NEW LIFE:TAKE2
I decided to return to my first love, Bondi. I went for some job interviews and was offered the position as a Creative Director, to facilitate a quick relocation from Melbourne they put me up in the legendary boutique hotel, The Sebel Townhouse. Home to the bar which was the 'Go To' place for the advertising fraternity and many local and international celebrities. I didn't have to go far to meet old and new friends as I was welcomed back to Sydney.
There were always little surprises. The lift door opened to reveal 'Divine', the huge drag queen star of John Walter's contraversial movies, looking back at me, sans wig or make up but unmistakable. I later went to the swimming pool where there he was sun baking, a true sight to behold...and forget. Another day, the lift doors opened to reveal the glorious Tina Turner greeting me with a brilliant smile, and I almost lost consciousness !I was always excited to press the lift button and see who would appear.
Invited to a small dinner party by a young film director, I was introduced to a beautiful woman who was an artist, and had been married to a very famous Australian artist. We felt an immediate attraction which soon unfolded into a relationship and again I entered another world of artists and potters and poets, albeit a little more traditional.
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I bought a small apartment with an expansive view of the beach at Bondi, directly in front of the board riding area, you couldn't live any closer to the beach unless you pitched a tent on the sand. It was like being re-acqaunted with a long lost friend. Even the old pine trees that dotted the hill seemed like they remembered me! In fact, I was soon to be re acquintated with a lot of long lost friends!
I awoke one morning, about a week after settling in, and saw a tent erected on the sand surrounded by old school long boards.
I ran across the road to see if this was a competition, to my amazement and delight there were many of my old surfing buddies congregating around the tent.
A wonderful group of guys, once young surf gods we were now showing the mileage, they were 'salt of the earth' characters who valued true friendships and tolerated no bullshit .
It was not only an inter club competition but a meeting to plan a re-union of the original South Bondi Board riding club. One of the first board riding clubs in Australia still alive and hanging five!
In between much laughing and 'stirring' I was invited to do a T shirt for the re union...and with a young art director did a parody of the classic surf movie Endless Summer poster, the iconic image of two guys standing with boards looking out over a sunset, in our version they were reminiscing, now balding with a little extra weight added by the years of a good life .
We called it the Endless Reunion, which in many ways proved to be true as reconnections were made and still stand strong to this day, thanks to Facebook and whatsapp etc.
It was a great event with a few flying in from overseas to join in and share the fun, and take lots of trips down memory lane.
I started surfing regularly with another great friend who had bought the apartment next door. We were soon joined by another friend from the advertising world, in true teenage boy style christened ourselves the "Krusties". We would take off on 'Surfaries' to our old favorites Bryon Bay and Crescent heads, in so many ways trips down memory lane and revisiting our youth.
Then, another episode of syncronicity, Master Cheng and Yensoon decided to move to Sydney and open a small centre where they taught Chi Kung, consulted on Feng Shui and, of course, was a centre of healing. I helped organize a seminar or two and went with them on some Feng Shui, consultations, learning all the time by osmosis and observation, I have never been a good 'formal student'!
LOVE DOESN'T DIE
"Walking loved ones over the bridge" is a Taoist ceremony for those who have lost loved ones recently, Master Cheng and Yensoon invited me to participate in this simple but profound ceremony that helps the departed and those left behind.
I was given like a small temple like container with both their names on it.
There was a small bridge in the centre of the room.
Representing the journey from this life to the next life, the intent was that you 'walked' your loved ones over the bridge, then on the 'other side' liberating them by thanking them for all they had given you in this life, and forgiving them and yourself for any bad, wishing them to move forward onto their next journey with out looking back, with out being attatched or concerned for me.
They had fulfilled their role to me with love and understanding at the time and mutual forgiveness and gratitude.
My attachment to their physical form seemed to feel much lighter and what was left was their pure love no longer separated, my connection to them felt even more direct with no attatchment to 'personalities'.
I also came to understand that the majority of my grief was for me, for my loss, but on a deep level I had also gained an even closer, purer connection.Their unconditional love will always be a part of me.
It came time for Master Cheng and Yensoon to return to China and I was left thanking my "Lucky Stars" that I had had the time in their company and had further refined my understanding and connection with the energy available to us in our Self, Nature and 'beyond'.