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Family
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Family
People
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People Family in Melbourne June/July 2002 Artists Elaine Haby Peter Haby John Jennison Mary McGillivray Rita Smithwick Shannon Bracken & Martin Checklin Georgia Cribb Hillary Jellet Susan Jennison Peter LeHane Euan McGillivray Emma Winterburn Coordinated Gracia Haby & Louise Jennison gracialouise.com |
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Martin
Checklin & Shannon Bracken |
It
was Grand Prix that day and we had woken up early thanks to the thunderous
noise buzzing around Albert Park. Despite our late arrival from Tokyo,
our jetlag was quickly washed away by excitement. It was my first time
to Melbourne and my first time to meet my fiancee's family. I wasn't nervous
just a little weary and keen to make a good impression. I had to as I
intended to be part of this Melbournian family soon. We had spent the day wondering around sunny St.Kilda, soaking up the vibe. We ate in a stylish Italian restaurant for lunch, my fiancee Shannon, her Dad David, his partner Jana and I. The restaurant culture amazed me in Melbourne. There is so much variety, supreme quality and all at a bargain price. The food in Melbourne eclipses that of the other cities I've traveled to. The day soon followed into night and we were preparing ourselves for yet another delicious banquet. Shannon was upstairs pampering and making herself even more beautiful whilst myself and david were sitting downstairs watching the ABC news. Nobody knew that Shannon and I wanted to do the traditional thing of asking the father's permission although we had already been engaged for 2 months. I had already told Shannon that I was going to ask her Dad that day so as we sat waiting on the sofa, I thought that now would be the ideal chance to ask the burning question. My mouth dried, my palms perspired and my heart raced quicker than Schumacher on Albert Park. I told myself after counting to 10, I would ask. My counting lead into the 100's, maybe 1000's and then I decided to seize the moment. I inhaled deeply and counted 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and zzzzzzzzzzzzz!!! Just before I turned I heard David push out a satisfied snore. It vibrated around the room and the moment was gone. The night continued over a superb Italian feast in South Melbourne. The four of us enjoyed fabulous fettuccini, tantalising tagietelle and glasses of robust red wine. The evening past by perfectly. Things were going well for me in my first 24 hours in Melbourne. We drove home after finishing off our coffees. The day was nearly over and I had yet to ask the question. No sooner as we arrived at home, David announced his retirement to bed. My final chance of the day had gone. Or had it? Shannon suddenly realised that she had left her handbag and contents inadvertently at the restaurant. Her Dad offered to go and pick it up. Taking this chance I said that I would accompany him for the ride. As we left I nodded to Shannon and she grinned good luck to me. We got in the car and headed back down from South Kilda to South melbourne. I calculated the time between various landmarks so I knew how long we would have on the way back. We arrived at the restaurant, I sprung out of the car, grabbed the bag and rushed back. I was going to ask him before we set off back. I opened the door waved shannon's bag and buckled up. But no, I didn't ask. I couldn't. Melbourne's golden 80's boy, Johnny Farnham was on the stereo belting out `your the voice'. I couldn't ask with one of Australia's cliche tunes blaring out. The journey started and the landmarks began to whiz by and johnny was still going for gold. "C'mon Johnny, it's not funny anymore", I cried. The last landmark had passed and Johnny finally began to fade. I turned to David and began my introduction thanking him for his hospitality and his daughter. I could sense the house, and therefore David's bedtime, approaching. I had to be quick. David is a great storyteller and conversationalist. He had entertained us all day long with his tales and anecdotes. Just as the question was formulating on my lips , David launched into another yarn which was sure to last longer than you're the voice, try understand it. I nodded and uhummed quicker than ever but in all the right places. I saw the house on the horizon approaching quicker than a speeding tram. Whether david paused for breath or not, I don't recall but then I blurted out "And I like your permission to marry your daughter." The car swerved and shook. My heart dangled out of my mouth and for the very first time since I had met him, David was silent. Why wouldn't he speak? The car pulled over and the silence felt deadly. I began to fill it with babble and gobbledegook I had promised myself not to say. Blahh blahh blahh I went. Blahh blahh I continued until he said, "I think we should go inside". Oh, what had I done? The path had grown, the door had doubled and the house had swollen. I was a little boy again. I goofed some joke to Shannon about no bag and then the rest melted into a blur overshadowed by the chattering of my teeth and the throbbing of my knees. All I really remember was thinking had he said yes? I was unsure. Would I spend the rest of my days sampling Melbourne's treats still in the dark? |
As
we touched down into Tullamarine Airport I was flushed with a sense of
