Just visiting: anecdotes and appreciations

1. In July, I went canoeing in the Katherine Gorge with Pip, Waz and Gabzi. Whilst chilling on the edge of the gorge, this French couple overheard us exclaiming, “How awesome?!” They asked us, “What is this word awesome?” to which, the only fathomable response was, “This is!” with our arms flailing wide open, admiring at what those who are fearing would call divine.

2. During the week between the preliminary and grand finals, my brothers joined me to tackle the Jatbula, a sixty seven kilometre hike from Katherine Gorge to Edith Falls that follows the natural water ways. We started the hike in the last week of the season. It was hot. Forty plus degrees hot.

At the end of the first morning’s short but warm walk we arrived at the first water spot. We were warned but as we approached the pool and the bottom of a small fall we found nudists. Our water spots had nudists. Late middle-aged nudists. Nudists as in naked. It was not hot. Like negative forty degrees not hot.  

And each day we would arrive at the next campground the other group were already there and in all their glory. Slowly, over the nights our camp sites came closer and meals more together as we traded favourite trails of walks and memory. I could not help but admire how comfortable this group was in their skin and how it enabled so much possibility.

This was the first time it was just us three boys on a trip together. We spoke of the Brownlow, the winner already declared, but without reception, would remain unknown for some days yet. We spoke of brotherhood. And of the made up games that decorated our childhood and the high hopes we had for each other.   

3. Nanny journeyed on her retirement trip to Darwin in December. She has this uncanny ability to capture an audience. It did not surprise me one bit that she made friends everywhere she went and even managed to get rides with strangers.  Every workday I was amazed by my friends’ preparedness to entertain Nanny and in a matter of moments she became their grandmother as well. The fact my friends did this for me is testament to strength and quality of friendships we fostered in Darwin. This, the flight in Kakadu and the Channukah party were just the flickers of many highlights.

4. So in the end it turned out that I too was just visiting. I learnt a lot on many different levels. I will miss the complex uncomplicatedness. I will miss being outside. I will miss the balcony beers and sunsets. I will miss the hospital, its mentors and patients that have taught me the unbound limits of the human resilience.  I found it fitting that an Indigenous elder I cared for at the very start of the year called out to me from her cubicle in the emergency department during my last week of work.  Such are the circles in this small world we undeservingly call ours.

5. And I guess I was just visiting Melbourne now too. To those who say it never changes, my time away has shown that it almost certainly does. Some obvious like the traffic but most, more subtle, like widening chasms between restlessness and acceptance. I am off again today. More visiting. More new words and worlds. More family and friends. More circles. Stay tuned.