Saturday morning arrived and we woke feeling refreshed and renewed as our bodies were finally adjusting to the time change and we were on a more normal schedule. Jon stretched and yawned, drawing me into his arms as he kissed the sleep from eyes. I buried my nose in his neck, inhaling his scent and luxuriating in the comforting warmth of his body.
“So, wife, what’s the plan for the day?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye.
“Tasmanian devils!” I grinned eagerly.
“Should we invite the guys on this adventure?” he wondered aloud.
“Absolutely!” I chirped.
I sat up and reached for the cell phone to call Richie and Jim as Jon called the front desk and ordered coffee. Richie answered in a voice thick with sleep.
“Hullo? Trish, what time is it?” he asked, sounding a bit disoriented.
“It’s just after seven and we’re heading to the Healesville Sanctuary right after breakfast. Wanna join us?” I asked excitedly.
“Sanctuary? Where is it?” he wondered aloud, still trying to shake off the morning fog in his head.
“It’s about an hour from here. They have Tasmanian Devils, wallabies, dingoes, …even platypuses! C’mon, Richie, it’ll be fun!” I encouraged.
“Someone’s been on the internet again” he replied indulgently. “Of course I wanna come; lemme hop in the shower and I’ll meet ya for breakfast” he grinned, forcing himself out of the comfortable bed.
“Sounds like a plan!” I beamed and proceeded to call Jim and the others.
Jon had the shower going and I joined him after extending the invitation to all the guys. Richie and Jim were on board, but the others begged off, preferring a less action-packed day.
“It looks like it’s just you, me, Richie and Jim” I pouted, stepping in alongside Jon as he nuzzled my neck.
“S’okay, babe, the others just can’t keep up with you” he smiled.
“Am I wearing you out too? Am I pushing too much?” I wondered, realizing they really weren’t used to all this sightseeing during a tour.
“No, darlin’, I love the fact that you get so excited about seeing the countries we visit. To tell you the truth, I’m glad you’re shaking up our routine. This tour’s been more fun than I’ve had in a long time” he reassured me with a kiss.
We finished our shower and had just gotten dressed when Richie knocked on the door. I welcomed him in and poured the last cup of coffee for him while we waited for Jim to arrive. Richie looked a bit haggard, but the coffee began to revive him and I pulled up the website on the computer so he could see where we were going. Jon looked over my shoulder and noticed the wine and wildlife package that was offered.
“Hey, let’s call and see if we can get reservations for that!” he chimed in.
I handed him the phone and he dialed the number but frowned when he was told they were completely booked up for the day. Richie and I exchanged grins as we listened to Jon work his magic as he tried to charm his way into a reservation. He grinned back, nodding his head, as he thanked the person for managing to squeeze the four of us in at the last minute.
“Damn, man, you’re good. How’d you finagle that one?” Richie teased as I heard Jim’s knock on the door.
“Just my natural charm” Jon answered with a smirk.
“Yeah, right, and a generous donation I’ll bet” Richie laughed.
“It is a good cause-they do have a wildlife hospital, ya know” Jon nudged him back.
Jim had arrived and we headed down for a quick breakfast while the desk clerk arranged for a limo. I tried the infamous ‘Vegemite’, but I crinkled my nose as I didn’t care for the malty taste of the stuff. We scarfed down a more traditional meal of eggs, homefries and bacon and headed off for adventure, arriving at the Sanctuary just before ten o’clock.
The sun was shining overhead in a cloudless, blue sky as we met up with our tour guide who gave us an introduction to the variety of animals we might see. Jon and Richie were especially fascinated by the Lyrebird, who was capable of mimicking almost any other bird in the forest as well as a number of man-made mechanical sounds. I was anxious to see the Tassie Devils and the platypus, as well as the wombat, but these all took a backseat to the little echidna once our guide finished his tale.
We learned that the seemingly unimpressive little creature, which looked much like a cross between a porcupine and a hedgehog, actually has a four-headed penis and that females were designed in a way that would accommodate up to two heads at a time. Our puzzled looks prompted our guide to explain that, like reptiles, half of the male penis shuts down during sexual encounters which allows him to “fit” the female and remain ready for round two, keeping the other half in reserve. Apparently this was a rather recent discovery as echidnas are fairly private about their intimate encounters and these discoveries led to great excitement in the scientific community.
“Fuck…” was all Richie could murmur.
“And you thought you were a ladies man” Jon quipped, nudging Richie.
Our tour guide, encouraged by our enthusiastic commentary, appeared determined to share all that he knew about the sex life of echidnas and we realized his knowledge was fairly extensive. He proceeded to entertain us with tales of how the males would form “trains”, with as many as ten males lined up nose to tail behind a single female echidna in heat. These “trains” might follow the female from two weeks for up to a month or more, competing for her affection.
“Sort of like groupies” I smirked, earning me pouts of disapproval from the guys.
“Yeah, but I bet the damn thing can’t play guitar” Richie grunted.
“Well no, but…” our guide laughed and continued.
He went on to describe how echidna foreplay often lasted as long as four hours prior to the actual act of intercourse and I sighed wistfully, prompting a sour expression from Jon. I giggled, but our guide wasn’t finished as he added that the actual act of intercourse itself would continue for up to another three hours after that. Now even the guys were a bit wistful, groaning in unison.
“I wanna be an echidna” Jon muttered aloud to which we all nodded our agreement.
“And I thought rock stars had it made” Jim remarked.
“Shit…” Richie added.
Our guide was exceptional as we drove through the sanctuary, stopping at various points of interest along the way. Our first stop was the platypus area and I was tickled at the opportunity to see several of these comical creatures in one spot. We learned that platypuses are difficult to breed in captivity, but Healesville was one of only a few places which had achieved much success.
We moved on along the Woodlands Track and we saw a fare number of wallabies and wombats and my camera got quite a workout as I snapped one picture after another. I longed to be able to touch the soft looking fur of these adorable marsupials, especially the wombats who had often been mistaken for badgers. With the help of our guide, we also managed to find an echidna burrowed inside a rotted out log, after following signs only a tracker would have recognized. There lay the epitome of sexual potency, soundly asleep and curled in a ball, hidden from the world.
“He hardly looks like a stud” Jon observed wryly.
“He might not be handsome, but he still gets plenty of action, mister rock star” I teased.
“Blondie’s just jealous ’cause he’s never been known for his stamina” Richie snickered, defending the critter to his critic.
“Yeah, but I don’t need half a year to recover” Jon replied, jabbing his finger at Richie.
The little creature stretched and yawned, snuggling back into a prickly ball of spines, his confidence still intact despite the sarcastic remarks being thrown at him. I snapped a few more shots of the sleeping echidna before our attention turned towards our guide who was pointing just a short way off to our left.
“Tassies!” he announced with excitement.
He returned the echidna to his hiding spot and motioned for us to follow him as he led us through the trees to an open clearing. There I had the opportunity to watch as a small group of devils fought over the carcass of some unfortunate animal.
“Tassies prey on echidna” he whispered, “but our little friend is safe for the moment.”
We stood quietly at the outskirts of the trees and watched the Tasmanian Devils as they made short work of their bounty. We could easily hear the sounds of their feeding frenzy as they devoured their meal, including the bones and the fur, and I was rather shocked to learn that they truly deserved their reputation for voracious appetites.
“On average, a devil eats nearly 15% of their total body weight daily and they have the capacity to eat 40% of their weight in thirty minutes if the opportunity presents itself. They also aren’t fussy and their diet varies widely depending upon what they might find. They gravitate towards wombats, but they’re primarily scavengers who will feast on whatever they find and they’ll prey on most anything when they’re hungry. They also have the strongest bite of any living mammal” our guide informed us.
As we watched the commotion they made, I had no doubt it was true. They postured and screamed at one another and we learned that a good deal of their antics was largely for show. Our guide cautioned us to keep our distance as they often released an unpleasant odor when they became agitated and he pointed out the red ears on one of the group as a sign of heightened arousal.
“Speaking of food, is it time yet for lunch?” Jim interjected and our guide grinned as he looked at his watch.
“Let’s head over to the restaurant and we can finish the tour after lunch” he suggested.
We took our seats in the limo, making room for the guide, and headed off to Di Bortoli Winery and Restaurant. I didn’t have much of an appetite after watching the Devils annhilate their prey, but it seemed I was in the minority. A good glass of wine would certainly help.
Author’s Note:
For those who may want more information (or may doubt the echidna’s legendary sexual prowess), here are two links to explore:
http://environment.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn12838
http://environment.newscientist.com/article/mg14219232.200
The first includes a video link of an echidna who wasn’t particularly shy! :)
Monday, October 27, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
The Sauna Part 271
The Telstra Dome was charged with excitement when we arrived and I had never seen quite so many banners in the audience as I saw proudly displayed tonight. The warm up band had gotten the crowd ready and the screams from the stadium were deafening as the guys hit the stage. When the spotlight suddenly illuminated Jon’s tiny form off in the distance, the clamour rose even louder and I could barely hear the opening notes of “Last Man Standing”.
I smiled at Richie and he grinned back as we watched Jim peering out into the sea of shining faces for the first time. I remembered my first experience with being on stage and how different it was compared to being a spectator in the crowd. Jim had the opportunity to see it all now from the perspective of the guys themselves and I could see he was almost as star struck as I was the first time.
“Hey, Trish! C’mere! Grab your camera!” Jim called as I hurried over to where he was standing.
“I didn’t bring the camera. What is it?” I asked, following the line from where he was pointing.
There, in the front row, were two girls dressed up as giant smirks! I grinned at the girls, acknowledging that they were true fans, and I signaled to the photographer that always accompanied the band. He nodded and indicated he’d already gotten some shots of them.
“I’m guessing they’re radio contest winners. They’ll probably be at the after party” I shouted to Jim and he nodded, shaking his head.
Eventually Jon made his way through the crowd and back to the stage, flashing that megawatt smile at both Jim and I as he sprinted past us. He was having a ball, scampering back and forth along catwalks and dancing on stage and bantering with the audience.
“What a rush!” Jim exclaimed as he watched Jon and Richie as they interacted with the fans.
When Jon launched into an electrifying rendition of “It’s My Life”, the crowd exploded and Jim felt himself becoming caught up in the fervor as thousands of fists pumped the air, echoing the chorus right back at Jon. I noticed that Jim was singing along too and I had to laugh. For someone who’d never professed to be a big fan, he sure could have fooled me. Jon and the guys had just won a new convert.
Jim saw me watching him and he shrugged, grinning from ear to ear. It’s hard not to like this band, he thought to himself. He’d never disliked their music, except when I’d played the same songs over and over, but he’d never even considered buying an album. Damn, these guys are good. They really kick ass and they get the crowd moving and keep ’em going. I can see what inspires people to follow them.
I knew Jim was just realizing what I’d already learned to appreciate some time ago. I smiled as I glanced over at the guys and watched while Jon wiggled his ass at the crowd. These guys knew how to have fun and they loved what they did and it showed. I’d heard the oft-quoted remarks about how they couldn’t believe they got paid for this job and how Jon wouldn’t have traded places with the president. It was all true. While touring might be grueling, the on-stage performance was intoxicating and it drove them faster and farther than most bands ever dreamed. The money was great, but the music was better. It’s all about the music, I smiled to myself.
By the end of the show, Jon was drenched with sweat despite having changed his clothes on three separate occasions and he was on a true adrenalin high as he bounded off the stage directly toward me. He stopped long enough to sweep me into his arms before carrying me off to a secluded spot in back of the stage.
