We're all on different journeys, but we share a common road.
A road that goes on forever and never looks quite the same to any two people.
And all those other people rushing past in their own cars are experiencing a journey just as complex as our own; with just as many twists and turns and trials.
So, take the time to wave at them and smile. It takes just a moment but may be just what they need, just when they need it as they make their own quiet busy way.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
CAMILLE ALISON GRANT
"Fuck yes!"
"Settle petal. Not till next month. Mum's booked the resort, so we're limited to the fab five and their plus ones."
"A whole week of sun, sand and shagalicious surfies." She's bouncing around the room like a wind-up toy gone haywire, typical Tammy stuff. "So, I'm your plus one, right? Does that mean your Mum is like cool with us?" She holds two fingers up in a 'v' sign and licks between them while waggling her eyebrows.
"Gross. But she's okay. You're my 'friend' and she has a 'don't ask' kind of policy."
"Cool fam Cam. You're not gonna get all jellyfish if I pull, are you?"
"Hell no. Been a long time between disco sticks darlin. I might even surprise you and join in."
The mess of sandy dreadlocks and smiling red lips grabs my neck and drags me in for a very tonguey kiss. "Best roomy with benefits ever."
She skips off to her bedroom and I can hear her start packing.
"It's still a month away, Moron." I yell to her.
"Fucking killjoy." She yells back.
So, yeah... Instead of a twenty-first birthday party, Mum arranged a five-year schoolies re-union for me and my five BFF's. I'm just as excited as Tamara but I've always been a little more reserved with my emotions. I mean, woah, it must be, it is, totally five years since all five of us were in the same place at the same time. We all make promises to stay in touch when school ends, but life has other ideas.
I grew up in a small town. Population was two thousand give or take. Dad worked in the oil fields. So when I say BFF's I mean the same five girls I made friends with on the first day of grade one and stayed friends with through middle and high school. Sure, we had tiffs but we were crew. Despite our teary graduation promises we have drifted apart though.
Georgia, I haven't seen since I went home for Christmas last year. She's a teacher in Mackay now. When I rang and invited her, she filled me in. Still with the same guy, moved in together now, still at the same school, still ridiculously happy. It made me a little jealous for her happiness, but that was always Georgia. She could fall in a mud puddle and find something to be happy about.
She was always the Mum of our group. She was the second oldest so maybe that's why. Her birthday was in April and she was six when she started school and turned seven mid-year. Mine is in December so I didn't turn six until December eleventh that same year and was the youngest. For god's sake she had a licence in year twelve even and I didn't get my learners until we got back from schoolies.
Sandy, she wasn't so keen on the idea of a re-union. She'd moved to Brisbane following school and had two kids already. She was always like that though, a worrier. "What'll I do with the kids? Brad can't come, he's not got any leave. He'll be wondering what I'm up to. I don't know. Let me think about it. I'll get back to you next week."
She rang back that same night. Brad had come home with a new boat. They were supposed to be saving for a house deposit. He could look after the bloody kids for the week. I don't see her too often, probably once every six months or so we meet for coffee or something. You'd think that living in the same suburb even, it would be easier to make time for each other. In my defence, Carseldine is a pretty big suburb and work is busy. So it will be nice to see the brunette worry wort. Maybe the break will do her good. She wasn't bringing a plus one, preferring some 'me time' so she was going to share with Georgia and save Mum the cost of one room.
Liz, I do see fairly frequently. The re-union was mostly her idea. She was always the fixer, the negotiator. She rings us all at least monthly and fills us in on each other's lives. Herself, she's working finally. Her law degree had been a lengthy journey and this will really be the first holiday she has that doesn't involve a box full of books and a laptop.
She's bringing her long-term boyfriend, Tim. With a bit of a naughty giggle she told me, "Don't expect to see us outside of the unit too often. Life is always so fucking busy." For a tiny woman, she has always had big appetites. I've never seen anyone eat so much and her appetite for boys was legendary through high school as well. I wouldn't say promiscuous, I'd use her words, "Healthy slut."
Seriously, the editor of our year twelve yearbook was asked to change her tag line from, "It's not there to sit on." To "Use it or lose it."
