ve been thankful to take advantage of it.  Daniel and I took a walk down to South Bank and listened to a live band, “Captain’s Daughters” playing in front of the river.  Next time our plan is to go much earlier so we can share a huge bean bag the city lays out for folks to relax on.  At one point two bags became available at the same time so we made our way over.  After two steps, they were both already occupied by people moving much faster than us.   So we happily snuggled on a step listening to the music.  Occasionally the City Cat Water Taxi whisked by on the water causing small waves to hit the rocks and sand and we would close our eyes are pretend we were at the ocean.  We both love that sound. 

Back at home we made dinner and had a lively dance party that sometimes included karate kicks and jumping ballet spins.  Then I practiced rapping for Daniel which impressed him to a degree that pleased me.  For some reason we uncharacteristically stayed up past midnight and were shocked to see our clocks read eight thirty the next morning.

Daniel had a group meeting at school all day.  Since we got up late, we scrambled to get him ready and had a few minutes to sit with each other before his friend came to pick him up.  I had been invited to my new friend and client’s son’s birthday party in one of the parks at South Bank and had a leisurely morning getting ready.  I went a bit early to help her set up.  It was a long and busy afternoon filled with fifteen rambunctious ten year old boys, games, a piñata, and eighteen pizzas - of which I could eat none because they were all covered in meat.  I got another ride home -go me- and found Daniel in the backyard.  We only had an hour before my friend was coming back to take us with her to her church.  It’s called St. Mary’s Community in Exile and the priest, Peter Kennedy, has been ex-communicated for not teaching and practicing standard Roman Catholic dogma.  I was intrigued by the fact that almost one thousand of his parishioners continued to follow him anyway.

The service was quick, simple and included twenty minutes of silent meditation.  I have not been in a group meditation for a while and I was so happy to be in a room full of people being absolutely quiet.  It’s rare that silence is celebrated between humans.  My friend introduced us to many of her friends and we also met Peter.  He’s a friendly man with a great sense of humour. 

Here is where I am going to tell you that apparently I have no accent.  I have mentioned that in Australia, and in no other place or time in my life have people remarked so much on the way I speak.  At the park yesterday one of the moms asked me if I was French.  My heart sighed and I told the truth which is that I’m not French.  She was surprised to learn that I’m American.  When Daniel was in hospital I met a group of women at a meetup gathering and they could not figure out where I was from.  When I mentioned living in Southern California one of the ladies crinkled her eyebrows at me.  Later when I told them that my family was from Ireland she said, “Oh!  That explains your accent; I was so surprised when you said you lived in America because you don’t sound American.  Now it makes sense, you’re Irish.”  In this case, I did not protest her mistake.  I don’t mind where people think I was born.  So last night after speaking a few minutes with my friend, Daniel and Peter he said to Daniel, “So you’re American.  That’s great.”  And then looking at me he asked, “And where are you from?”  I answered, “I’m American, too.”  His response was, “Oh, but you don’t have an accent.  Daniel I can clearly hear his accent.  You don’t have one, Joanna.”  When they walked away from us I turned to Daniel and said, “I’m not sure what that means.  Obviously I don’t have an Australian accent.  Do I really have no accent at all?  How is that possible?”  We both laughed and shrugged.  I’m a woman of the world.

Walking back to the car my friend asked if we’d like to have a bite for dinner.  She took us to a Lebanese joint that we’ve walked past many times on our way to the West End Farmer’s Market.  Finally I had hummus here that was fantastic.  I even bought some to take home and ate it this morning for breakfast.  Over dinner we had a wonderful talk and I was happy to see her and Daniel get to know each other more.  She is originally from India and says she wants to cook us some curry; we will happily oblige her. 

This morning it is beautiful again and we walked to the Boggo Markets for fruits and veggies.  Daniel has a lot of work to do for another upcoming project and I am getting ready for my week.  I feel more organized when I have more things to do.  Life is well in Oz.