“I love the stadium gigs! I needed this, babe” he breathed and I nodded.
Jon seemed to draw energy directly from the crowd and he’d needed a big show to refuel after the lackluster performance in Portugal. The chaos at Backstage and his confrontation with his mother had drained his reserves and both he and the fans had needed a spectacular show. I’d seen one or two banners that I couldn’t quite read, but I thought I’d seen one that mentioned Backstage and I prayed that the problems there wouldn’t get played out by the audience.
“Jon, you were amazing and the show was tremendous, but I did see a banner…” I began, knowing he must have seen it too.
“I saw the one that you mean, but it wasn’t about the Fan Club, Trish. It said ‘Invite us Backstage-We’ll surprise you’ and I do believe it was aimed at Richie” he laughed.
“Oh, thank Goddess! I thought …” I started but Jon interrupted.
“I know, so did I, but when I was out on the catwalk I got a better look. Don’t worry, doll. Backstage will be back and Bon Jovi fans are the best-they’re very forgiving” he grinned and I relaxed.
“How did you know the banner was meant for Richie and not you?” I wondered suddenly.
“Because I walked right up in front of the two girls holding the banner and they still screamed for Richie” he smirked.
“Are you going to tell him?” I asked, quirking my eyebrows.
“Hell, no! He’ll preen like a peacock if he hears that they snubbed me!” Jon teased.
***************
“Hey, where’s the Kidd?” Richie shouted.
“You mean Jon? He disappeared into the shadows with Trish and I’m not interrupting that, my man” Jim replied.
“Aaawww, hell, where’s your sense of fun and adventure?” Richie beamed as he grabbed Jim’s arm and dragged him along.
“Hey, are you two gonna join us or keep makin’ out in the shadows?” Richie needled us as he rounded the corner.
“Yeah, yeah, we’re comin’. What’s the rush?” Jon wondered.
“We’re all waitin’ on you, man. Let’s go, there’s a party, remember?” Richie said as he bustled us out of the stadium and into the limo.
The guys all headed up to their rooms to take quick showers while Jim and I headed down to the banquet facility to wait. We soon discovered the reason why the hotel had run out of Pavlova at dinner. There, amid all the hors d’oeuvres, were two huge Pavlovas, one covered with kiwis and strawberries while the other looked to be chocolate or mocha flavored. I started laughing, but that didn’t stop me from helping myself to a large helping of the meringue laden treat and Jim did the same. I was munching away on my second helping of the delicious confection when Richie showed up, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Shit! That’s why they ran out at dinner!” he chuckled.
“Damn, this shit’s good!” Jim said as he went for a another piece too.
“Richie, can you make this? Have you got a recipe?” I mumbled, taking another bite just as Jon arrived, followed by Tico.
“It’s addicting, huh?” Richie agreed, prompting Jon and Tico to both take a slice after they realized what we were raving about.
We were all gathered around the banquet table when Hugh and David joined the party and David groaned as soon as he saw it.
“Seriously, man, try this stuff. At least there’s plenty to share now” Jon encouraged as he sneered at Richie and me.
I almost felt guilty for not sharing the piece Richie and I had split earlier, but the stuff was so good that I got over my shame rather quickly. We were all stuffing our faces when I nearly split a gut laughing. They all stopped chewing and looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Holy crap! Listen! Don’t you hear what song that is that they’re playing?” I sputtered.
Everyone listened intently, but only Richie and Jim understood the joke and began chuckling softly. No one had paid much attention when Richie started his culinary history lesson at dinner and they had all tuned him out, except me and Jim. The others had missed the entire story of where the name came from. Pavlova was named after Anna Pavlova, the Russian ballerina for whom it was created, in 1926 in New Zealand. The song that was playing was one of ABBA’s greatest hits, “Dancing Queen”.
“It’s the Ode to Pavlova” I giggled as Richie and I began singing a duet to the music.
I grabbed my plate and held it aloft while Richie got down on one knee and began improvising the lyrics when I started laughing too hard to continue. The look on Jon’s face was beyond priceless as he stood there and stared, totally clueless, as Richie continued serenading me and the cake:
You are the pastry queen, rich and sweet, only made of cream
Pastry queen, feel the beat from the mix machine
You aren’t cake, you aren’t torte, tasting’s the time of my life
See that mousse, watch that fruit, dig in the pastry queen
I was beside myself now, with tears streaming down my face, and even Richie was having trouble singing as he tried to choke back his glee. I handed my plate off to Jim and nearly tripped over Jon as I attempted a rather amateur pirouette before finally collapsing on the floor next to Richie as we dissolved in a fit of hysterical giggles.
My sides hurt and I could barely breathe, but Jon’s consternation kept egging me on and the laughter had become rather contagious. Even the others at the party who had no idea what any of this was about began laughing and giggling while Jon stood there looking stunned. It was unlike me to act quite this goofy, but something about Richie seemed to provoke it. As the laughter subsided, Jon gave me his hand to help me off the floor, shaking his head.
“What on earth got into you?” he whispered into my ear.
“I have no idea but you can blame it on Richie” I laughed, thinking that was probably the first and last time I would ever attract more attention than Jon.
The remainder of the after-party seemed rather anti-climatic after that, but I did manage to get a few pictures of the guys with the two female “smirks” to pacify Jim. They had won a radio contest for tickets and they were simply beside themselves with delight at getting to meet all the guys. The party wound down and Jon and I made our escape as soon as it appeared seemly and headed back to our room for a more private celebration.
I smiled at Richie and he grinned back as we watched Jim peering out into the sea of shining faces for the first time. I remembered my first experience with being on stage and how different it was compared to being a spectator in the crowd. Jim had the opportunity to see it all now from the perspective of the guys themselves and I could see he was almost as star struck as I was the first time.
“Hey, Trish! C’mere! Grab your camera!” Jim called as I hurried over to where he was standing.
“I didn’t bring the camera. What is it?” I asked, following the line from where he was pointing.
There, in the front row, were two girls dressed up as giant smirks! I grinned at the girls, acknowledging that they were true fans, and I signaled to the photographer that always accompanied the band. He nodded and indicated he’d already gotten some shots of them.
“I’m guessing they’re radio contest winners. They’ll probably be at the after party” I shouted to Jim and he nodded, shaking his head.
Eventually Jon made his way through the crowd and back to the stage, flashing that megawatt smile at both Jim and I as he sprinted past us. He was having a ball, scampering back and forth along catwalks and dancing on stage and bantering with the audience.
“What a rush!” Jim exclaimed as he watched Jon and Richie as they interacted with the fans.
When Jon launched into an electrifying rendition of “It’s My Life”, the crowd exploded and Jim felt himself becoming caught up in the fervor as thousands of fists pumped the air, echoing the chorus right back at Jon. I noticed that Jim was singing along too and I had to laugh. For someone who’d never professed to be a big fan, he sure could have fooled me. Jon and the guys had just won a new convert.
Jim saw me watching him and he shrugged, grinning from ear to ear. It’s hard not to like this band, he thought to himself. He’d never disliked their music, except when I’d played the same songs over and over, but he’d never even considered buying an album. Damn, these guys are good. They really kick ass and they get the crowd moving and keep ’em going. I can see what inspires people to follow them.
I knew Jim was just realizing what I’d already learned to appreciate some time ago. I smiled as I glanced over at the guys and watched while Jon wiggled his ass at the crowd. These guys knew how to have fun and they loved what they did and it showed. I’d heard the oft-quoted remarks about how they couldn’t believe they got paid for this job and how Jon wouldn’t have traded places with the president. It was all true. While touring might be grueling, the on-stage performance was intoxicating and it drove them faster and farther than most bands ever dreamed. The money was great, but the music was better. It’s all about the music, I smiled to myself.
By the end of the show, Jon was drenched with sweat despite having changed his clothes on three separate occasions and he was on a true adrenalin high as he bounded off the stage directly toward me. He stopped long enough to sweep me into his arms before carrying me off to a secluded spot in back of the stage.
“I love the stadium gigs! I needed this, babe” he breathed and I nodded.
Jon seemed to draw energy directly from the crowd and he’d needed a big show to refuel after the lackluster performance in Portugal. The chaos at Backstage and his confrontation with his mother had drained his reserves and both he and the fans had needed a spectacular show. I’d seen one or two banners that I couldn’t quite read, but I thought I’d seen one that mentioned Backstage and I prayed that the problems there wouldn’t get played out by the audience.
“Jon, you were amazing and the show was tremendous, but I did see a banner…” I began, knowing he must have seen it too.
“I saw the one that you mean, but it wasn’t about the Fan Club, Trish. It said ‘Invite us Backstage-We’ll surprise you’ and I do believe it was aimed at Richie” he laughed.
“Oh, thank Goddess! I thought …” I started but Jon interrupted.
“I know, so did I, but when I was out on the catwalk I got a better look. Don’t worry, doll. Backstage will be back and Bon Jovi fans are the best-they’re very forgiving” he grinned and I relaxed.
“How did you know the banner was meant for Richie and not you?” I wondered suddenly.
“Because I walked right up in front of the two girls holding the banner and they still screamed for Richie” he smirked.
“Are you going to tell him?” I asked, quirking my eyebrows.
“Hell, no! He’ll preen like a peacock if he hears that they snubbed me!” Jon teased.
***************
“Hey, where’s the Kidd?” Richie shouted.
“You mean Jon? He disappeared into the shadows with Trish and I’m not interrupting that, my man” Jim replied.
“Aaawww, hell, where’s your sense of fun and adventure?” Richie beamed as he grabbed Jim’s arm and dragged him along.
“Hey, are you two gonna join us or keep makin’ out in the shadows?” Richie needled us as he rounded the corner.
“Yeah, yeah, we’re comin’. What’s the rush?” Jon wondered.
“We’re all waitin’ on you, man. Let’s go, there’s a party, remember?” Richie said as he bustled us out of the stadium and into the limo.
The guys all headed up to their rooms to take quick showers while Jim and I headed down to the banquet facility to wait. We soon discovered the reason why the hotel had run out of Pavlova at dinner. There, amid all the hors d’oeuvres, were two huge Pavlovas, one covered with kiwis and strawberries while the other looked to be chocolate or mocha flavored. I started laughing, but that didn’t stop me from helping myself to a large helping of the meringue laden treat and Jim did the same. I was munching away on my second helping of the delicious confection when Richie showed up, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Shit! That’s why they ran out at dinner!” he chuckled.
“Damn, this shit’s good!” Jim said as he went for a another piece too.
“Richie, can you make this? Have you got a recipe?” I mumbled, taking another bite just as Jon arrived, followed by Tico.
“It’s addicting, huh?” Richie agreed, prompting Jon and Tico to both take a slice after they realized what we were raving about.
We were all gathered around the banquet table when Hugh and David joined the party and David groaned as soon as he saw it.
“Seriously, man, try this stuff. At least there’s plenty to share now” Jon encouraged as he sneered at Richie and me.
I almost felt guilty for not sharing the piece Richie and I had split earlier, but the stuff was so good that I got over my shame rather quickly. We were all stuffing our faces when I nearly split a gut laughing. They all stopped chewing and looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Holy crap! Listen! Don’t you hear what song that is that they’re playing?” I sputtered.
