Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS writer

The male check-out-chick was young, 16 maybe 17. He looked a bit shy.

“How are you today?“ he asks.

“Good“.

He pauses and keeps scanning.

“Have you had a busy day?“ he asks.

“Not too bad thanks“, I reply.

He pauses again, I feel uncomfortable. It’s hot, a January heat-wave in Melbourne. I better ask something. I just want to get the shopping done, I am tired, I want to get home, another dinner to prepare. God!

“Do you have a long shift today? I ask.

“Oh, I started at 5, not too long, just four hours, it’s ok.“

“Are you heading back to school soon, year 12 maybe or into Uni?“ I ask.

“I’m going into year 11.“

“Do you live nearby, what school?“

“I go to Fairbank, it’s not a very good school.“ he keeps scanning, I have a lot of groceries.

My ears prick up, I am always interested in high school reports, for my son’s future education, and in contradiction I had heard some good reports about Fairbank.

“Have you been there long?“ I ask

“Only six months, my Mum moved here from England with me and my sister. That’s her standing over there, she’s really annoying. He cocked his head slightly over his left shoulder. I glanced over but noone was obviously there.

“Oh, I can’t hear an accent.“

“Yeh, I think I lost it pretty quickly, a lot of people say that.“

With the risk of prying I ask, “Does your Mum work?“

“She’s a nurse, that’s why we moved, nurses get paid like three times more here than in England. We might not stay here anyway, we are just trying it out, Mum says we might move to Brisbane or New Zealand.“

I was getting the sense this kid and his family were chasing something or running away from something. I looked at him, dare I ask?

“So, your Dad stayed behind in England?“ I think I already knew what he was going to say.

He scanned the dips, “Dad died six years ago.“

“Oh, I’m sorry.“

He scanned my last item and said, “Oh that’s ok.“

Have you ever wondered how your interactions wth someone may influence their future? I get the feeling it can be profound, powerfully positive or incredibly damaging. It often goes unrecognised. Everyone has a story, has a past. People are the way they are for a reason. Give someone some ear time, some listening time to tell their story and you’d be amazed at what they have to say, how they open up.

The boy had a brief moment to watch the lady walk away pushing her trolley full of recycled shopping bags. The next shopper was placing their groceries on the belt.

“How are you today?“ he asked.

“Good“

“Had a busy day today?“ he asked.

“Not really.“

Why do I bother he thought, I’m not seen, I’m just a means to an end. Get the food, pay, get out of here. They don’t see me as a person. Do they know my story? I have a story. They have a story. Do I care about their story? Maybe. Where is my story going, what is the next chapter. It may be shaped by how I am treated. Maybe if they knew this they would think again. Common curtesy, a smile, polite talk, eye contact god forbid would be nice.

He left work at around 9.15pm. It was dark outside, warm though, January heat. A walk of about 20 minutes home. Mum would be waiting and his sister most likely home. To get home he had to walk past forest. He had planned this, the timing, the forest. Not how he felt though, that could never be planned. He thought the feelings were confirmed, the lack of hope, the loneliness, the loss.

He got closer to the forest, the tall dark trees. Tallest in the Southern Hemisphere they say. Amazing. Why was he feeling less than sure?

All the customers, they hardly noticed him. They didn’t really care how he was. He was just Aaron the boy check-out-chick. He was young, what intersting story could he possibly have? He felt his backpack on his back, heavy, a little uncomfortable, it didn’t sit well. He thought of his Mum, she worked hard and the move had been hard. He hated school, he knew he would fit in better somewhere else. Life in the family had changed since his father died. His Mum was trying to find the best place to settle. Running away maybe, but he couldn’t run much more, he wanted, he needed a foundation.

He took off his back pack and put it on the grassy embankment at the edge of the forest. He unzipped the bag and took out the rope. He thought again of the lady with the recycled grocery bags. She took the time to look at him, she asked more questions than usual. She said, “I’m sorry to hear that.“ She seemed to actually mean it too. He looked into the dark trees, the warmth was so nice, so comfortable. Not like England, it’s too cold there.

