Chapter 5 - Perth

Trip Day-23

Aboard QF575 Sydney to Perth

March 1, 2010

9.30 am. On my way to meet the Schrauth Clan: Madeleine, Samantha, Ander, Jane and, of course, Ted. The message on my Blackberry this morning from Ted was that they would all meet the airplane. That's quite a reception party and I'm honored. And excited. All the planning that began months ago is coming together just as I'd hoped.

The reason I'm over Australia Bight at this moment is an unavoidable reality, and I've had some emotional moments during the flight. We turned another page on the calendar today and head into the beginning of a new season of [northern hemisphere] rebirth. As Jim O'Hare described his own experience following Karen's death, I'm still riding that same roller coaster. Am doing my best not to make a scene, but it's likely that there are some people nearby who are wondering what's going on with the hairy old guy with the red eyes. [The Flight Attendant cabin leader, Margaret, just stopped at my seat since she knew I was retired from Delta and we went aft to chat a bit. I struggled for a while, told her what was going on and then managed to pull myself out of a pretty dark place as we talked aircraft and international flying. I thanked her for it.]

Sydney was great, but I'm not unhappy about leaving the BIG city for a smaller one. I'll be in Perth for two weeks, time to really settle in and get to know a place.

9.30 pm. Perth.

All the Schrauths were at the airport waving. A bear hug from Ted, a warm but wary (scruffy beard and all) one from Jane and shy but warm and wonderful smiles from all three kids. We grabbed my bags (nope I didn't have to pay the dreaded surcharge) and were off to start Chapter 5.

They live in a comfortable home on a plane tree-lined (think sycamore) street in a pretty, green and leafy suburb of Perth. Ted now has a mining marketing company which I will learn more about as the days go on, and Jane [MD] practices women's medicine a couple of days a week. The kids were out of school for Labor Day, one of AU's many public holidays.

We changed, grabbed some sandwiches and headed for the beach. It was in the low 100's, not a cloud in the sky and very little breeze. It's been a record setting season for heat. The Indian Ocean water is crystal clear and is at Nantucket temperatures. I'll be in it a lot I think. The beach is superb.

We've just had a lovely dinner and I've had a long day. Will take some pictures and write some more about what's going on tomorrow.