And then there is the phone call I have to make now. "Sin".
Jacinta. The wildcard in our group. Our own berserker. I'm frowning as I contemplate the call. She was the first casualty to our little unit. Ironically enough, during the very schoolies week we are celebrating five years on. Something happened. We don't know what. Well, sort of we do. Clearly there is a four-year-old reminder. She got pregnant at schoolies.
But somehow, that was where she fell out of our group and things got really dumb for some reason.
"Cam honey?" Tammy asks.
"Yeah darl."
"You ok?"
"Gotta call Sin."
"Oh." She's showered and it's her turn to cook so she's unboxed a frozen pizza and thrown it in the oven with some two-dollar garlic bread. She's frowning at me thoughtfully. You couldn't pay for a roomy this lovely, I think as I watch her t-shirted lanky caramel form stalk towards me. "Hey. Sit." She indicates the couch.
"No." She laughs. "Get your phone first."
When I sit as directed on our conjointly salvaged from curbside collection day couch she smiles and nods at my lap, "Pants... I know how to put you in the right place for this. You're always more, whatever... Um, together? After a good "O". Come on, pants off."
My smile betrays me. As does my hurried struggle with my jeans. "I haven't showered Tam."
"Shush." She says kneeling between my knees and leaning in to kiss me. "I like the smell of you."
And as she does wonderful luxuriant warm and sloppy things with her tongue and my bits, I poke at the screen of my phone where it suggests 'Jacinta Morgan' and stare at the little call icon. I haven't spoken to her in two years. Even then it was awkward and like two old friends making echoes in a cave of memories. There was some space between us that didn't have a bridge and I didn't understand it. It was the same for the others too. Sin was just... Just...
"Oh, get fucked!" I grab Tam's hair and hold her still. "Sorry. Sorry. Sorry." I pant in time with my squirting convulsions. "Sheesus. How do you do that every time. Hold still. Fuck."
When I settle, I open my eyes and look at my lovely friend with my juice all on her face and through her freshly washed hair and laugh as she tries to unstick one eye. "Thanks T. God. Just..." Taking a deep breath I ask quietly and a little weakly, "Can you just snuggle a bit while I do this? Please honey?"
It's dumb asking. She's such a generous soul and slinks up on the couch next to me and lets me fall into her lap and fumble with the phone. Her fingers comb my hair and she 'shushes' me as I dial.
"Camille?" There's a sort of accusatory questioning to her tone.
"Sin."
"Hey. It's been..."
"I know right. How are you and Tony?"
"Oh, fucking teething. Jesus fucking Christ on a fucking Chinese chopper. These things don't come with refund policies you know? I haven't, oh my god, had a fucking night's sleep in, god... Cam soz love. Ranting. You. How are you? Still whatevering... Um what do you fucking do again bitch?"
"Childcare."
Her laughter is exactly as I remember. Sincere, whole body guffaws that sound a little like a water buffalo is trying to cough up a quite deranged hyena.
"Got a fucking free one here you can have if you want. The little arsehole just cries all night at the moment. It's some of his big teeth and the temps... I think he's got the flu or something with it. Oh god... a nightmare and Mum... god it's nice to hear your voice."
"And yours. Hey..."
"Spill bitch. What gives?"
"My birthday soon."
"Yeah, you'll be what now? The big two one? You were always the youngest."
"Yup. So..."
"Oh God you're annoying. Spit it out!"
"Stop interrupting," I laugh, "Mum's booked a motel at the coast for a schoolies re-union instead of a party. You in?"
"Not... Oh... Just kinda tight..."
"Accommodation and meals all included, you just have to show up and buy your own drinks. Please Sin. Say yes and it'll be the whole crew again."
"Oh god..." She's silent for a while. "I'm not sure it's... I mean the first time was such a fuck up. You know."
"Hey. It wasn't that bad. We all got a bit wild. That's what it was all about. Blowing off some steam, you know."
"Yeah... I'll think about it Cam, that's the best I can do right now. There's a lot to think about. For me anyway. Who else is coming?"
"Georgie's coming but her partner can't get time off. Sandy's in. She's arguing with Brad so her and Georgie can share a room. Liz is bringing Tim-"