He zipped up the bag and stood up. He breathed hard, deeply and let out a big sigh. Maybe he would see how it went, another day that is. Maybe another lady will make eye contact and seem interested. Mum will be up, lights on, waiting for him. He started walking, another ten minutes and he’d be home.

Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS writer.

Walking down Smith Street any day or night you will find yourself brushing shoulders with a sample of all cultures, colours and experiences. From the local aboriginal uncle playing didgeridoo in front of the National Australia Bank, to the hipsters drinking coffee at Alimentari, to the latest street art adorning the public toilets, to a local strutting down the street in their PJ’s.

Smith Street also hosts a variety of shops and traders who work together to improve the community for all who find themselves venturing that bit further east of Brunswick Street or north of Gertrude Street.

But there also needs to be recognition of what has gone before, and a respect for the land on which we walk, and drink, and shop and be entertained. The local Koori community recognise Smith Street and it’s surrounds as a meeting place – it has been for thousands of years. Aboriginal people travel to Smith Street to find their kin, to yarn, to tell stories. It is important for the traders, workers, and visitors, to understand and respect the cultural heritage in and around Smith Street.

It is important to introduce ourselves, to get to know each other by name, to build positive relationships, to respect each other’s history, each other’s story, to listen to each other. By getting to know each other by name we hope there is less likely to be bad behaviour towards each other, or, if there is, at least people can be ‘called on it’ by those that know them.

The future holds many opportunities to celebrate all the colours of Smith Street. To carry on the work already done by the Neighbourhood Justice Centre, Yarra Council, Smith Street Business Association, Victoria Police, the Aboriginal elders and residents.

On this, the 26^th day of January 2014, let’s celebrate the future potential of our iconic Smith Street.

@DragonSister

http://www.smithstreetlife.com.au/smith-streets-dream

Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS writer

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has stated that Western women will be the force behind the change the world needs. I totally agree with this, I keep coming across feisty women of all ages who are standing in their power and speaking their truth.

From Jordanna Jaffe who empowers women to create their own on line businesses to Danielle LaPorte who is transforming people’s relationship to themselves and their day to day actions through living from their Core Desired Feelings through her fabulous The Fire Starter Sessions and her amazing work book The Desire Map, these women are enlivening my heart as they go about creating a New World Order of Empowered passionate people especially women. 

This movement was started in the 60’s by women such as Germaine Greer but was thought to be too extreme for the mainstream.

Lissa Rankin with her ground breaking views on self healing through her excellent Mind over Medicine, Gabrielle Bernstein with her get up and go attitude in May Cause Miracles, Carla Golden with Because being Happy is your Life Purpose, Locals Tanishka Tantrika with her goddess empowerment work expressed through her Moon Woman Facebook page and online courses and Thea Westra through her ForwardSteps.Com.Au blog and Time for My Life: 365 Stepping Stones are chipping away at the mainstream opinion that you need to have a dick and balls to truly succeed in Life, They are empowering women to become modern day Lilith’s, Wild Women who are in touch with their power and speaking from their souls. Bring  it on I say.

Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS writer.

When I need to be nowhere any time soon, there’s no better feeling than to be lost with my girl on a windy beach road, far, far, from home.  On my motorcycle, it’s all about me; and the only place that matters is that which is around me right now. 

Watch my speed, look out for hazards, scan the road surface, am I in the right gear, where’s the right place to brake and accelerate. After endless miles, these things have become second nature, and we ride as one.

I study the camber and radius of every corner, keeping my head horizontal through each one as my boots and foot-pegs sometimes scrape the tarmac when I’m leaned over too far. I calculate the perfect time to accelerate hard out of the apex of each corner. As I get hard on the gas, I’m rewarded with the symphony of the gearbox winding, the exhaust note rumbling, and the roar of the induction screaming through her lungs. She might kick and buck and scream for me to be gentle, but in the end she does what I ask of her, and we always get to where we are going safely.