Everyone listened intently, but only Richie and Jim understood the joke and began chuckling softly. No one had paid much attention when Richie started his culinary history lesson at dinner and they had all tuned him out, except me and Jim. The others had missed the entire story of where the name came from. Pavlova was named after Anna Pavlova, the Russian ballerina for whom it was created, in 1926 in New Zealand. The song that was playing was one of ABBA’s greatest hits, “Dancing Queen”.
“It’s the Ode to Pavlova” I giggled as Richie and I began singing a duet to the music.
I grabbed my plate and held it aloft while Richie got down on one knee and began improvising the lyrics when I started laughing too hard to continue. The look on Jon’s face was beyond priceless as he stood there and stared, totally clueless, as Richie continued serenading me and the cake:
You are the pastry queen, rich and sweet, only made of cream
Pastry queen, feel the beat from the mix machine
You aren’t cake, you aren’t torte, tasting’s the time of my life
See that mousse, watch that fruit, dig in the pastry queen
I was beside myself now, with tears streaming down my face, and even Richie was having trouble singing as he tried to choke back his glee. I handed my plate off to Jim and nearly tripped over Jon as I attempted a rather amateur pirouette before finally collapsing on the floor next to Richie as we dissolved in a fit of hysterical giggles.
My sides hurt and I could barely breathe, but Jon’s consternation kept egging me on and the laughter had become rather contagious. Even the others at the party who had no idea what any of this was about began laughing and giggling while Jon stood there looking stunned. It was unlike me to act quite this goofy, but something about Richie seemed to provoke it. As the laughter subsided, Jon gave me his hand to help me off the floor, shaking his head.
“What on earth got into you?” he whispered into my ear.
“I have no idea but you can blame it on Richie” I laughed, thinking that was probably the first and last time I would ever attract more attention than Jon.
The remainder of the after-party seemed rather anti-climatic after that, but I did manage to get a few pictures of the guys with the two female “smirks” to pacify Jim. They had won a radio contest for tickets and they were simply beside themselves with delight at getting to meet all the guys. The party wound down and Jon and I made our escape as soon as it appeared seemly and headed back to our room for a more private celebration.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
The Sauna Part 270
Jon and I took a peek in the hotel sauna after we left Richie, but it was already occupied so we decided to forgo it in favor of a hot bath by ourselves in our room. Tonight’s gig was a large one at the Telstra Dome and we wanted some time to ourselves beforehand. We were staying at the Grand Hotel which was close to the stadium, so there would be plenty of time for a sound check and to scope out the stage before dinner. This was the first show in Australia in quite some time and Jon wanted to be sure that the fans wouldn’t be disappointed.
We took a leisurely bath and headed off to the Dome where the road crew was finishing up minor details and waiting for Jon’s final approval. He tested the catwalks before the others arrived and they made several small adjustments to the lighting based on his specifications. Jim and the rest of the guys showed up within the hour and they ran through the set list and made sure that the sound system was working properly before we returned to the hotel together for dinner.
“So, Richie, what’s a traditional Australian food we should try?” I asked, perusing the menu.
“Wait, wait…I know this one…Vegemite!” Jon announced proudly.
“That’s for breakfast, you dumb fuck!” Richie contradicted with a laugh.
“Shrimp on the barbee!” David volunteered, which earned him a disdainful look from the food authority.
“Fish and chips?” Tico suggested which also resulted in a negative head shake from Richie who turned to Hugh, waiting for his answer.
Hugh declined to venture an opinion, acknowledging his lack of expertise in this area. Richie glanced at the menu to see what was available and pointed to the third choice, explaining that there weren’t a lot of main dishes that were considered purely Australian.
“The closest thing here is the Gippsland beef pie” he announced before launching into a history lesson on the British roots of Australian cuisine. “But for dessert, we have Pavlova” he added with a smile.
“Oh shit, here we go” Jon whispered to Jim and I shot him a disapproving glare.
“Go ahead, Richie. Tell us the story” I encouraged.
“Well, you see, it all began in the early part of the twentieth century…” he began, followed by unanimous groans from the guys.
Richie was nonplussed and continued despite the lack of enthusiasm from his brothers and turned his attention to me. I found it really fascinating to hear the story behind the infamous dessert and Richie told it with such aplomb that I was caught up in the tale. Apparently, the dish was actually considered to have originated in New Zealand and as such, had been the subject of some controversy. It had even inspired a tongue-in-cheek advertising campaign at one time where it became the symbol of New Zealand traditions that had been stolen by Aussies. When he had finished, the guys all joined Jon in a sarcastic round of applause and I scowled at the lot of them.
“You know, a little appreciation wouldn’t kill any of you” I scolded.
“Nevermind Trish, don’t waste your time trying to educate these peasants” Richie grinned. “You and I can split a Pavlova for dessert and we won’t share it with ’em” he winked and Jon snorted.
“So, ‘Teach’, what exactly is a Pavlova anyway? Do you even know?” Dave challenged.
Richie leaned closer to me and whispered a description in my ear, dismissing Dave’s query with a snarky look. I had to laugh as I knew everyone would be ordering a Pavlova for dessert out of sheer curiosity and I nudged Richie.
“Just watch-they’ll all order one now and then we’ll see some appreciation” I nodded.
We ordered our dinners and the conversation became focused on memories of Australia and Jim asked the guys if the stories he’d read about their earlier adventures in the outback were true. I’d heard the stories myself and I gathered that the rumors had merit when his question was met with sudden silence and downcast eyes. Jim drew the same conclusion.
“It’s true then? Even the stories about the zucchini?” Jim asked with a look of stupefied shock.
“It was a cucumber” Dave muttered and all eyes focused on him with a warning.
“Let’s just say that it was the basis for the album ‘One Wild Night’ and leave it at that, okay?” Richie said seriously.
“I realize that it wasn’t a story that any of you chose to share, but you know it is out there, right?” Jim asked.
“We know. You’ve done your homework, I see” Jon said rather cryptically.
“I don’t need to repeat what’s already been said, but I needed to know” Jim replied honestly.
“We did a lot of shit back in the old days, but we were kids. We hadn’t learned how to handle everything that came at us and we went along for the ride. It’s not like that anymore” Tico interjected.
“I realize that, but I’d rather demonstrate that in the book by reflecting how things evolved over time. I don’t need to reveal every secret, but it would help me to paint an actual picture if you guys would trust me enough to tell me the actual stories. Do you want me to paint a genuine portrait of the band or do you want some sanitized version of the truth? If you want only the latter, than maybe I’m not the person for this job” Jim announced, making a stand.
The tension was thicker than a New England fog and almost as heavy. Our meals had arrived, but no one was eating and I could hear my own blood as it thundered in my ears. From the corner of my eye, I glanced over at Jon and I saw his jaw muscles twitch almost imperceptibly as he worked through the implications of such an ultimatum. He didn’t appear to be breathing as he spoke.
“We want you to tell the story of who we are, not who we were” Jon said quietly.
“Who you were is part of how you became who you are” Jim said evenly.
Jon knew he was right, but he still wasn’t sure. This wasn’t a decision he could make on his own and it was up to the guys as much as to him. He looked up at their faces and went round the table, one by one, reading their expressions from years of experience at judging subtle cues. His gaze rested longest and last on Richie and I watched closely, but his eyes were impenetrable.
“Let me in or let me off. What’s it gonna be?” Jim prompted.
“This isn’t a conversation for dinner” Jon replied solemnly, “but it’s a conversation that will need to take place eventually. You should probably talk to each one of us individually before you form any impressions about how you think those early experiences shaped who we are. We are a band, but we each have our own stories. I won’t tell you what conclusions to draw” he finished.
I let out the breath I’d been unconsciously holding and laid my hand on Jon’s arm. I could feel the tension release as he turned, smiling, and patted my arm.
“We’re getting too old to keep secrets from ourselves” he said steadily before turning his attention to the meal that was waiting.
Jim was relieved that Jon and the guys were ultimately willing to talk and he was determined to try and be as objective as possible. He wanted to hear everything and determine for himself what needed to be shared with the public. He wasn’t looking for sensational details to appeal to the masses; he was looking for the story that needed to be told and, in truth, that particular moment earned Jon more respect in Jim’s eyes than any other.
When the waiter returned and inquired about dessert, he was taken aback by the collective request for Pavlova. Like it or not, Richie’s story had made an impression and everyone wanted to try it and the poor waiter appeared rather distressed.
“Uhm, we weren’t expecting this many orders. We only have one piece left” he stammered uneasily.
“Mine!” Richie called dibs.
The poor waiter, who couldn’t have been more than nineteen, was at a complete loss when our entire table erupted in hysterical laughter. He looked uncertainly from Richie to me and the rest of us and it was obvious he was unprepared for how to respond to such a scenario.
“I’ll share” Richie volunteered and the young kid swiftly left to go get the coveted last piece before someone else ended up ordering it too. “but only with Trish” Richie cackled gleefully after he left.
We took a leisurely bath and headed off to the Dome where the road crew was finishing up minor details and waiting for Jon’s final approval. He tested the catwalks before the others arrived and they made several small adjustments to the lighting based on his specifications. Jim and the rest of the guys showed up within the hour and they ran through the set list and made sure that the sound system was working properly before we returned to the hotel together for dinner.
“So, Richie, what’s a traditional Australian food we should try?” I asked, perusing the menu.
“Wait, wait…I know this one…Vegemite!” Jon announced proudly.
“That’s for breakfast, you dumb fuck!” Richie contradicted with a laugh.
“Shrimp on the barbee!” David volunteered, which earned him a disdainful look from the food authority.
“Fish and chips?” Tico suggested which also resulted in a negative head shake from Richie who turned to Hugh, waiting for his answer.
Hugh declined to venture an opinion, acknowledging his lack of expertise in this area. Richie glanced at the menu to see what was available and pointed to the third choice, explaining that there weren’t a lot of main dishes that were considered purely Australian.
“The closest thing here is the Gippsland beef pie” he announced before launching into a history lesson on the British roots of Australian cuisine. “But for dessert, we have Pavlova” he added with a smile.
“Oh shit, here we go” Jon whispered to Jim and I shot him a disapproving glare.
“Go ahead, Richie. Tell us the story” I encouraged.
“Well, you see, it all began in the early part of the twentieth century…” he began, followed by unanimous groans from the guys.
Richie was nonplussed and continued despite the lack of enthusiasm from his brothers and turned his attention to me. I found it really fascinating to hear the story behind the infamous dessert and Richie told it with such aplomb that I was caught up in the tale. Apparently, the dish was actually considered to have originated in New Zealand and as such, had been the subject of some controversy. It had even inspired a tongue-in-cheek advertising campaign at one time where it became the symbol of New Zealand traditions that had been stolen by Aussies. When he had finished, the guys all joined Jon in a sarcastic round of applause and I scowled at the lot of them.
“You know, a little appreciation wouldn’t kill any of you” I scolded.
“Nevermind Trish, don’t waste your time trying to educate these peasants” Richie grinned. “You and I can split a Pavlova for dessert and we won’t share it with ’em” he winked and Jon snorted.
“So, ‘Teach’, what exactly is a Pavlova anyway? Do you even know?” Dave challenged.
Richie leaned closer to me and whispered a description in my ear, dismissing Dave’s query with a snarky look. I had to laugh as I knew everyone would be ordering a Pavlova for dessert out of sheer curiosity and I nudged Richie.
“Just watch-they’ll all order one now and then we’ll see some appreciation” I nodded.
