Well, I think I'm getting better at driving on the wrong side of the road. England was a bit of a disaster, but I'm doing much better now. I haven't abruptly jerked to the right even once today, and it's been about forty-five minutes since anybody has made a rude gesture in my direction. A new personal best! It's draining, though - I have to pay attention to what I'm doing at every moment. Yeah, yeah, I know I'm supposed to do that anyways, but that's just not how we do things in America.
It's a beautiful drive, though. I had no idea Australia was so lovely. Had a great time in Brisbane, and for some reason I got the idea in my head to drive to Sydney instead of flying or taking a train. Big mistake. I was hoping for a scenic drive along the coast but the roads are mostly well inland. Now I have in front of me several hours of paying close attention to... nothing. Note to self -- next time, buy a map!
Now that I think I've got this wrong-side driving in hand, I'm feeling hungry. Sigh... it's always something. Hope there's a town soon, my stomach is growling pretty bad Oh here's something... Port Macquarie, hmm never even heard of this place, hope there's more than sheep and kangaroos. Okay dizzy girl, here comes the turnoff, keep left... left!
Slowly feeling my way through the sleepy resortish town, I do get a few exasperated looks but manage not to hit anything before I get downtown. Let's park this thing and get on foot where I won't do as much damage. Looking for a restaurant, here's one that looks nice, it's called Bliss. Maybe I'm just tired, but for a moment I get a feeling that the name is somehow premonitory. Nah, I'm just being silly.
It looks really nice, upscale ambiance and Thai-Australian fusion cuisine. The hostess regrets that there's no table available right now but I'm welcome to sit at the bar in the meantime. Oh good, there's outdoor seating for the bar, this is too nice a day to spend inside for even an hour. I'm not the only one who thinks so, either, the patio is so crowded. Just standing there looking for a table and not finding one, and I hear a voice in that delightful Aussie accent (not the broad thick one like in the Fosters ads: "Fawstahs -- Awstrayleen for beeah" Sure mate, pour me some beeah. And throw some shrimp on the barbie while you're at it!)
"Excuse me, I'm by myself, would you like to sit here?" At a table for two is a woman dressed in elegant business attire. She's stunning. Tanned and athletic of build, shoulder-length sun-blond hair in a wild side-part, and dressed smartly in a linen business suit and a silk blouse. There's an expensive briefcase under the table and papers spread before her on the table.
"Oh thank you so much," taking the seat. "God, I'm so hungry." Looking around for a server and ever so thankful for her generosity.
"So, an American in Port Macquarie," pegging my accent. "What brings you all the way out here?"
"Idiocy, I guess. I thought Brizzy to Syd would be a nice drive along the coast." The server brings me the menu and wine list, and I look them over, anything to avoid eye-contact.
"Damn, girl! What on earth were you thinking!" Setting aside her papers, at least she didn't say "crikey". "That's over 900 kilometers through shockingly bad road, and with your daft Yankee driving too." Giving me a knowing look, "Picked up a bit of Strine, have we?" Even though this stranger has just read me, there's something about her that puts me right at ease. She has such a kind and easygoing nature, and immediately I find myself opening up to her.
"More than a little," picking something from the wine list. "I was visiting a friend, from long ago. How's the Tintara Shiraz?"
"One of my faves. I'm Natalie, by the way."
"Hi, I'm Marie," as the waitress comes and I order a glass of the Tintara. Natalie orders a glass too, and some butter chicken skewers to go with our wine.
"So tell me about this friend in Brisbane," just to get a chat started. Her name's Elaine, she's originally from Singapore and her family emigrated to Australia when she was a kid. We met online. She works at the Mac counter at David Jones.
Our waitress arrives with the appetizers. Asking for another glass of Shiraz, I tear into one. God I'm so hungry. "You like the chicken, girl?"
"Mmm this is good chook" I'm so hungry Natalie chuckles a bit as I inhale the delicious appetizers.
"So you and Elaine met online? How?" and I know that this is more than I should be sharing with a total stranger but Natalie's so sweet and understanding. And without going into so much detail I tell Natalie about Literotica.com and its chatroom. We found each other and had a nice chat. We really connected so we exchanged emails and that led to occasional phone calls -- very occasional, very expensive!
"Oh I see! So... did anything come of it?" giving me a sly little look over her glass.
"Just for a little while." A flood of memories hit me, mostly happy. Elaine was in Vancouver on business for a few months and we got together for drinks, and that very night things really started. After she went back to Oz we tried to keep it going but it's as about as much of a distance relationship as it gets. So that was pretty much it, though obviously we're still really good mates. I'd normally never share these things with someone I had just met, but there's nobody in my life right now and lately things have been weighing on me and I could really use someone to help me with this burden. And I'm so grateful for Natalie being there and listening. My heart's not so heavy and my tummy is happy now. And the wine certainly doesn't hurt in lightening my mood.
Now that things have lightened up a bit, Natalie mentions that she's often in Sydney on business, and gives me some ideas of what I can do. Nice restaurants, fun places to explore, non-touristy things to do. She's so good to me and I'm having such a nice time, I wish I could stay longer but we've been a while and I still have to find a room in Syd.
"Well Natalie, thank you for the appetizers," I get up and offer my hand "This was a lovely treat." I hate for this to end but I got to get driving.
"Going somewhere?" she looks incredulous.
"Yeah I still got a ways to go before Syd." That is, if I even remember where I parked.
"Not after all that Shiraz, you don't," She's right, I am feeling a bit woozy. "Come back to my house. I'll fix you a proper dinner and we'll figure out where to put you up. There's a few nice hotels in Port Macquarie where you can stay."