My skin can feel the world around me; the temperature change as we rise and fall through the hills; the heat of the sun on my leathers; the rain on my face through my open visor, the cold making me shiver, the wind blowing me from side to side.

My body, eyes and ears detect each change to the road surface, the tires grinding on the rough, and every bump rumbles through my body. 

My nose tells me more about where I am, from the grass seeds blown up by the wind, the recently fertilized market gardens; diesel fumes from trucks and buses; the freshness of the wet forest; factories, cars and other human activities.

Now I’m aware that I can’t talk to anyone; I can’t write anything down. I’m free to notice, observe, and take my mind into special places. I’m solving problems I haven’t had time to think about, planning what I’m going to do later today, tomorrow, the week and months after. Sometimes it’s the careful words I’ve now chosen to communicate a delicate matter to a friend or colleague.

But our ride must come to an end. I’m filled with adrenaline. My mind is charged. My body tired but satisfied. We bask in our solitude; taking a break to watch the sun set, listen to the sound of the ocean, and the waves crashing onto the shoreline.

I realize now that some things are just as they are. Like that life is a journey with unexpected twists and turns that we must skillfully navigate. That day turns to night as night turns to day. That some things we do well at, because we have invested the work to do so. And when we want something badly enough, we can learn how to do that too.

Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS writer.

On 8 January 2013, the CAT team come to my house for the first time. After I reported daily panic attacks and suicidal ideation to my new GP, he has pulled out all the stops. I am self-conscious. Surely I’m not that bad, am I? But he points out that’s what the system is there for. So I think ‘fuck it, I want help’ and accept it. 

I am 35 years old, and outwardly my life looks pretty good. Engaged to be married to my long-term boyfriend, we had planned to buy a house and have kids together. Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? Isn’t that what the whole point of life is? More and more, I seem to be surrounded by people whose only goals in life are these things.

The only problem is that deep down, I don’t really want to do any of that, and lately my body has been rebelling. I’ve been waking at 5am flooded with fear and desperately wishing there was a ‘way out’. Why do these seemingly normal actions feel like a coffin lid shutting?

For two weeks, the CAT team’s visits and phone calls are the only thing that get me out of bed. I write daily ‘to do’ lists that consists of ‘eat breakfast’, ‘shower’, ‘eat lunch’ and ‘eat dinner’. These actions feel surprisingly hard to achieve some days, but each day I do a little more.

My doctor has started me back on antidepressants, after 12 months spent detoxing from them in the hope of having a child without medication. My adrenalin-filled body reacts violently to the new medication, and I suffer nausea, physical aches and mental confusion, but after six weeks the fog clears.

I write a list – what would I really do if I wasn’t so scared? Top of the list is the one thing I’m most scared to do: ‘Come out as bi and (potentially) date a girl’.

However, at first the guilt eats into me like acid. My boyfriend – fiancé – is a ‘nice guy’. How could I do this to him? And what will my parents and family think? Brought up to view the end of a long-term relationship as the ultimate failure in life, I am torn between two equally fearful options – being the ‘good girl’ and staying, or being authentic to how I feel inside at the risk of losing what feels like everything.

I make a bargain with myself. I can give up on life entirely, but only after I’ve done a few more enjoyable things – I list the books, tv series and movies I wish to see. I buy a ticket to a concert in July. ‘Just keep going until then,’ I tell myself. I laugh at the absurdity of bribing myself with pop culture, but it works – day by day, I take more and more baby steps.

Flash forward three months, and I’ve moved out. My ex and I have negotiated to share custody of our dog, and I’m sharing a unit in Thornbury. I have a new office space, and I am managing to work enough to support myself, even if it’s not the most lucrative year for my business.

Three months after that, I’ve made lots of new friends in the lesbian community and have even braved a couple of dates, albeit rather disastrous ones.

Most of the terrible things I thought would happen haven’t come to pass. Rather than terror at being on my own for the first time in years, I feel exhilaration. Rather than sorrow at leaving behind so many beloved objects, I find I enjoy living with fewer physical possessions. Rather than feel anxious about the future, I increasingly feel excited by possibilities. 

