LIfe's full of surprises

When I left Geelong over 19 years ago. I left a whole life behind. I left behind all my friends and all my contacts. Actually on deeper contemplation, I'd left them behind around the time my first marriage died. It cut all ties, because my nearest and dearest friends wanted nothing to do with me, so people I'd met on my overseas trip for example, well seeing as we weren't real close, I certainly didn't think to keep in touch with them at the time. I guess in some ways I was ashamed of my first broken marriage, and many of these associations were reminders of what once was. Dh#2 never ingratiated himself toward any of my friends, another nail in the coffin of my friendships. Funny when in the throes of early love, you don't consider that. I look back now, and realize that association was doomed on so many levels, but I was blind to all of them......anyways I digress.....

Occasionally, I'll think of someone to look up on Facebook. I have found a girl I went to school with and another who I'm sure I know, but has never responded. I've found people I 'know' from the internet too - the world is an incredibly small place. South Africa has been playing Australia in the cricket and it reminded me of Mick. We met Mick on the Contiki European Tour in 1984. Truly one of the highlights of my life that trip. I met the most fabulous people and made great friends. Mick was always with us. He was even with us when we tracked down Onkel Vikki in Vienna. Mick hooked up with one of the South African girls on our tour. She actually returned to Australia a short time after and we drove to Sydney to spend Easter with them. I still have fond memories of that weekend. Carrin's Chicken ala King and a heap of us squeezed into a tiny two bedroom unit. I saw Mick and Carrin one other time, Ricky and I called in on our way to visit Mum and Dad. Ricky still jokes about me wanting to make a quick stop in Sydney on our way from Geelong. Just a minor detour I said!

While on Facebook the other night, I looked for Mick. There was a Mick in South Africa. I sent him a message asking if he was the Mick I knew from the Contiki trip.

I felt faint and my arms had tingles in it today, when I read a message from Facebook, saying yes, I had the right Mick and he gave me his mobile phone number.

I rang him this evening. He was delighted to hear my voice. He remembered my voice and said I still sounded the same, to me he sounded more refined. He and Carrin are still married and they have four children. Their eldest is 19. I was so excited talking to him, I'm sure I blabbed and prattled on a bit.......lol.....

Life has treated him well and he sounds very happy.

I hope we can meet up one day.

The power of the internet, never fails to amaze and delight me.