"In the beginning"

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this blog are not necessarily the views of the blog management, (on the other hand, they are not necessarily not the views of the blog management).

No effort has been made to stay within the bounds of the truth in this blog as it has always been the view of the management that the truth should never be allowed to stand in the way of a good story.

Thursday, November 24, 2005

November 24th 1994


November 24th 1994


What’s significant about this date? For me it’s when my life
changed from being a part of “WE” to being only an “I”

On this day I separated from my wife of 24 years and
embarked on a life as a single entity, I have previously
touched on my feelings about this and I have no intention of
boring you with details.

In this post I will endeavor to tell the tale, ever so sketchily
of the 11 years since then, again I will not go into enough
detail to intentionally bore you;

My first mission in life was to personally confront all my family
and friends and tell my tale of woe to them face to face, don’t
ask why this needed to be done this way, it just DID.

OK, for some people this would not have been such a huge chore,
but I’m blessed with family and friends who are spread from
one side of this huge continent to the other, so this little project
took a month in time and about 7500 miles in distance traveled
to accomplish.

As promised not too many details, suffice to say I told and
retold the story of my heartbreak about 20 times, with snippets
thrown in to “anyone” who would listen.

OK, mission accomplished, my friends and family now know all
the tragic details, now WTF am I going do with the rest of my
life, seriously, this was the first time that I’d even considered
what to do after the “mission.”

As a couple we had wintered in Queensland for quite a few
years so I just automatically headed for there, the last on my
list “to tell my story to” was my Dad, as he lived in Queensland
that was another reason I suppose.

I chose to put down my first set of roots at a lovely little
fishing village called
Tin Can Bay.

I just rolled into town, booked into a caravan park, and sat
back to see what would happen next, I’m not kidding about that,
my life over the next couple of years “just happened,” and I
went along for the ride.

The gods were kind to me in that, the caravan park I had
chosen?? Was a lovely Park and was filled up with lovely
people who nurtured me, whether they knew it or not, and
brought me slowly back to life.

I spent 3 mainly happy years there before the need for a
little more space became important enough to bring about
a move, (I/we had spent 15 years on a farm before the break
up, so living 10 feet from your neighbour was strange to me.)

An unfortunate part of my personality is that I’m introverted
and don’t make friends easily, so the close confines of the
Park were ideal, it’s hard to ignore people from that close
range, so I developed a new set of friends despite myself!

The last 8 years have been spent in Gympie, where with a very
few exceptions, I have again successfully hibernated from the
prying eyes of almost all people.

But now comes the “Cinderella” stage of my life, for the past
few months I have ventured into the Blog world, cautiously at
first, but with ever expanding abandonment, to my surprise
and joy I have found a new set of friends with whom I feel
totally at ease.

There is a small down side to this situation, that is, that our
contact is electronic via cyberspace rather than physical,
(in the nicest possible way) another aspect is that such a lot of
them live in other countries making the meeting up even less likely.

I do however consider this a small price to pay for the joy, and
sadness, that comes from my contact with this new group of friends,
the Blog community.




16 comments:

Ivy the Goober said...

I wuv my blogging buddies! If not for blogging, how would I ever meet really cool people like you from so far away!

jules said...

Aw Peter, that's so sweet. I may have to rethink the LSB and add "Sweet and Sappy Man". We wuv you too. (Even though I know I wasn't included in the "friends" category) :)

Big Dave T said...

Well said. One thing I've noticed about the blogging community is how supportive they are of one another. That's something you don't always find in the real world.

Lois Lane said...

Wonderful post! I'm glad you find smiles in the blogging community. I do too. :)
Lois Lane

Cliff said...

Don't you think it's easy to find your 'type' while blogging? It doesn't take long to figure out you want nothing to do with him, or her, or the people who would read that. But when you find someone you like, it's likely most everyone on their blog roll will be about like them. You know, the ol' love me, love my kids thing.

Prerona said...

Thank you for such a beautiful post Peter. Happy Thanksgiving!

kenju said...

Aw shucks, Peter, I'm blushing.
You do indeed have friends on the web (me, at least). I CANNOT imagine you as an introvert. You are certainly not introverted on your blog.

I too hope one day to meet some fellow bloggers, especially those in Europe and Australia, but it will probably not happen. I will have to be content reading your words and hearing your stories, and please know they are appreciated very much!

madameplushbottom said...

Peter - this is truly a touching and beautiful posting. Thank you for sharing this part of you with me and the rest of the blogging community.
I feel you are a courageous man who has a lot to offer the world and I am blessed to know this much of you.
May you have a blessed Thanksgiving (if that's something you celebrate...doubtful...but...)
Peace,
Meg

The Mind Behind the Cool School Race Camp said...

G'day Pop
Even though I know this story well it still touches and saddens me.
Introvert is a funny word. I know it applies to you in some respects, but in others it is not accurate at all, but I realise that in certain situations I too find it difficult to connect with people and make friends.
I reckon Cliff is spot on in his assessment of blogger types.

I love the Cindarella part of your story, I have been watching your network grow and your community develop and been thinking how great it is. You have entered a new community and opened up a whole new world. How cool is that!

You've said this to me a few times but now it's my turn to say it to you, "I'm proud of you"

Love Marcus

Anonymous said...

Hi Peter, I am glad that this sad tale has led you to a new life of blogging and meeting lots of new friends. I enjoy your blogging mates also. Glad that there is a silver lining after all.
Love, Merle

Jamie Dawn said...

It is Thanksgiving Day, and I am very thankful for blog friends.
We travelled all day yesterday to spend Thanksgiving with my hubby's family. We will be gorging in about two hours from now. I can hardly wait!
I have many blessings in my life.
Count your blessings too!

OldHorsetailSnake said...

I know what you mean about b**g pals, of which you are one of mine, I hope. I don't recall having such a good time for so long a period, day after day since January, now.

I feel fortunate to have found you, somehow or other. You're an interesting person and a good writer. What more could I need?

Anonymous said...

GP tells the most wonderful and sad stories - he tells them like an artist, so beautifully! I remember that journey you took GP, I remember hiding in my room and crying when I heard the news. I love the person you've always been - a caring and loving Grandpa!

The Heir said...

hey grandpa, i don't think i've heard that story before but it was a wonderful gift. i'm stoked you've found some like minded friends to share your world with. you definitely don't seem introverted in your own environment so i'm very glad you created a bit of that environment on the net. love you heaps,
zac

Trucker Bob said...

Good stuff Peter. As Hoss says, you can count me as one of your b**g buds.

Peter said...

Hi all, you all get your come-uppance in a special blog, so I'll just say thanks for the visit and support.