Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS writer.
“Do I need the umbrella” I called out from the cupboard in the bedroom to Gunner who was in the lounge. “Whaaat” was the response. I walked out of the cupboard to aid communication, because I think I learnt about that in a class somewhere, talking to people from the cupboard may make communication difficult. I had the umbrella in hand. Repeat “Do I need the umbrella”, waving it around in front of me so I could add a visual cue into the conversation. I learnt about that somewhere too, that showing people things helps to understand. He looks at me, the umbrella, and then down to my boobs. Response “That’s a great top where did you get that?”. “I got it from Myers when I went into town on Wednesday, what about the umbrella”. He responds “where did you get that from” – he’s referring to the umbrella this time, not the top. “It came with the cupboard” I explain. “Oh yes, it will be drizzling and miserable so you’ll probably need it”. By this time I can see now out of the hotel room window that yes in fact it is drizzling and yes it is miserable – so now I know that I need the umbrella. I think I learnt about that in a class sometime that seeing for yourself will help you believe.
I’m in an unfamiliar town and I need to get around on a tram. They don’t have trams where I come from, but Gunner is the expert. He’s done the research, got the MiKi’s ready, know’s which platform to go to, where to change trams, where we are going and what stop we need to get off. I read a book about that kind of thing, that it is always a good idea to know where your going when you’re in a strange place. On the tram, transfers successful, we are now on the No.1 heading to Carlton. “Where do we need to get off?” I ask eagerly. “It’s the stop near the cemetary” my expert replies. Ok, so now we know where we are going.
Happy, sit down and relax for a few minutes. I take a photo of Gunner to pass the time and we are having fun spending time together. I’m looking out the window of the tram, it’s a great way to see things in a new town. I read about that in the paper one time the benefits of public transport. I spy the cemetary and let Gunner know. “Oh yes we are close now, I think it’s another two stops”. Stop approaching, I’ve got the MiKi out ready to swipe, doors open, we disembark. Out we go onto the road and into the miserable, drizzly weather which has now well settled in, and I’m pleased with my decision to bring the umbrella. I read about pleasure on a blog recently that said you can gain pleasure from making good decisions.
Good decisions, come and go. Your more recent moment of drizzly pleasure is overcome with the misery of a bad decision. I heard a song about ‘singing in the rain’, but walking in the rain, when your running late, in platform shoes, down strange streets on uneven footpaths because you got off the tram at the wrong stop is not romantic. I am with the love of my life, who although very lovely has somewhat led us astray. He reassures me we can get there from here. There’s some kind of song about that too I’m sure I heard it on the radio recently, so it must be common to make mistakes, and that’s ok. I decide not to get cranky, as I’m walking, walking, walking in platforms in the rain. He’s done a good job to get us this far and as we stop under an awning for a quick google map check, I remind myself not to get cranky it doesn’t matter. I’ll get there soon and it will be a great day. There are heaps of songs about lovely days coming out of not so lovely moments so this one can be too.
I get to my Gunna’s class with Gunner and he drops me off at the door with a kiss and a well wish. I congratulate myself on not getting cranky because kisses and well wishes are worth it, and sometimes hard to find.
I’ve learnt lots, I’ve read lots, and I’ve heard lots of songs, but they don’t mean anything unless you do something, choose something. Well this is a great day because I choose for it to be. Enjoy what’s around me, worry about what’s important, and appreciate what everything is and I know this to be true because I chose for it to be.