A beautiful day today at Wategos Beach, playground of the rich, the famous and one very optomistic backpacker…
Female backpacker:
(speaking excitedly into her phone)
“Yeah, so my first date with John Lennon Junior was so good…yeah he’s hot… Don’t make any plans for around October cause we’ll probably be getting married…”
Ahh, romance…
All You Need Is Love
After Marcus dumped me I came to Byron to find myself.
It only took two yoga classes to realise that finding myself by myself was a lonely task, and not just the ‘make-you-want-to-stay-at-home-in-your-pyjamas-eating ice-cream’ lonely but the ‘start-wearing-cardigans-and-buy-another-cat’ lonely; the worst kind. So I reassessed and decided that I really came to Byron to find my soul mate. Or maybe just a boyfriend. Or a summer love. Actually I’d settle for a shag…whatever.
***
I met Dave at the Great Northern. He had bass player hair and eyes that could tell stories. I introduced myself to him between sets and told his band how much I loved every song they played. In my head I could hear Marcus’ disapproval “stop gushing you sound like a babbling idiot.” But I knew I wasn’t gushing I was being poised and flirty…and funny. Definitely funny-all Dave’s mates laughed hysterically when I made a joke about booking them to play at my wedding except Dave who would be too busy being the groom (LOL) and they were so complimentary when I offered to go to their hostel and cook dinner for them the next night. “Sure Edie, we’d love you to come round. Ha ha ha! How lucky are you Dave!”
Actually I’m the lucky one. Marcus was a Tommy Lee, rock-and-roll-rough, but my Dave is different. Dave is a poet, a folk song, a Woodstock poster. Dave is a John Lennon. All you need is love.
I first glimpsed his sensitive side that night after the gig when we went down to the beach. It was so romantic, just the two of us lying in the sand talking with the rhythm of the waves in the background. Actually I did most of the talking. Dave just let me unburden and never once interrupted as I told him how Marcus broke it off because he thought I was smothering and neurotic but as if, really I was just being supportive and taking an interest and who doesn’t check their boyfriend’s emails from time to time? It felt so good to have someone to open up to and Dave listened so intently. I’d sneak a peek at him every time the lighthouse beam swept over us and fell a little more in love with each flash.Curled in the sand with his eyes closed, he looked so relaxed and attentive. Sigh.
Even though it’s only been three days, it feels like Dave and I have shared a soul forever. That’s why I decided to buy him a gift. I knew as soon as I saw it in the window that the Gibson Les Paul was a perfect present; aged mahogany, mellow song, very John Lennon. It was a little bit expensive but no big deal, I’ll just stop doing the yoga classes, I don’t need them now anyway, I have found the ying to my yang or whatever.
***
Dave’s phone has been off all day and he hasn’t replied to my texts and emails but he’s probably just been busy practising with the band. I ran into the drummer at Woolworths and he said tonight is guys only poker night and maybe they’d bump into me somewhere around town tomorrow. He left the store with a carton of Coronas and case of Vodka Cruisers which was weird cause the other night the band only drank beer, the cruisers must be for AJ the roadie, he looks like he’d be a girlie-drink type guy.
Anyway I’ve decided to go around and gate crash boy’s night. I called every hostel in town to find out exactly where they’re staying and have made some delicious dips with carrot and celery soldiers to share. I’m bursting to see Dave again and I think he’s going to be super stoked when I just spontaneously pop in-guys love surprises.