We ordered our dinners and the conversation became focused on memories of Australia and Jim asked the guys if the stories he’d read about their earlier adventures in the outback were true. I’d heard the stories myself and I gathered that the rumors had merit when his question was met with sudden silence and downcast eyes. Jim drew the same conclusion.
“It’s true then? Even the stories about the zucchini?” Jim asked with a look of stupefied shock.
“It was a cucumber” Dave muttered and all eyes focused on him with a warning.
“Let’s just say that it was the basis for the album ‘One Wild Night’ and leave it at that, okay?” Richie said seriously.
“I realize that it wasn’t a story that any of you chose to share, but you know it is out there, right?” Jim asked.
“We know. You’ve done your homework, I see” Jon said rather cryptically.
“I don’t need to repeat what’s already been said, but I needed to know” Jim replied honestly.
“We did a lot of shit back in the old days, but we were kids. We hadn’t learned how to handle everything that came at us and we went along for the ride. It’s not like that anymore” Tico interjected.
“I realize that, but I’d rather demonstrate that in the book by reflecting how things evolved over time. I don’t need to reveal every secret, but it would help me to paint an actual picture if you guys would trust me enough to tell me the actual stories. Do you want me to paint a genuine portrait of the band or do you want some sanitized version of the truth? If you want only the latter, than maybe I’m not the person for this job” Jim announced, making a stand.
The tension was thicker than a New England fog and almost as heavy. Our meals had arrived, but no one was eating and I could hear my own blood as it thundered in my ears. From the corner of my eye, I glanced over at Jon and I saw his jaw muscles twitch almost imperceptibly as he worked through the implications of such an ultimatum. He didn’t appear to be breathing as he spoke.
“We want you to tell the story of who we are, not who we were” Jon said quietly.
“Who you were is part of how you became who you are” Jim said evenly.
Jon knew he was right, but he still wasn’t sure. This wasn’t a decision he could make on his own and it was up to the guys as much as to him. He looked up at their faces and went round the table, one by one, reading their expressions from years of experience at judging subtle cues. His gaze rested longest and last on Richie and I watched closely, but his eyes were impenetrable.
“Let me in or let me off. What’s it gonna be?” Jim prompted.
“This isn’t a conversation for dinner” Jon replied solemnly, “but it’s a conversation that will need to take place eventually. You should probably talk to each one of us individually before you form any impressions about how you think those early experiences shaped who we are. We are a band, but we each have our own stories. I won’t tell you what conclusions to draw” he finished.
I let out the breath I’d been unconsciously holding and laid my hand on Jon’s arm. I could feel the tension release as he turned, smiling, and patted my arm.
“We’re getting too old to keep secrets from ourselves” he said steadily before turning his attention to the meal that was waiting.
Jim was relieved that Jon and the guys were ultimately willing to talk and he was determined to try and be as objective as possible. He wanted to hear everything and determine for himself what needed to be shared with the public. He wasn’t looking for sensational details to appeal to the masses; he was looking for the story that needed to be told and, in truth, that particular moment earned Jon more respect in Jim’s eyes than any other.
When the waiter returned and inquired about dessert, he was taken aback by the collective request for Pavlova. Like it or not, Richie’s story had made an impression and everyone wanted to try it and the poor waiter appeared rather distressed.
“Uhm, we weren’t expecting this many orders. We only have one piece left” he stammered uneasily.
“Mine!” Richie called dibs.
The poor waiter, who couldn’t have been more than nineteen, was at a complete loss when our entire table erupted in hysterical laughter. He looked uncertainly from Richie to me and the rest of us and it was obvious he was unprepared for how to respond to such a scenario.
“I’ll share” Richie volunteered and the young kid swiftly left to go get the coveted last piece before someone else ended up ordering it too. “but only with Trish” Richie cackled gleefully after he left.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The Sauna Part 269
After we finished our dinners, we headed over to grab a good spot for the penguin parade. Jon had purchased tickets when we arrived as the viewing platforms were limited to 150 spectators each night and spots filled up rather quickly. A crowd was beginning to form and it was apparent that this was the main event that Phillip Island was noted for.
I was rather disappointed that we were forbidden to photograph the event, but one of the rangers explained that the camera flashes were quite disturbing to penguins whose eyesight was accustomed to low light settings and the murky depths of the ocean. The sun had gone down and we settled into our places, listening attentively as the ranger described the various nuances of penguin life.
A murmur of excitement spread through the assembled crowd as the first little penguins began to arrive. They ambled ashore in a decidedly purposeful fashion, heading home to their burrows to sleep and feed their young. The early arrivals were soon joined by more and more of their fellow neighbors and we were awestruck as we watched literally hundreds of little penguins waddle past us.
The ranger explained that they count the penguins nightly in order to track changes in the colony and that the current population hovers around 4,500 on this area of the island. They estimated that approximately 26,000 penguins make their home in the waters surrounding Phillip Island and that they may swim as much as 100km daily in search of food.
“They must be exhausted by the time they reach home” Jon commented.
“Yeah, man, I know how they feel some days” Tico smirked.
The entire spectacle took over an hour and we enjoyed every minute. The little birds seemed oblivious to the countless eyes that were watching them as they carried on with their nightly routine, unlike the seals and dolphins who seemed equally fascinated with us. It was a wonderful opportunity to observe the little guys in a natural setting and we felt privileged to experience a glimpse into their private lives.
When it appeared as though the last penguin had returned home, we made our way back to the limo that was waiting to take us to Melbourne. It had been a long day and although it was still relatively early, we all were quite spent. There would be little difficulty falling asleep once we made it into our beds and we all said goodnight before retiring to our rooms.
“Shower, babe?” Jon suggested as we closed the door to our room.
“Absolutely” I agreed as we began shedding our clothing.
The hot water felt soothing on our tired bodies and I noticed Jon stifling a yawn as we bathed. I stooped down to take him into my mouth, remembering my earlier promise to reward him for forgoing the ‘bikini parade’. He reached for my head and stopped me, however, and I raised my eyes in a question.
“Not tonight, darlin’. I’m beat and I’ve only got enough energy for one round and I wanna bury myself inside you” he explained, his eyes slitted in a langourous stare.
“That works for me” I grinned as I stood up and we exited the shower.
We fell into bed and Jon kissed me hungrily as we made love without further ado. He was passionate and yet tender, blending love and desire in perfect measure. When we were through, we fell soundly asleep, nestled comfortably in each other’s arms.
*************
We needed time to recover from the time change and everyone ended up sleeping in late, including Jon and me. It was going on noon when we finally roused ourselves out of bed and dragged our aching bodies into the shower, and only then after we had consumed a steaming pot of fresh coffee. We eventually stumbled down to the dining area for lunch where we saw Richie and Jim at a table by themselves.
“So what’s on today’s agenda, doll? Where are we headed?” Richie asked amiably and Jim groaned.
“Actually, I was thinking the hotel pool sounded good, or maybe the sauna?” I winked at Jon.
“What’s the matter, Trish? Does the old man need a rest?” Richie said, baiting Jon.
“Do you seriously think that a sauna with Trish is restful?” Jon hit right back.
“You’ve got a point there, bro. I forgot” Richie conceded.
This led to a few questions from Jim and eventually we shared the story of how we had met after he promised we wouldn’t be reading it in print. I wanted to go and check on Backstage and any other business that had come up since I had learned my lesson about neglecting things for too long. Jon and Richie began to fill Jim in on some of the past history of the band and I went back to the room to check in with Jack and the lawyer.
The time difference made it hard to find any reasonable time to actually talk to anyone, so I began with returning emails. I was pleased to see that there had been no major problems and that Jack anticipated that the new site would be up in a couple of days. He wondered if Jon or I wanted to write a letter to the fans and explain what had happened and that they should soon be receiving refunds for the fraudulent charges.
“Hey, darlin’, are you ’bout ready to head down to the pool?” Jon asked as he walked in and leaned over my shoulder.
“I’m just about ready, but here-read this while I change into my suit” I prompted.
When I returned, Jon was smiling and I grinned back. We were both happy and relieved that things were in good hands now and I doubted I’d need to worry so much anymore. I did want to write a letter to the fans and sign it from both Jon and I, but we had plenty of time to think about what we wanted to say. Jon agreed and I sent Jack an email that we’d send him a letter within a day or two. Jon changed into his trunks and his baseball cap disguise and we headed down to the pool to unwind before tonight’s show.
Richie was already there, sprawled on a lounge chair with his shades on, trying to blend in with the other guests. Despite his attempts and need for anonymity, I noticed a bevvy of beauties near the bar, tittering and pointing towards Richie’s lean, lanky form. It was hard to get any peace, it seemed, and soon it would be public knowledge where the band had chosen to stay. Our privacy was coming to an end.
“Damn” Jon muttered, glancing at the gaggle of girls with an annoyed expression.
If Richie had been already spotted, there was no hope in disguising Jon from the all too curious eyes which observed our arrival. I was about to get a taste of what Dorothea had complained about for many years as the group of women moved towards us like one collective unit and I soon began to feel invisible.
“Jon? Jon Bon Jovi? Oh my God, it is Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi!” the leader of the pack squealed.
Richie sat up now and lowered his shades, hearing the commotion and our eyes briefly met in shared sympathy before he put on his game face and tried to look pleasant. I saw Jon stiffen as his features changed and his face hardened into the plastic smile he reserved for moments like this. Soon we were surrounded by the horde of bikini clad babes, all pressing closer and I felt myself being squeezed out.
“I’ll go and get us some drinks” I yelled to Jon.
He nodded resignedly as a pen was thrust into his hand by an eager young woman, brandishing a hotel coaster she wanted him to sign. I moved away from the tangle of arms and legs and headed for the bar, shaking my head. I ordered a beer and two glasses of wine as I sat down on a barstool, turning to watch from a distance. I could just barely catch a glimpse of Jon, who was still standing, but Richie had been swallowed up by the swarm.
The other guests of the hotel had now turned their attention towards the spectacle by the pool as they wondered what they had missed. I sipped my wine and gave them some time to make nice with their fans, but I headed back with the drinks once I realized they weren’t so easily dismissed. One tall, leggy brunette noticed my attempt to get through to the guys and acknowledged me, nodding her head.
“Oh what a great idea! Why didn’t I think of that?” she said as she reached to take the glasses from me. “Here, let me help!” she squeaked.
Before I realized what was happening, she’d relieved me of the beer and one of the wines and was pushing through the other bodies that stood in her way. I felt a tinge of annoyance as I recovered my wits and realized she wasn’t just offering to help.
“Here Jon, Richie! I got you some drinks! I hope it’s what you like!” she beamed triumphantly as she handed the glasses to the guys.
Richie hadn’t seen what had happened, but Jon knew and grinned at me over the top of her head. I gave him duck lips in reply as I tried to shoulder my way inside the group. The brunette who’d stolen the drinks gave me a look of disgust as she attempted to block my path.
“Excuse me” Jon said “but would you mind stepping aside. I believe my wife would like to get through” he said to the girl as he reached out his hand.
She turned and looked back and I saw the look of surprise on her face and felt a small sliver of satisfaction.
“I was just trying to help” she said rather lamely.
“Yes, thank you for your assistance. I can manage it from here” I smiled sweetly as I took Jon’s hand and he pulled me alongside him.
Jon kissed me brusquely as he whispered into my ear.
“Sorry, babe. I saw what happened” he said softly and I nodded. Jon was no patsy like me.
