Besties

Lips in sync with Billy Joel, we exuberantly belt out

“You may be right

I may be crazy

Oh, but it just may be a lunatic you're looking for…”

The sea breeze whips through our hair, salty tang on our tongues. In perfect agreement with Billy… that dash of ‘crazy’ adds zest to our lives.

Next instant, my mind boards the Concord for a record-breaking flight across distant decades. Back to the ‘First Time’. Corkscrew curls bobbed alongside me, as I sang a demented duet with my trusty travelling ‘Bestie’, Anne. Cute ‘boys’ laughingly mimicked us in their idling car across Adelaide's intersection. Glenelg’s west coast wind wound through the open car windows. Life was grand!

We were young and free and travelling 'The World'! Okay... not the entire world. We never did make it off our amazing continent, that trip. But the adventures we shared: cuddling koalas; floating in salt lakes; marvelling at magic shows; hiking round tranquil lakes and slumbering on the ferry crossing the Bass Strait.

And writing... don't forget the writing, late at night, when the sun finally decided to call it quits and go to bed. Travel diaries joined picturesque postcards collected each day on caravan or cabin tabletops. My smudged scrawled words stood in stark contrast to Anne's neat writing. Late into the evenings we would carefully plot our next day's itinerary on paper maps, folded and refolded until falling apart at the seams.

How much has changed over the fleeting years since then? Today... the 'Second, First time...' my 'Bestie' and I prop up on beds at night, writing. No longer does my left-hand hover ink stained above postcards or a dog-eared diary. Tonight, we peck away at keyboards, typing 'Masterpieces' for Vocal! Text messages are speedily typed on our phones which slip easily back into pockets or handbags or as in my case, are put down and abandoned on any nearby surface. Now, I have a clever watch which can locate my mobile phone, so prone to losing me!

This 'Second, First time', there is not a paper map in sight, possibly not even in the motel! Google Maps is the go... a polite voice tells us where to go, in the nicest of ways. She doesn't always get it right and is prone to fall annoyingly silent at the most inconvenient times, but generally, Madame, Gregarious Google Maps, knows how to get us THERE. Yes, haven't we come up in the world? Flashy motel rooms with TV, aircon, pools and the like. No longer do we brave the fog and frogs to visit the bathroom amenities' block at night. This 'Second First Time', we skip a few swift steps to the ensuite, complete with warm fluffy towels.

“Hey Bestie! Which one do you like?”

Dragging my distracted gaze away from the tower of neatly folded tie-dyed shirts, I seek the question’s source. There… a beaming heart shaped face, above two haphazardly draped striped shirts. Identical styles — one in black and blue next to its non-identical ‘twin’ in plain black. Black’s never been my colour, so no prize for guessing my choice!

Later, at Eumundi markets, dogs yip, friends chat and toddlers drip chocolate ice-cream onto Bluey's head which decorates their T-shirts. Soon, hunger pangs send us in search of sustenance. Like Labradors, our noses unerring lead us to the delectable potato spirals. Taking a leisurely stroll amongst the colourful stalls hawking crafts, plants and handmade cakes of soap, our flowing floral pants flap.

The flap flapping fashion of our floating garb is the 'Second, First time...' two 'Besties' comfortably sporting outfits, the same, but not quite. 'Back Then', little 'Curly Top' and I pirouetted in our new matching dresses. A swirl of blue with black, alongside pink and black.

"Hey Bestie, what do you think?"

With a thud, I land firmly back into Today, my 'Second, First time...' Looking at me in askance, I behold my darling daughter's smiling face, framed in golden curls. Gratitude and joy unexpectedly flood my heart. My life has been so blessed by good friends across the years... wherever I've been and whatever I've done. Both, the First Time, and the 'Second First Time', true friends make everything sweeter.

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Written for the ‘Second First Time” challenge.