In August, I fall in love and start dating my first real girlfriend. It feels both completely natural and totally unexpected. Can this really be happening so quickly?

Those first CAT team horror days seem like something that happened to someone else. It is remarkable how quickly a new normalcy asserts itself.

I no longer need bribes to keep myself going, but I realise I don’t have any other life plans – but it doesn’t matter. Whatever I do now it will be more governed by my own intuition and less by what I think I’m ‘supposed’ to do, for I have lived and felt in my own body how incredibly bad that can be for me.

Doing the thing that scares you most, confronting the thing you’re least willing to confront, can be the most liberating action of all.

Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS writer

That’s my passion – social justice, and that’s what I usually write about. But, this piece is an exercise fromThe Gunnas Writing Masterclass. It is fictitious, and any connection to the facilitator of the class probably has some Freudian explanation (but little foundation).

Once upon a time there was not much life for women – apart from ornament or trophy. However, the woman in the picture I drew from the lucky dip (I will call her Ella for now) looks like she has a bit of ‘attitude’. The era looks Edwardian, maybe Victorian, and Ella is showing some leg, for heaven’s sake, and her dress is hitched up over her knee by a non-domestic animal from the cat family.

This animal (I assume is male and will call Milos) would no doubt run with feline grace if he had open space and freedom to move. Every day the woman would need to make sure her companion got exercise. Otherwise, he would become stir-crazy and might make a run for it, possibly causing considerable damage to himself and anyone or anything in his path.

One day, Ella decided she was sick of having to wear hats and dresses and meet the expectations of lady-hood. So, she whipped off her clothes, exchanged them for the gardener’s, put Milos on a lead, and they both made a run for it into the hills beyond the homestead.

Because of this escapade, Ella was grounded for two weeks, and Milos was sent to the zoo. And because of that, Ella decided to abandon her inheritance, and remake herself as an artist.

Ella is now a stand-up comedian, writes, teaches, runs classes for people like me, and has changed her name to Dev. She lives happily ever after – with no superannuation fund, no private health insurance, no private schools, a wreck of a car, lots of love, and the minimum of housework.

I think the shift has been a good one.

Thanks, Catherine Deveny for a great day, great material, and great facilitation.

Joan Beckwith writes about social justice on her website and Facebook page as follows:

Website: www.2020socialjustice.com

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/2020socialjustice

Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS writer.

“I don’t want to wear these pants. I HATE these pants.” She stamps her bare foot on the floor, crosses her arms.

“What’s wrong with them honey?  They used to be your favourite pair. You wore them yesterday.” Feigned patience.

“I hate them. They are too small, and they are itchy. I have ALWAYS hated them. I was faking it.”

“Well, Mummy hasn’t had the time to do any washing. I am afraid this is your only choice.”

When did I start talking about myself in the third person? And using the word Mummy? I throw the pants on the bed, leave the room; defeated.

Kids are like dogs. They can smell fear.

“You’re the WORST mum in the WORLD!”

“Thanks darling.” I secretly wonder if she is on to something.

“And I hate it when you are sarcastic.”

Self-hatred for lack of self-control. Pride in the insightfulness and eloquence of my five year old daughter.

Through gritted teeth;

“Listen. If you don’t get dressed now, we will be late. The bus is leaving for the excursion at 9. We have to go soon.”

Deep breath, soft voice, pleading;

“Please put the pants on darling.”

“NO! NO! NO! I hate THEM, and I hate YOU!”

She is red in the face, shaking. I want to hold her to me, comfort her.  Let her know I understand frustration.

My mobile phone rings. It is the client I am supposed to be meeting in an hour. Against my instincts, I answer the call.

“Good morning. Jane Buchanan speaking”

“Hi Jane, it is Sarah Mayne here. I was just wondering if…”

I can’t hear her over the ear-piercing screech. I go in to the bathroom and lock the door.

“Sorry Sarah. What were you saying?”