“Ladies, ladies. It’s been wonderful to meet all of you, really and I hope we’ll see you all at tonight’s show” Jon said in an effort to disperse the excited women.
“Jon, could I have a picture with you and Richie? Pleeeaassse…” someone whined.
“Not today, darlin’. My hair’s a mess” Jon teased, mussing his hair for effect and prompting a round of giggles, but the little blonde who’d asked looked disappointed.
“Will you be staying in Australia for very long?” another one ventured.
“No, we’re just here for the shows and trying to relax and unwind in between” Jon said diplomatically, but I didn’t think these women were the type to get the hint.
“Ladies, we need a little rest before tonight’s gig. The jet lag’s been tough” Richie added, trying to help make the point. “I need my beauty sleep” he grinned, flashing a brilliant smile as he lowered his shades and leaned back on the lounge chair.
That finally seemed to get the message across and the women reluctantly took their leave as Jon and I settled down onto a couple of chairs. I was pretty surprised at how patient the guys were and how well they handled the whole thing, but then it was nothing new for them. Over the years, they had learned how to cope with these situations and I gathered they’d had plenty of practice, but I was impressed none the less.
I was rather disappointed that we were forbidden to photograph the event, but one of the rangers explained that the camera flashes were quite disturbing to penguins whose eyesight was accustomed to low light settings and the murky depths of the ocean. The sun had gone down and we settled into our places, listening attentively as the ranger described the various nuances of penguin life.
A murmur of excitement spread through the assembled crowd as the first little penguins began to arrive. They ambled ashore in a decidedly purposeful fashion, heading home to their burrows to sleep and feed their young. The early arrivals were soon joined by more and more of their fellow neighbors and we were awestruck as we watched literally hundreds of little penguins waddle past us.
The ranger explained that they count the penguins nightly in order to track changes in the colony and that the current population hovers around 4,500 on this area of the island. They estimated that approximately 26,000 penguins make their home in the waters surrounding Phillip Island and that they may swim as much as 100km daily in search of food.
“They must be exhausted by the time they reach home” Jon commented.
“Yeah, man, I know how they feel some days” Tico smirked.
The entire spectacle took over an hour and we enjoyed every minute. The little birds seemed oblivious to the countless eyes that were watching them as they carried on with their nightly routine, unlike the seals and dolphins who seemed equally fascinated with us. It was a wonderful opportunity to observe the little guys in a natural setting and we felt privileged to experience a glimpse into their private lives.
When it appeared as though the last penguin had returned home, we made our way back to the limo that was waiting to take us to Melbourne. It had been a long day and although it was still relatively early, we all were quite spent. There would be little difficulty falling asleep once we made it into our beds and we all said goodnight before retiring to our rooms.
“Shower, babe?” Jon suggested as we closed the door to our room.
“Absolutely” I agreed as we began shedding our clothing.
The hot water felt soothing on our tired bodies and I noticed Jon stifling a yawn as we bathed. I stooped down to take him into my mouth, remembering my earlier promise to reward him for forgoing the ‘bikini parade’. He reached for my head and stopped me, however, and I raised my eyes in a question.
“Not tonight, darlin’. I’m beat and I’ve only got enough energy for one round and I wanna bury myself inside you” he explained, his eyes slitted in a langourous stare.
“That works for me” I grinned as I stood up and we exited the shower.
We fell into bed and Jon kissed me hungrily as we made love without further ado. He was passionate and yet tender, blending love and desire in perfect measure. When we were through, we fell soundly asleep, nestled comfortably in each other’s arms.
*************
We needed time to recover from the time change and everyone ended up sleeping in late, including Jon and me. It was going on noon when we finally roused ourselves out of bed and dragged our aching bodies into the shower, and only then after we had consumed a steaming pot of fresh coffee. We eventually stumbled down to the dining area for lunch where we saw Richie and Jim at a table by themselves.
“So what’s on today’s agenda, doll? Where are we headed?” Richie asked amiably and Jim groaned.
“Actually, I was thinking the hotel pool sounded good, or maybe the sauna?” I winked at Jon.
“What’s the matter, Trish? Does the old man need a rest?” Richie said, baiting Jon.
“Do you seriously think that a sauna with Trish is restful?” Jon hit right back.
“You’ve got a point there, bro. I forgot” Richie conceded.
This led to a few questions from Jim and eventually we shared the story of how we had met after he promised we wouldn’t be reading it in print. I wanted to go and check on Backstage and any other business that had come up since I had learned my lesson about neglecting things for too long. Jon and Richie began to fill Jim in on some of the past history of the band and I went back to the room to check in with Jack and the lawyer.
The time difference made it hard to find any reasonable time to actually talk to anyone, so I began with returning emails. I was pleased to see that there had been no major problems and that Jack anticipated that the new site would be up in a couple of days. He wondered if Jon or I wanted to write a letter to the fans and explain what had happened and that they should soon be receiving refunds for the fraudulent charges.
“Hey, darlin’, are you ’bout ready to head down to the pool?” Jon asked as he walked in and leaned over my shoulder.
“I’m just about ready, but here-read this while I change into my suit” I prompted.
When I returned, Jon was smiling and I grinned back. We were both happy and relieved that things were in good hands now and I doubted I’d need to worry so much anymore. I did want to write a letter to the fans and sign it from both Jon and I, but we had plenty of time to think about what we wanted to say. Jon agreed and I sent Jack an email that we’d send him a letter within a day or two. Jon changed into his trunks and his baseball cap disguise and we headed down to the pool to unwind before tonight’s show.
Richie was already there, sprawled on a lounge chair with his shades on, trying to blend in with the other guests. Despite his attempts and need for anonymity, I noticed a bevvy of beauties near the bar, tittering and pointing towards Richie’s lean, lanky form. It was hard to get any peace, it seemed, and soon it would be public knowledge where the band had chosen to stay. Our privacy was coming to an end.
“Damn” Jon muttered, glancing at the gaggle of girls with an annoyed expression.
If Richie had been already spotted, there was no hope in disguising Jon from the all too curious eyes which observed our arrival. I was about to get a taste of what Dorothea had complained about for many years as the group of women moved towards us like one collective unit and I soon began to feel invisible.
“Jon? Jon Bon Jovi? Oh my God, it is Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi!” the leader of the pack squealed.
Richie sat up now and lowered his shades, hearing the commotion and our eyes briefly met in shared sympathy before he put on his game face and tried to look pleasant. I saw Jon stiffen as his features changed and his face hardened into the plastic smile he reserved for moments like this. Soon we were surrounded by the horde of bikini clad babes, all pressing closer and I felt myself being squeezed out.
“I’ll go and get us some drinks” I yelled to Jon.
He nodded resignedly as a pen was thrust into his hand by an eager young woman, brandishing a hotel coaster she wanted him to sign. I moved away from the tangle of arms and legs and headed for the bar, shaking my head. I ordered a beer and two glasses of wine as I sat down on a barstool, turning to watch from a distance. I could just barely catch a glimpse of Jon, who was still standing, but Richie had been swallowed up by the swarm.
The other guests of the hotel had now turned their attention towards the spectacle by the pool as they wondered what they had missed. I sipped my wine and gave them some time to make nice with their fans, but I headed back with the drinks once I realized they weren’t so easily dismissed. One tall, leggy brunette noticed my attempt to get through to the guys and acknowledged me, nodding her head.
“Oh what a great idea! Why didn’t I think of that?” she said as she reached to take the glasses from me. “Here, let me help!” she squeaked.
Before I realized what was happening, she’d relieved me of the beer and one of the wines and was pushing through the other bodies that stood in her way. I felt a tinge of annoyance as I recovered my wits and realized she wasn’t just offering to help.
“Here Jon, Richie! I got you some drinks! I hope it’s what you like!” she beamed triumphantly as she handed the glasses to the guys.
Richie hadn’t seen what had happened, but Jon knew and grinned at me over the top of her head. I gave him duck lips in reply as I tried to shoulder my way inside the group. The brunette who’d stolen the drinks gave me a look of disgust as she attempted to block my path.
“Excuse me” Jon said “but would you mind stepping aside. I believe my wife would like to get through” he said to the girl as he reached out his hand.
She turned and looked back and I saw the look of surprise on her face and felt a small sliver of satisfaction.
“I was just trying to help” she said rather lamely.
“Yes, thank you for your assistance. I can manage it from here” I smiled sweetly as I took Jon’s hand and he pulled me alongside him.
Jon kissed me brusquely as he whispered into my ear.
“Sorry, babe. I saw what happened” he said softly and I nodded. Jon was no patsy like me.
“Ladies, ladies. It’s been wonderful to meet all of you, really and I hope we’ll see you all at tonight’s show” Jon said in an effort to disperse the excited women.
“Jon, could I have a picture with you and Richie? Pleeeaassse…” someone whined.
“Not today, darlin’. My hair’s a mess” Jon teased, mussing his hair for effect and prompting a round of giggles, but the little blonde who’d asked looked disappointed.
“Will you be staying in Australia for very long?” another one ventured.
“No, we’re just here for the shows and trying to relax and unwind in between” Jon said diplomatically, but I didn’t think these women were the type to get the hint.
“Ladies, we need a little rest before tonight’s gig. The jet lag’s been tough” Richie added, trying to help make the point. “I need my beauty sleep” he grinned, flashing a brilliant smile as he lowered his shades and leaned back on the lounge chair.
That finally seemed to get the message across and the women reluctantly took their leave as Jon and I settled down onto a couple of chairs. I was pretty surprised at how patient the guys were and how well they handled the whole thing, but then it was nothing new for them. Over the years, they had learned how to cope with these situations and I gathered they’d had plenty of practice, but I was impressed none the less.
The Sauna Part 268
It was early afternoon when we returned from Seal Rocks and we still had plenty of time before sunset and the beginning of the little penguin parade. We decided we’d try and squeeze in an opportunity to visit the Koala Conservation Center and even a tour of the Nobbies if there was time. I was just overwhelmed with the opportunities available and Jon seemed to enjoy my enthusiasm.
“And I thought the kids were excited when we finally made it to Disneyland!” he teased me, but he was having just as much fun as I was.
“This would be such a fabulous place to come back to with the kids, wouldn’t it?” I remarked as I made a beeline for the stuffed koalas in the little gift shop.
“How many?” Jon asked as he rolled his eyes.
“Well, let’s get a couple koalas and a penguin or two and oohhh! Seals!” I squealed as I saw one that reminded me of the old fellow I’d seen.
“Okay, obviously we’re getting a couple of them too?” he grinned as I piled stuffed animals into his arms.
“Can we leave these all here until we’re ready to leave?” Jon asked the cashier as we began to check out.
“Certainly, sir. We can ship them back home if you’d prefer?” the woman offered.
“I think that might just be the best thing. Except this one, here, we’ll take him with us” he teased, indicating the stuffed seal I was still clutching.
I smiled winningly while Jon paid for our purchases and I wrote out the address to ship the gifts. We decided we’d ship the whole lot directly to Dot and let the kids choose their favorites as we bought plenty to go around. We purchased our entrance tickets for the Center and opted for the treetop boardwalk as it seemed to afford the best view. The ranger who accompanied the small group we were with explained we’d most likely have a chance to see mothers with babies, or joeys as they were called, since it was the right time of year.
Jon took the camera and snapped a few preliminary shots and we proceeded to follow our guide. I was really impressed with the treetop boardwalks as they allowed us to see the koalas up close. They would have been easy to miss if we’d been on the ground and I was rather surprised at how well they were hidden. They appeared quite serene as they perched high in the branches, gazing down at the lot of us with their quizzical expressions. It made me wonder who was really watching whom.
