Thursday 31 December 2009

Through the years


Where did those years go? That carefree young man confronted by a headstrong gal with a twinkle in her eye in the summer of '60. Pig Iron Bob ruling in a benign dictatorship at home. Camelot in its infancy across the waters. Sputniks whizzing overhead. Information coming in telegrams, not electrical impulses. My, how time passes.

Where did those years go? They were svelte of figure, horizons stretching into the mists. Emboldened by dreams and aspirations. Planning the great European coming-of-age holiday before taking up a job offer with that solid establishment firm in Bridge Street. Negotiating a favourable price for a dilapidated Californian bungalow set back from the Rose Bay waterfront, with the help of the folks. Time passes.

Grandchildren and weary children bluster through a house littered with e-gadgets bringing love and decibels. All is now quiet and calm. So, here they go blundering into another year. Together.

I wish you health and happiness during 2010

34 comments:

Samantha ~ Holly and Zac ~ said...

Hello Julie,

Thank you for visiting and your comments on my blog.

The time does go by very quickly i agree, this year has just flown by for us.

Happy new year to you! :-)

Olivier said...

c'est vrai qu'avec le décalage horaire tu es déjà le 31 décembre, alors je te souhaite une bonne et heureuse année 2010....et plein plein de belles et bonnes choses pour toi et ta famille

lizziviggi said...

A wonderful photo, and such poignant prose. What could be more beautiful than growing old together?

TheChieftess said...

Wonderful blog entry today!!! I love the picture, but what makes it even better is your delightful (and very insightful) narrative...

Thank you Julie!

Gunn said...

A great shot. Sunshine & Love, and what a place!:-)

Unknown said...

You make wonderful images, some with photographs, some with words, always insightful.

Vera said...

What reflectful thoughts, and what a lovely photo, which made me think that sometime in the next few decades I might have the time to go into 'potter about' mode and stop being driven with 'things I need to get done in my life'. As ever, you made me think, and thankyou for that. Wishing you blessings in abundance for 2010.

Rinkly Rimes said...

Yes. we've blundered and will continue to do so, but if the end result is enjoying good company in beautiful surroundings who are we to complain. Happy Blundering!

Vera said...

Hi Julie, just coming over from your responses to my blog, and although I have already posted a response, I needed to just add a tag on: which is, that the photo and the writing created an entire piece which was well rounded. I like short clipped sentences, I find them punchy and to the point. This you used to good effect in this piece. Well done you.

Mirela said...

I try not to worry about passage of time, it tends to depress me. Carefree aging seems to be my style, though I might change my mind when I hit 35 or 40 or..... I believe the couple in your photo agrees with my carefree style. Aged or not, they're certainly enjoying themselves on a beautiful beach! :)

Happy New Year!

Jim said...

Excellent shot and wonderful words.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

James said...

Thanks for the ride Julie. They look like they've had a nice ride too.
Great post.

Joan Elizabeth said...

Lovely writing as usual ... you are harking back to times I remember too well ... but where did this last 10 years go ... remember all the excitement and anticipation about the year 2000 which seems only yesterday.

Julie said...

And the Y2K bug! What a massive beat-up that was - and we, the people, fell for it.

Just like this "big new tax" is a beat up that we (TP) will fall for, too.

Happy New Year, Joan. And long may we whinge, moan and gripe. We are Orstrayans - that's what we're good at!

Unknown said...

GREAT post to end a decade. Yes, where DOES the time go?

diane b said...

Great shot and beautiful prose. You said it all. I hope you enjoy your retirement and your health problems improve in 2010. The last decade just shot past. The older one gets the faster time goes. I don't think Orstrayans whinge as much as the poms.

Marka said...

Nice photo! And they're still together, that's key.

Anonymous said...

What a joy it must be to be able to walk still side by side after all those years.

Please have a wonderful start into the new year.

cara said...

You have an uncanny knack of drawing people into a picture emotionally. Great light and clarity of image, stirring thoughts and reminiscences... even for a gen X-er. Fantastic post!

Sishir said...

So beautiful....
I'm very poor at expressing my thoughts or emotions through words so its simply amazing to go through your lines which slowly drenched me into a new world.
Thanks for your visit & this lovely experience.

Birdman said...

Wow, that blue water just grabs the eye first... we're gettin' 10 inches of snow for New Years! Enjoy every single day!

VP said...

Your picture is beautiful and appropriate (even with no boats), but this time your words are worth a thousand pictures.
Happy New Year, Julie!

Nathalie H.D. said...

The image itself was powerful enough but the story you weave into it makes it even stronger.

Happy new year to you Julie!

Bergson said...

They go together to a new year

a new year I wish you the best possible

Jilly said...

What a thought-provoking and beautifully written post and perfect photograph. Time goes far too quickly but I thank God for the new technology as it opens up worlds to me, friends, a different life. Not so sure how good it is for young people who sit in front of a computer and don't get out to meet others. Will they end up like this couple, together and enjoying their retirement? Will they even meet someone face to face?

Don't know about you, Julie, but I'm happier being older...there's a certain freedom to it, isn't there?

Happy New Year to you and thanks for your marvellous photos and words and also your visits, of course. Thanks.

Jørgen Carlsen said...

Hello Julie,
Thank you for your welcome-comment - and happy 2010, also with your new Riff-blog

Ramosforest.Environment said...

Beautiful text.
"Where did those years go?...Time passes."
I know...
Thanks for your text and visit.
Happy New Year!!
Luiz Ramos
PS.
Great shot.

brattcat said...

An excellent post, Julie, tenderly bittersweet, in image and text. This will be a profoundly important year for you, I think. May it be always more sweet, less bitter.

tapirgal said...

Absolutely beautiful colors, crispness and text. An outstanding post, along with the one from today. These should be included in a book!

Joe Todd said...

Where did the years go??? Just wanted to say HAPPY NEW YEAR and thanks for sharing your world

Regina said...

Excelent one!
Happy New Year! All the best.

Ineke said...

What a beautiful post Julie!
Gelukkig nieuwjaar from everyone in Rotterdam :)

raf said...

Yes, how the years do fly by! On the mark as always, Julie. Wishing you all the very best in the new year!

Killara girl said...

wow, just as I'm soothing my itchy feet I read this...lol. I love your writing.