26 January 2013

A Tale of Two Summer Evenings

It is a warm evening here in Sydney, but being positioned on a nice little tree adorned corner, my balcony catches a cooling, swirling breeze.

I decided to make myself an iced tea, sit on the balcony, watch the reaching arms of the trees flailing in the dying light as they are waltzed and jived by the breeze. Then there are the birds - the street long, multi-species, Birds Chorus singing goodnight.

Although I have lived in this apartment for twenty years, it is not often I do this. I just never seem to get round to it. In fact, I do it so rarely, that when I sat down, I recalled a similar night two years ago. It was a warm night with a soothing breeze.

Memories of that night came back to me.

I was excited. I took my phone with me and watched each tweet coming through from Egypt. Change was in the air. I could feel it on the breeze. After decades of tyranny it seemed inevitable things would change.

I thought of those brave people sending the tweets. If I, thousands of miles away, felt the excitement - what must they be feeling and thinking?

Gawd I was so naive.

So many times in my life I have seen Change's macabre dance - two steps forward, two steps back. Round and round we go as the laughing band plays on.

Tonight, I didn't take my phone with me.

I didn't take Hope with me either. Reality, was tonight's companion.
Wherever you may be - be safe  