Their fur looked so soft and I longed to touch it and run my fingers through their silky pelts, but they kept their distance and only allowed us to get close enough to look but not touch. Jon used the zoom and was able to get several great close-ups as the guide explained more about their habitat and behavior. We were both surprised to learn that they slept for nearly twenty-one hours a day, leading Jon to draw the obvious analogy.
“Hell, Trish, they’re just like our cats” he observed with a smirk.
Our guide overheard him and agreed they were similar, but he pointed out that they actually slept even more than cats and that they were not primarily nocturnal. Neither were our cats, I grimaced, picturing Eddie stomping about in the morning and demanding his breakfast.
A woman began pointing and whispering quietly and my eyes followed in the direction she indicated. There on a branch sat a mother koala with a tiny little joey peaking out of her pouch, quietly observing his audience. We all became quiet as the tiny baby crawled out a bit further, making a few tentative steps as he slowly climbed up onto his mother’s back.
“Can you get a picture?” I nudged Jon.
“I can try” he replied, focusing the zoom and snapping the shot.
I looked in the viewfinder, but it was hard to see such a tiny creature, and the mother koala eyed us with a lazy look as she munched on a few eucalyptus leaves. Jon tried again, but we just couldn’t get close enough for a good photo and we finally gave up and went on our way. We’d worked up an appetite once we’d finished our walk and we both agreed that we needed caffeine before continuing on any further.
We headed towards the area of the island known as The Summerlands as I had hoped we’d have time after dinner to walk along the cliffs near the Nobbies. Our limo driver suggested that there was a restaurant nearby and it would be close to the penguin parade. That sounded perfect as he could drop us off there and still be available to pick up the rest of the guys when they were ready to join us.
The views from the Café at the Nobbies were spectacular and we opted for a light snack instead of a meal as we thought we could all meet there for a late dinner. We ordered coffee and cake and Jon called the guys and made the suggestion and it seemed we had a plan that suited everyone’s tastes. After we’d refueled at the café, we proceeded to wander along the cliffs, gazing out at the rugged coastline and some of the most spectacular scenery I could imagine.
We lingered at every outlook, each panorama more inspiring than the last. The brilliant blue of the ocean, set against the verdant green grasslands and rocky bluffs took my breath away as we gaped at the vibrant colors of the landscape. The waves thundered and crashed beneath us as they slammed onto the shore and we strolled along the boardwalk, Jon’s hand holding mine. We listened to the shrill cries of the sea birds above us, guarding their nests of young hatchlings that peppered the rocky outcrops.
“I am so grateful to you for sharing your life with me, Jon. I’ve seen so many incredible sights and it seems like a lifetime’s worth of experiences thanks to you. I just don’t know what to say” I commented as we gazed out towards the ocean.
“Trish, I’ve been touring for more than two decades and I’ve seen quite a lot, but I realize now how much I’ve missed. If you weren’t here, I’d be back at the hotel sleeping off a good drunk and as much as I tease you, I’m grateful too” Jon replied, holding me close.
“And there’s still the penguin parade!” I giggled and he laughed.
“And a whole lifetime left for adventures, babe” he said somewhat more seriously.
We sat down on a lush grassy knoll to relax and soak up the sun while we enjoyed the splendor of nature that surrounded us. Jon put his head in my lap and I stroked the silken strands of his hair, feeling the warmth of the fading sun on my face. He dozed off for a time while I immersed myself in a silent prayer to the Goddess, acknowledging all she had wrought.
I let Jon sleep for as long as I could and I was glad for this tranquil moment of privacy. We’d been undisturbed by the media, fans and our family and the respite was desperately needed. But as dinnertime approached, I reluctantly roused him so we had time to walk back to the Café at the Nobbies where we’d be meeting the guys.
“I must have conked out, baby. I’m sorry I drifted off” he apologized, but I shook my head.
“It’s the most peaceful I’ve seen you in months, love. I hope we’ll have plenty of moments like this” I smiled.
He stood up and brushed off the sand that clung to his jeans and held out his hand to give me a lift. His hand closed over mine with a squeeze and he swept a stray curl from my face, brushing my cheek with his lips.
“I love you, Trish. I’m so glad you’re my wife” he said softly, his eyes reflecting the deep blue of the ocean.
“I love you too, husband” I murmured back, my eyes holding his with a look of mutual adoration.
The guys were already inside when we entered and Richie waved to us from a table by the window. We glided over to join them, still feeling the rapture that comes on the heels of an intimate moment and I caught the quirked eyebrow Richie raised in Jon’s direction. Jon merely smiled, and shook his head ‘no’, and Richie lowered his head without comment, silently understanding that we had shared something too precious for jokes.
“This place is magnificent. I’m sorta sorry we didn’t join you, but that was one of the most outstanding golf courses I’ve ever played” Hugh commented, motioning towards the view of the cliffs out the window behind us.
“So, how’d you do? Who won the game?” I asked, surprised they’d spent the whole day on the course.
“He beat my ass, as usual” Hugh nodded towards Tico.
“We actually finished early and we were going to grab something to eat when Jon called, so we had the limo take us over to the beach and we managed to hook up with these guys” Tico grinned.
“And were they surrounded by bikini clad nymphs?” I teased.
“Oh yeah” David sighed and we all had a chuckle.
“So I assume it was a successful adventure?” I continued, prompting David to sigh yet again.
“Oh yeah” he repeated, a dreamy smile on his lips.
I noticed Jim was avoiding my eyes and fidgeting with his napkin and Richie had the slightest ghost of a smirk as he tried to keep his voice steady.
“I think Jim’s going to fit in just fine” he nodded, but try as I might, his lips were sealed and I couldn’t get another word out of him.
“Hey, I was just working! I had to interview a few fans at some point” Jim protested.
“Yeah, but only the topless ones?” David chimed in and the five of them broke into hysterics and Jim actually blushed.
“I didn’t think any of the beaches here were nude beaches?” I said with a shock.
“They aren’t, doll, but topless isn’t unusual” Richie responded, but that was as much as they’d share.
“Am I going to have buy the book to find out the story then?” I asked, raising my eyebrows at Jim.
“We got secrets we’ll take to the grave” he quoted and I knew Jim had been somehow initiated into their confidence in a way I would never be.
“And I thought the kids were excited when we finally made it to Disneyland!” he teased me, but he was having just as much fun as I was.
“This would be such a fabulous place to come back to with the kids, wouldn’t it?” I remarked as I made a beeline for the stuffed koalas in the little gift shop.
“How many?” Jon asked as he rolled his eyes.
“Well, let’s get a couple koalas and a penguin or two and oohhh! Seals!” I squealed as I saw one that reminded me of the old fellow I’d seen.
“Okay, obviously we’re getting a couple of them too?” he grinned as I piled stuffed animals into his arms.
“Can we leave these all here until we’re ready to leave?” Jon asked the cashier as we began to check out.
“Certainly, sir. We can ship them back home if you’d prefer?” the woman offered.
“I think that might just be the best thing. Except this one, here, we’ll take him with us” he teased, indicating the stuffed seal I was still clutching.
I smiled winningly while Jon paid for our purchases and I wrote out the address to ship the gifts. We decided we’d ship the whole lot directly to Dot and let the kids choose their favorites as we bought plenty to go around. We purchased our entrance tickets for the Center and opted for the treetop boardwalk as it seemed to afford the best view. The ranger who accompanied the small group we were with explained we’d most likely have a chance to see mothers with babies, or joeys as they were called, since it was the right time of year.
Jon took the camera and snapped a few preliminary shots and we proceeded to follow our guide. I was really impressed with the treetop boardwalks as they allowed us to see the koalas up close. They would have been easy to miss if we’d been on the ground and I was rather surprised at how well they were hidden. They appeared quite serene as they perched high in the branches, gazing down at the lot of us with their quizzical expressions. It made me wonder who was really watching whom.
Their fur looked so soft and I longed to touch it and run my fingers through their silky pelts, but they kept their distance and only allowed us to get close enough to look but not touch. Jon used the zoom and was able to get several great close-ups as the guide explained more about their habitat and behavior. We were both surprised to learn that they slept for nearly twenty-one hours a day, leading Jon to draw the obvious analogy.
“Hell, Trish, they’re just like our cats” he observed with a smirk.
Our guide overheard him and agreed they were similar, but he pointed out that they actually slept even more than cats and that they were not primarily nocturnal. Neither were our cats, I grimaced, picturing Eddie stomping about in the morning and demanding his breakfast.
A woman began pointing and whispering quietly and my eyes followed in the direction she indicated. There on a branch sat a mother koala with a tiny little joey peaking out of her pouch, quietly observing his audience. We all became quiet as the tiny baby crawled out a bit further, making a few tentative steps as he slowly climbed up onto his mother’s back.
“Can you get a picture?” I nudged Jon.
“I can try” he replied, focusing the zoom and snapping the shot.
I looked in the viewfinder, but it was hard to see such a tiny creature, and the mother koala eyed us with a lazy look as she munched on a few eucalyptus leaves. Jon tried again, but we just couldn’t get close enough for a good photo and we finally gave up and went on our way. We’d worked up an appetite once we’d finished our walk and we both agreed that we needed caffeine before continuing on any further.
We headed towards the area of the island known as The Summerlands as I had hoped we’d have time after dinner to walk along the cliffs near the Nobbies. Our limo driver suggested that there was a restaurant nearby and it would be close to the penguin parade. That sounded perfect as he could drop us off there and still be available to pick up the rest of the guys when they were ready to join us.
The views from the Café at the Nobbies were spectacular and we opted for a light snack instead of a meal as we thought we could all meet there for a late dinner. We ordered coffee and cake and Jon called the guys and made the suggestion and it seemed we had a plan that suited everyone’s tastes. After we’d refueled at the café, we proceeded to wander along the cliffs, gazing out at the rugged coastline and some of the most spectacular scenery I could imagine.
We lingered at every outlook, each panorama more inspiring than the last. The brilliant blue of the ocean, set against the verdant green grasslands and rocky bluffs took my breath away as we gaped at the vibrant colors of the landscape. The waves thundered and crashed beneath us as they slammed onto the shore and we strolled along the boardwalk, Jon’s hand holding mine. We listened to the shrill cries of the sea birds above us, guarding their nests of young hatchlings that peppered the rocky outcrops.
“I am so grateful to you for sharing your life with me, Jon. I’ve seen so many incredible sights and it seems like a lifetime’s worth of experiences thanks to you. I just don’t know what to say” I commented as we gazed out towards the ocean.
“Trish, I’ve been touring for more than two decades and I’ve seen quite a lot, but I realize now how much I’ve missed. If you weren’t here, I’d be back at the hotel sleeping off a good drunk and as much as I tease you, I’m grateful too” Jon replied, holding me close.
“And there’s still the penguin parade!” I giggled and he laughed.
“And a whole lifetime left for adventures, babe” he said somewhat more seriously.
We sat down on a lush grassy knoll to relax and soak up the sun while we enjoyed the splendor of nature that surrounded us. Jon put his head in my lap and I stroked the silken strands of his hair, feeling the warmth of the fading sun on my face. He dozed off for a time while I immersed myself in a silent prayer to the Goddess, acknowledging all she had wrought.