She speaks slowly, like you would to a very old person, or a very young child.

“I was just asking if we could make the meeting a bit earlier?”

I do my best to sound normal, but the pounding on the bathroom door is distracting.

“It might be a bit of a push Sarah. I’m so sorry!” I don’t know why I am apologising. I haven’t broken any commitment. Not yet, anyway.

Her voice is cold. “Ok. See you at 9.30”

“Bye.”

“MUUUUUUUUUM!”

Unlock the door, rip it open.

“Couldn’t you see I was in the middle of a call? For Gods sake Amelia, why do you have to make life so fucking hard.”

That will come up in therapy. I wonder whether I should document it for her myself, so she doesn’t have to waste too much time wading through the mystery of her low self-esteem.

She puts her hands on her hips, eye contact, standing firm.

“You shouldn’t say bad words to me. That’s illegal. And it will teach me to say them.”

“You’re right honey. That was very bad of Mum. I’m sorry. Please, can you just get dressed now?”

She complies with every request. She puts the itchy pants on, and the ugly t-shirt that makes her look like a boy. She eats the cereal she hates, because I haven’t managed to go shopping and buy bread. She even lets me put her hair in a ponytail.

She is smug, self-righteous.

The bus is about to pull out of the drive when we finally get there. I have to park in front of it to alert the driver he can’t leave yet. He smiles, opens the door. Waiting doesn’t bother him. The teacher steps down. Her face is stern, voice brash.

“Come on Amelia. We have already waited for five minutes.”

Amelia reacts to the coldness, clings to my leg, buries her face in my hip.

The old bag grabs her, pulls her toward the bus.

“Come on, stop being silly!”

Amelia goes, but as she looks back at me, her eyes are teary, her mouth pursed tightly.

“It’s okay honey. I’ll see you this afternoon.”