comforting familiarity. I live abroad and was returning home for a holiday
and this time I had my special friend in toe, Martin. We'd planned to
tie the knot and settle in Melbourne which was quite brave especially
on his behalf as he'd never been to Australia, let alone Melbourne. This
journey was mainly to announce our news to my family. To woo Martin and ensure he fell in love with my city, I'd planned a very Melbournian itinerary to highlight it's wonders. On the agenda were various dinners in the funky restaurants of St. Kilda and Brunswick, a walking tour of the Botanical Gardens and South Gate, a night tour of the Old Melbourne Gaol, a visit to the Neighbours set (c'mon, he's English) plus a weekend away in Portsea. And yes, my darling was impressed. Despite being a seasoned traveler, he said he'd never come across such a livable place. He reveled in the fresh air, the open space, the magnificent array of food and the overall relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere of the city. Now all we had to do was break the news to everyone and tell them he'd be joining our family. As you can imagine it was quite a nerve-racking time for us both and anticipation was high. After a gorgeous dinner with my father, Jana and Martin we'd gotten to the stage where Martin was ready to ask permission for my hand in marriage. Dad had to go back to the restaurant which was a perfect opportunity for Martin to pop the question so he jumped back into the car and off they drove in a drive they'd never forget. As I sat waiting, I could just imagine the two of them sitting side by side working out how they could prove their winsome charm to each other. I could also imagine Martin's stomach being filled to the brim with butterflies as he plucked up the courage to broach the subject of marriage with my Dad. I waited patiently for them to return then I heard the jingle of keys at the front door. I was itching to know what had happened. They walked in, both looking a little bewildered. I wondered what had actually gone on during the drive...was everything OK? Dad gave me a kiss and a wink and went off to bed. Martin gave me a hug, I could feel his legs still shaking... The next morning Jana came around on her way to a Clean Up Australia Day event bearing wine and pate to celebrate our announcement. So it had been given the seal of approval. In a recent phone call after we left Melbourne my Dad said to me 'some fathers worry the no one is good enough for their daughter, but that's not true in may case'. And that's where this chapter in our tale finishes. So, very soon, I'll be returning to Melbourne again to be with my family. But this time it's for good with a new, very welcomed addition- my husband. |
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Euan McGillivray Family Stuff Just for a moment think about all the stuff that's going on in your family. Only think about the close family if there is too much stuff. Make a list if it helps. I bet it's an amazing amount of stuff. Next time you see a friend, ask him or her about how much stuff is going on in their family. Now get a calculator and multiply their stuff with your stuff. There are 6,228,252,530 people in the world. Not sure how many families that is. But one thing is for sure, There is a lot of family stuff going on. Georgia Cribb I was chatting to a person I work with over a coffee one morning. She looked at my palm and explained that she could see I have a very strong connection with my family. I laughed and told her that only a few months ago I had moved out of home (at age 25) and spent the following week in tears. I felt very proud that my hand described this profound closeness that my family share. She looked at me thoughtfully and said that sometimes this closeness is not always good. Susan Jennison Dysfunction or Apart from the rest Dear Maurice, The story of your Grandmother, is the story of a woman who never loved, and yet has to have been loved by the very least, three people - the three men of her life - two she married the third she just partnered. The last did not escape the bounds of his own first marriage, so he and Charlette just exchanged vows in a cemetery yard. Perhaps they thought they might formalise it or make it seem more sincere if they talked to each other surrounded by dead people rather than live ones. Dead people cannot make any comments or sit in judgment of you. Emma Winterburn 1800 kms Five years to the day The spell has been broken Charming this grey stunted place Into the affections of my heart. From its isolation in my mind It became 1800kms of my longing To be back where I was hugged with deep fascination, Five years in my past. A warm flat rock Where the arms of my longing, Held me deep in a memory Perpetual and ancestoral To only those of the knowing And seen only in the shadow of the sun. I wished and wish for all this to be back Every day, every year Staring even more generally than mid distance. And when my field changed its aperture I noticed a gutter Slipping 1800kms away Through an earth that doesn't breath Only gasps. Here forever now, Five years to the future. The spell has found The gutter was a well worn path Leading to the rock Leading to the arms That hold the reservoir of knowing. In its reflection I see the forever in the rings of Saturn Holding me in the perpetual You, my magician with a conscience. |
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