I let Jon sleep for as long as I could and I was glad for this tranquil moment of privacy. We’d been undisturbed by the media, fans and our family and the respite was desperately needed. But as dinnertime approached, I reluctantly roused him so we had time to walk back to the Café at the Nobbies where we’d be meeting the guys.
“I must have conked out, baby. I’m sorry I drifted off” he apologized, but I shook my head.
“It’s the most peaceful I’ve seen you in months, love. I hope we’ll have plenty of moments like this” I smiled.
He stood up and brushed off the sand that clung to his jeans and held out his hand to give me a lift. His hand closed over mine with a squeeze and he swept a stray curl from my face, brushing my cheek with his lips.
“I love you, Trish. I’m so glad you’re my wife” he said softly, his eyes reflecting the deep blue of the ocean.
“I love you too, husband” I murmured back, my eyes holding his with a look of mutual adoration.
The guys were already inside when we entered and Richie waved to us from a table by the window. We glided over to join them, still feeling the rapture that comes on the heels of an intimate moment and I caught the quirked eyebrow Richie raised in Jon’s direction. Jon merely smiled, and shook his head ‘no’, and Richie lowered his head without comment, silently understanding that we had shared something too precious for jokes.
“This place is magnificent. I’m sorta sorry we didn’t join you, but that was one of the most outstanding golf courses I’ve ever played” Hugh commented, motioning towards the view of the cliffs out the window behind us.
“So, how’d you do? Who won the game?” I asked, surprised they’d spent the whole day on the course.
“He beat my ass, as usual” Hugh nodded towards Tico.
“We actually finished early and we were going to grab something to eat when Jon called, so we had the limo take us over to the beach and we managed to hook up with these guys” Tico grinned.
“And were they surrounded by bikini clad nymphs?” I teased.
“Oh yeah” David sighed and we all had a chuckle.
“So I assume it was a successful adventure?” I continued, prompting David to sigh yet again.
“Oh yeah” he repeated, a dreamy smile on his lips.
I noticed Jim was avoiding my eyes and fidgeting with his napkin and Richie had the slightest ghost of a smirk as he tried to keep his voice steady.
“I think Jim’s going to fit in just fine” he nodded, but try as I might, his lips were sealed and I couldn’t get another word out of him.
“Hey, I was just working! I had to interview a few fans at some point” Jim protested.
“Yeah, but only the topless ones?” David chimed in and the five of them broke into hysterics and Jim actually blushed.
“I didn’t think any of the beaches here were nude beaches?” I said with a shock.
“They aren’t, doll, but topless isn’t unusual” Richie responded, but that was as much as they’d share.
“Am I going to have buy the book to find out the story then?” I asked, raising my eyebrows at Jim.
“We got secrets we’ll take to the grave” he quoted and I knew Jim had been somehow initiated into their confidence in a way I would never be.
The Sauna Part 268
It was early afternoon when we returned from Seal Rocks and we still had plenty of time before sunset and the beginning of the little penguin parade. We decided we’d try and squeeze in an opportunity to visit the Koala Conservation Center and even a tour of the Nobbies if there was time. I was just overwhelmed with the opportunities available and Jon seemed to enjoy my enthusiasm.
“And I thought the kids were excited when we finally made it to Disneyland!” he teased me, but he was having just as much fun as I was.
“This would be such a fabulous place to come back to with the kids, wouldn’t it?” I remarked as I made a beeline for the stuffed koalas in the little gift shop.
“How many?” Jon asked as he rolled his eyes.
“Well, let’s get a couple koalas and a penguin or two and oohhh! Seals!” I squealed as I saw one that reminded me of the old fellow I’d seen.
“Okay, obviously we’re getting a couple of them too?” he grinned as I piled stuffed animals into his arms.
“Can we leave these all here until we’re ready to leave?” Jon asked the cashier as we began to check out.
“Certainly, sir. We can ship them back home if you’d prefer?” the woman offered.
“I think that might just be the best thing. Except this one, here, we’ll take him with us” he teased, indicating the stuffed seal I was still clutching.
I smiled winningly while Jon paid for our purchases and I wrote out the address to ship the gifts. We decided we’d ship the whole lot directly to Dot and let the kids choose their favorites as we bought plenty to go around. We purchased our entrance tickets for the Center and opted for the treetop boardwalk as it seemed to afford the best view. The ranger who accompanied the small group we were with explained we’d most likely have a chance to see mothers with babies, or joeys as they were called, since it was the right time of year.
Jon took the camera and snapped a few preliminary shots and we proceeded to follow our guide. I was really impressed with the treetop boardwalks as they allowed us to see the koalas up close. They would have been easy to miss if we’d been on the ground and I was rather surprised at how well they were hidden. They appeared quite serene as they perched high in the branches, gazing down at the lot of us with their quizzical expressions. It made me wonder who was really watching whom.
Their fur looked so soft and I longed to touch it and run my fingers through their silky pelts, but they kept their distance and only allowed us to get close enough to look but not touch. Jon used the zoom and was able to get several great close-ups as the guide explained more about their habitat and behavior. We were both surprised to learn that they slept for nearly twenty-one hours a day, leading Jon to draw the obvious analogy.
“Hell, Trish, they’re just like our cats” he observed with a smirk.
Our guide overheard him and agreed they were similar, but he pointed out that they actually slept even more than cats and that they were not primarily nocturnal. Neither were our cats, I grimaced, picturing Eddie stomping about in the morning and demanding his breakfast.
A woman began pointing and whispering quietly and my eyes followed in the direction she indicated. There on a branch sat a mother koala with a tiny little joey peaking out of her pouch, quietly observing his audience. We all became quiet as the tiny baby crawled out a bit further, making a few tentative steps as he slowly climbed up onto his mother’s back.
“Can you get a picture?” I nudged Jon.
“I can try” he replied, focusing the zoom and snapping the shot.
I looked in the viewfinder, but it was hard to see such a tiny creature, and the mother koala eyed us with a lazy look as she munched on a few eucalyptus leaves. Jon tried again, but we just couldn’t get close enough for a good photo and we finally gave up and went on our way. We’d worked up an appetite once we’d finished our walk and we both agreed that we needed caffeine before continuing on any further.
We headed towards the area of the island known as The Summerlands as I had hoped we’d have time after dinner to walk along the cliffs near the Nobbies. Our limo driver suggested that there was a restaurant nearby and it would be close to the penguin parade. That sounded perfect as he could drop us off there and still be available to pick up the rest of the guys when they were ready to join us.
The views from the Café at the Nobbies were spectacular and we opted for a light snack instead of a meal as we thought we could all meet there for a late dinner. We ordered coffee and cake and Jon called the guys and made the suggestion and it seemed we had a plan that suited everyone’s tastes. After we’d refueled at the café, we proceeded to wander along the cliffs, gazing out at the rugged coastline and some of the most spectacular scenery I could imagine.
We lingered at every outlook, each panorama more inspiring than the last. The brilliant blue of the ocean, set against the verdant green grasslands and rocky bluffs took my breath away as we gaped at the vibrant colors of the landscape. The waves thundered and crashed beneath us as they slammed onto the shore and we strolled along the boardwalk, Jon’s hand holding mine. We listened to the shrill cries of the sea birds above us, guarding their nests of young hatchlings that peppered the rocky outcrops.
“I am so grateful to you for sharing your life with me, Jon. I’ve seen so many incredible sights and it seems like a lifetime’s worth of experiences thanks to you. I just don’t know what to say” I commented as we gazed out towards the ocean.
“Trish, I’ve been touring for more than two decades and I’ve seen quite a lot, but I realize now how much I’ve missed. If you weren’t here, I’d be back at the hotel sleeping off a good drunk and as much as I tease you, I’m grateful too” Jon replied, holding me close.
“And there’s still the penguin parade!” I giggled and he laughed.
“And a whole lifetime left for adventures, babe” he said somewhat more seriously.
We sat down on a lush grassy knoll to relax and soak up the sun while we enjoyed the splendor of nature that surrounded us. Jon put his head in my lap and I stroked the silken strands of his hair, feeling the warmth of the fading sun on my face. He dozed off for a time while I immersed myself in a silent prayer to the Goddess, acknowledging all she had wrought.
I let Jon sleep for as long as I could and I was glad for this tranquil moment of privacy. We’d been undisturbed by the media, fans and our family and the respite was desperately needed. But as dinnertime approached, I reluctantly roused him so we had time to walk back to the Café at the Nobbies where we’d be meeting the guys.
“I must have conked out, baby. I’m sorry I drifted off” he apologized, but I shook my head.
“It’s the most peaceful I’ve seen you in months, love. I hope we’ll have plenty of moments like this” I smiled.
He stood up and brushed off the sand that clung to his jeans and held out his hand to give me a lift. His hand closed over mine with a squeeze and he swept a stray curl from my face, brushing my cheek with his lips.
“I love you, Trish. I’m so glad you’re my wife” he said softly, his eyes reflecting the deep blue of the ocean.
“I love you too, husband” I murmured back, my eyes holding his with a look of mutual adoration.
The guys were already inside when we entered and Richie waved to us from a table by the window. We glided over to join them, still feeling the rapture that comes on the heels of an intimate moment and I caught the quirked eyebrow Richie raised in Jon’s direction. Jon merely smiled, and shook his head ‘no’, and Richie lowered his head without comment, silently understanding that we had shared something too precious for jokes.
“This place is magnificent. I’m sorta sorry we didn’t join you, but that was one of the most outstanding golf courses I’ve ever played” Hugh commented, motioning towards the view of the cliffs out the window behind us.
“So, how’d you do? Who won the game?” I asked, surprised they’d spent the whole day on the course.
“He beat my ass, as usual” Hugh nodded towards Tico.
“We actually finished early and we were going to grab something to eat when Jon called, so we had the limo take us over to the beach and we managed to hook up with these guys” Tico grinned.
“And were they surrounded by bikini clad nymphs?” I teased.
“Oh yeah” David sighed and we all had a chuckle.
“So I assume it was a successful adventure?” I continued, prompting David to sigh yet again.
“Oh yeah” he repeated, a dreamy smile on his lips.
I noticed Jim was avoiding my eyes and fidgeting with his napkin and Richie had the slightest ghost of a smirk as he tried to keep his voice steady.
“I think Jim’s going to fit in just fine” he nodded, but try as I might, his lips were sealed and I couldn’t get another word out of him.
“Hey, I was just working! I had to interview a few fans at some point” Jim protested.
“Yeah, but only the topless ones?” David chimed in and the five of them broke into hysterics and Jim actually blushed.
“I didn’t think any of the beaches here were nude beaches?” I said with a shock.
“They aren’t, doll, but topless isn’t unusual” Richie responded, but that was as much as they’d share.
“Am I going to have buy the book to find out the story then?” I asked, raising my eyebrows at Jim.
“We got secrets we’ll take to the grave” he quoted and I knew Jim had been somehow initiated into their confidence in a way I would never be.
“And I thought the kids were excited when we finally made it to Disneyland!” he teased me, but he was having just as much fun as I was.
“This would be such a fabulous place to come back to with the kids, wouldn’t it?” I remarked as I made a beeline for the stuffed koalas in the little gift shop.
“How many?” Jon asked as he rolled his eyes.
“Well, let’s get a couple koalas and a penguin or two and oohhh! Seals!” I squealed as I saw one that reminded me of the old fellow I’d seen.
“Okay, obviously we’re getting a couple of them too?” he grinned as I piled stuffed animals into his arms.