“Just in case you have forgotten, school finishes early today.” She turns around, guides Amelia up the steps. I feel sick. I can’t bring myself to ask what time pick-up is. I will text Lisa.

~~~

Sarah is waiting at the office. She is early, but I apologise for making her wait anyway.

“Sorry, my daughter was being a little difficult this morning.”

“I don’t have kids.” Voice tinged with distaste, barely discernible screwed up nose. She doesn’t elaborate why. I suspect it is a lifestyle choice.

My chances of winning the contract are getting slimmer with each interaction, but I need this job…badly. I make a mental note not to mention children again.

Unlock the door, motion for her to enter.

“Take a seat through there. I will just go and grab the proposal.”

Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS writer

“Write for 10 minutes …”

… or sit for ten minutes thinking about writing? I’m halfway through a day with the Gunnas, trying to conquer writer’s block with a ten-minute task designed to help me face the demon Procrastination. Not an easy task, given that I am just one of many self-appointed Queens of Procrastination. But isn’t that why I’m here – to see if I can break that habit? I’m starting to wonder if it’s something even bigger than that.  Is NOT putting pen to paper really just a slack habit, or is something else more sinister standing in the way? Is it in fact more about adjusting my sense of who I am? Am I a genuine writer-in-waiting or really just a Gunna who fancies themselves as something grander than they really are, but lacks the guts to test the water? Like all good gunnas from all walks of life, if I never actually try it, I can always say I want to be a writer and maintain the belief that if I just had the time, the quiet, the place, I would be a good one, or a popular one. Once I actually go there, I face the prospect of realising that perhaps I have been kidding myself all these years.

Don’t worry, I’ve done all the groundwork – researched whether anyone else had already pinched my cool blog name – they had! Researched what other people were writing in the genres that interest me – they have! Questioned my own capacity to write something worth reading – turns out we’ve ALL been there! And you know what? Whilst it is very possible I will never write the next big thing to sweep the reading planet, I found myself reflecting on some of the shit I’ve read in the name of “research”. And who defines what is shit and what is good writing, anyway? If I’m willing to read what other people put out there, who’s to say my shit won’t make perfect sense to someone else?

So here goes. Who am I as a writer? Dev encouraged us to create a symbolic connection to our writing self – wear a hat, light a candle – whatever works for you, whatever will glue you to your seat long enough to let those words out of your head and onto a page. As someone who has spent their life immersed in language teaching, the idea of creating an identity for the new me resonated – life is all about different identities for the different worlds you inhabit. Just as many of us learn to inhabit different identities in our working and home lives, speaking different languages creates different versions of your identity. The language and the culture of those who speak it shape how you can and do interact with others in that community. Sometimes language will limit your capacity to express some concepts; at other times, it opens doors to elaborate on something in ways you never knew existed. In the past, I felt I needed a nom de plume before I got started as a writer (just another distraction?); hence “The Lemon Queen” was born. There’s a wealth of material waiting to be mined there, due to my propensity to find the lemon in any situation. If there’s a dud in the pile, I will take it home. People who know me well are familiar with my plaintive queries as to why I have to factor in a second visit to the shop for almost all my purchases; and the lengths I have gone to in order to try and outrun the gremlin behind my troubles have provided loyal listeners with a constant source of laughter and perhaps more than a little Schadenfreude on occasion. Mind you, it begs the question – if my eagle eyes are so damn good, why don’t I spot the lemon before I pay for it and take it home?

In the context of procrastination, though, why did the Lemon Queen jump into my head during today’s workshop? Am I really doomed to pick out all the lemons all my life, or am I hiding behind them to avoid using my time more productively?

Take the shoe saga – just one example of the Lemon Queen’s madness! Ha! Why am I writing about shoes in a workshop run by the dazzling Catherine Deveny? She is shiny and bright in red lipstick and full stereo sound, with a gorgeous red dress to match, and all I can come up with as a writing topic is a pair of grotty, dusty walking shoes that I choose to wear like bathroom scuffs.

I returned the bastards twice, each time swapping them for a pair that looked flawless, only to get them home and find I had missed something in all my jumping, hopping and posturing in the store. I even changed colours and sizes during the process! Isn’t it great how shamelessly humans can prance around humiliating themselves in a shop for the sake of a shoe purchase, but lack the guts to send a few words to the printer in case people judge and find us wanting? What the hell is going on there? And with the benefit of hindsight, what was the point of looking for a perfect pair when I was only going to treat them like gumboots anyway? I’m never going to wear them to meet the Queen. And even if I do, I don’t actually care what the Queen thinks of my footwear. I don’t even believe in the monarchy!

Which takes me back to this dedicated search for perfection – what’s it all for and whom does it serve? Why wait till something is perfect before you set it free for others to see? Why did I waste so much energy on seeking perfection in a pair of functional shoes that is now filthy and scuffed – by me? Why can’t I let go and work around the many lemons that clutter my life? None of the issues they raise are life threatening. That time could have been spent writing! As Dev says, “perfection is the enemy of good”, and the search for perfection in many ways is just another form of procrastination. Life’s too short to be worried about when we will be good enough. So here it is, warts and all – my first gift to today’s Gunnas! I wish you all happiness and success in your efforts and look forward to seeing you in print!

Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS writer.

These days seem to bear down on me like heavy rainfall on sodden leaves. I seek the intellectual stimulation of work, the humour of friends and the distraction of the everyday. And yet it remains. That constant drum beat, the march of inhumanity, the secrecy, the lies and the slow degradation of all that we know to be real and true and good.

Words feel too heavy sometimes. There is so much to say. I’m afraid that if I start, once I start, I might never be able to stop. I’m angry. Grief has finally given way to an anger that will lead to action. I used to write about love and peace. I used to rant about racism and injustice. That was when I lived ‘the writer’s life’, in that downtown loft in Edmonton, Alberta. That was before my own heartbreak seemed more important than boatloads of refugees being discarded as if they were criminals or cattle.

I know why I stopped writing. Filled with some fanciful myth about being abandoned by my muse. Excuses. Distractions. Fear of what I might express. And what might remain unexpressed.

Always something to say, always weighed down by the wait. What am I waiting for? That first snowfall.