“Can we leave these all here until we’re ready to leave?” Jon asked the cashier as we began to check out.
“Certainly, sir. We can ship them back home if you’d prefer?” the woman offered.
“I think that might just be the best thing. Except this one, here, we’ll take him with us” he teased, indicating the stuffed seal I was still clutching.
I smiled winningly while Jon paid for our purchases and I wrote out the address to ship the gifts. We decided we’d ship the whole lot directly to Dot and let the kids choose their favorites as we bought plenty to go around. We purchased our entrance tickets for the Center and opted for the treetop boardwalk as it seemed to afford the best view. The ranger who accompanied the small group we were with explained we’d most likely have a chance to see mothers with babies, or joeys as they were called, since it was the right time of year.
Jon took the camera and snapped a few preliminary shots and we proceeded to follow our guide. I was really impressed with the treetop boardwalks as they allowed us to see the koalas up close. They would have been easy to miss if we’d been on the ground and I was rather surprised at how well they were hidden. They appeared quite serene as they perched high in the branches, gazing down at the lot of us with their quizzical expressions. It made me wonder who was really watching whom.
Their fur looked so soft and I longed to touch it and run my fingers through their silky pelts, but they kept their distance and only allowed us to get close enough to look but not touch. Jon used the zoom and was able to get several great close-ups as the guide explained more about their habitat and behavior. We were both surprised to learn that they slept for nearly twenty-one hours a day, leading Jon to draw the obvious analogy.
“Hell, Trish, they’re just like our cats” he observed with a smirk.
Our guide overheard him and agreed they were similar, but he pointed out that they actually slept even more than cats and that they were not primarily nocturnal. Neither were our cats, I grimaced, picturing Eddie stomping about in the morning and demanding his breakfast.
A woman began pointing and whispering quietly and my eyes followed in the direction she indicated. There on a branch sat a mother koala with a tiny little joey peaking out of her pouch, quietly observing his audience. We all became quiet as the tiny baby crawled out a bit further, making a few tentative steps as he slowly climbed up onto his mother’s back.
“Can you get a picture?” I nudged Jon.
“I can try” he replied, focusing the zoom and snapping the shot.
I looked in the viewfinder, but it was hard to see such a tiny creature, and the mother koala eyed us with a lazy look as she munched on a few eucalyptus leaves. Jon tried again, but we just couldn’t get close enough for a good photo and we finally gave up and went on our way. We’d worked up an appetite once we’d finished our walk and we both agreed that we needed caffeine before continuing on any further.
We headed towards the area of the island known as The Summerlands as I had hoped we’d have time after dinner to walk along the cliffs near the Nobbies. Our limo driver suggested that there was a restaurant nearby and it would be close to the penguin parade. That sounded perfect as he could drop us off there and still be available to pick up the rest of the guys when they were ready to join us.
The views from the Café at the Nobbies were spectacular and we opted for a light snack instead of a meal as we thought we could all meet there for a late dinner. We ordered coffee and cake and Jon called the guys and made the suggestion and it seemed we had a plan that suited everyone’s tastes. After we’d refueled at the café, we proceeded to wander along the cliffs, gazing out at the rugged coastline and some of the most spectacular scenery I could imagine.
We lingered at every outlook, each panorama more inspiring than the last. The brilliant blue of the ocean, set against the verdant green grasslands and rocky bluffs took my breath away as we gaped at the vibrant colors of the landscape. The waves thundered and crashed beneath us as they slammed onto the shore and we strolled along the boardwalk, Jon’s hand holding mine. We listened to the shrill cries of the sea birds above us, guarding their nests of young hatchlings that peppered the rocky outcrops.
“I am so grateful to you for sharing your life with me, Jon. I’ve seen so many incredible sights and it seems like a lifetime’s worth of experiences thanks to you. I just don’t know what to say” I commented as we gazed out towards the ocean.
“Trish, I’ve been touring for more than two decades and I’ve seen quite a lot, but I realize now how much I’ve missed. If you weren’t here, I’d be back at the hotel sleeping off a good drunk and as much as I tease you, I’m grateful too” Jon replied, holding me close.
“And there’s still the penguin parade!” I giggled and he laughed.
“And a whole lifetime left for adventures, babe” he said somewhat more seriously.
We sat down on a lush grassy knoll to relax and soak up the sun while we enjoyed the splendor of nature that surrounded us. Jon put his head in my lap and I stroked the silken strands of his hair, feeling the warmth of the fading sun on my face. He dozed off for a time while I immersed myself in a silent prayer to the Goddess, acknowledging all she had wrought.
I let Jon sleep for as long as I could and I was glad for this tranquil moment of privacy. We’d been undisturbed by the media, fans and our family and the respite was desperately needed. But as dinnertime approached, I reluctantly roused him so we had time to walk back to the Café at the Nobbies where we’d be meeting the guys.
“I must have conked out, baby. I’m sorry I drifted off” he apologized, but I shook my head.
“It’s the most peaceful I’ve seen you in months, love. I hope we’ll have plenty of moments like this” I smiled.
He stood up and brushed off the sand that clung to his jeans and held out his hand to give me a lift. His hand closed over mine with a squeeze and he swept a stray curl from my face, brushing my cheek with his lips.
“I love you, Trish. I’m so glad you’re my wife” he said softly, his eyes reflecting the deep blue of the ocean.
“I love you too, husband” I murmured back, my eyes holding his with a look of mutual adoration.
The guys were already inside when we entered and Richie waved to us from a table by the window. We glided over to join them, still feeling the rapture that comes on the heels of an intimate moment and I caught the quirked eyebrow Richie raised in Jon’s direction. Jon merely smiled, and shook his head ‘no’, and Richie lowered his head without comment, silently understanding that we had shared something too precious for jokes.
“This place is magnificent. I’m sorta sorry we didn’t join you, but that was one of the most outstanding golf courses I’ve ever played” Hugh commented, motioning towards the view of the cliffs out the window behind us.
“So, how’d you do? Who won the game?” I asked, surprised they’d spent the whole day on the course.
“He beat my ass, as usual” Hugh nodded towards Tico.
“We actually finished early and we were going to grab something to eat when Jon called, so we had the limo take us over to the beach and we managed to hook up with these guys” Tico grinned.
“And were they surrounded by bikini clad nymphs?” I teased.
“Oh yeah” David sighed and we all had a chuckle.
“So I assume it was a successful adventure?” I continued, prompting David to sigh yet again.
“Oh yeah” he repeated, a dreamy smile on his lips.
I noticed Jim was avoiding my eyes and fidgeting with his napkin and Richie had the slightest ghost of a smirk as he tried to keep his voice steady.
“I think Jim’s going to fit in just fine” he nodded, but try as I might, his lips were sealed and I couldn’t get another word out of him.
“Hey, I was just working! I had to interview a few fans at some point” Jim protested.
“Yeah, but only the topless ones?” David chimed in and the five of them broke into hysterics and Jim actually blushed.
“I didn’t think any of the beaches here were nude beaches?” I said with a shock.
“They aren’t, doll, but topless isn’t unusual” Richie responded, but that was as much as they’d share.
“Am I going to have buy the book to find out the story then?” I asked, raising my eyebrows at Jim.
“We got secrets we’ll take to the grave” he quoted and I knew Jim had been somehow initiated into their confidence in a way I would never be.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
The Sauna Part 267
It had taken longer than we anticipated to get our bags at the airport and make it back to the hotel and we soon discovered that there wasn’t a whole lot going on at four o’clock in the morning in Melbourne. When we reached the hotel, none of us were really ready to sleep as we’d done plenty of that on the plane. It was actually noon on Wednesday for Jim and me and Wednesday evening for Jon and Richie, so we were still wide awake. It was the peak of summer in Melbourne and Jim and I were way overdressed, so we changed into more comfortable clothes and decided we’d take the limo and go watch the sun rise over Port Phillip Bay.
It looked like a glorious day and the sunrise was spectacular over the water. I was glad that Richie had thought of it and it fit with the romantic mood I was in. Jon and I sat together near the dock while Richie snapped several pictures to capture it on film. I was glad we’d be spending some time here to give us a chance to adjust to the time changes and I could see Jon was yawning despite the long naps on the plane.
“Breakfast? I could use some coffee, man, how about you guys?” Jon yawned again and I readily nodded, never being one to turn down an opportunity for my favorite substance.
Richie’s stomach growled in agreement as they had both missed their dinner and Jim was always ready to eat. It was still rather early and there wasn’t much open, so we headed back to the Crowne Plaza Hotel for our breakfast.
“So, babe, what’s on your agenda to see while we’re here? I know you were dying to come to Australia” Jon asked indulgently.
“The little penguin walk!” I spouted immediately as I’d read about this and was anxious to see it myself. “And I want to see Tasmanian Devils! I saw this place online…” I began when Jon and Richie started laughing.
“What’s so funny? This stuff is real, I even researched it!” I pouted.
“I have no doubt in my mind, darlin’, none whatsoever” Jon managed to get out as he tried to stifle his laughter.
“I’m serious! I’ll have you know…” I tried again but Richie interrupted with a signal to stop before the two of them split a gut.
“Trish, we know, we know, really. We just think it’s a hoot the way you research every place that we’ve gone. We’re only teasing, doll” Richie smiled.
“Well, if I left it in your hands” I glared at the two of them “we’d never see anything beyond pubs and hotel rooms!” I protested.
“She’s right, bro. The only thing you’ve contributed so far was the spa and a few restaurants. We’ve all seen more on this tour than we ever did before” Richie nudged Jon.
“Hey, I was the one who remembered Freud’s house, don’t forget!” Jon reminded me.
“That’s true, love, you did real good there, babe” I coddled him.
Jon smirked, but he knew I was right. I had become the unofficial event planner and my role was undisputed and I took my job seriously. There had been lots of time to kill on the plane and I’d brought my own laptop this time so I was fully armed with an ambitious itinerary.
“What about you, Jim? Anything special you wanna see?” Richie asked as he’d been rather quiet this morning.
“I’d be happy with babes in bikinis since it’s summertime here” Jim smirked and ducked as I pretended to slap him.
“Whoohoo! I like this guy!” Richie whistled as he put his arm around Jim’s shoulders and the three of them grinned like a bunch of idiots.
“C’mon, babydoll, there must be ‘beach’ on your list somewhere?” Jon schmoozed.
“Well, there’s a beach with some caves and interesting rock formations on Phillip Island where the little penguins and the seals are…” I offered.
“Okay, there now, everyone’s happy! And Tico will probably come too as there’s a great golf resort there, I think, right Rich?” Jon added.
“Awesome, babes, bikinis and golf! And I’m assuming there’s beer. Sounds like paradise!” Jim added enthusiastically.
“We’ll see the penguins, baby, relax and the Tasmanian Devils too; although I don’t know why since you have two at home” Jon teased again.
“You must mean Floyd, who’s the other one?” Jim asked as only Floyd had given him real grief in the past.
“He’s dissing my boy, Zeke, man. Jon doesn’t like him because he prefers me. It’s not the cat’s fault, he just has good taste” Richie explained and this time it was Jon who was pouting.
“Ahh, that one-the ‘psycho’ cat” Jim grinned.
“See, I’m not the only one!” Jon winked at Jim.
“Hey! Floyd’s old and cranky and Zeke, well…” I said defensively, trying to think of an excuse for Zeke while Jon looked at me expectantly.
“Zeke is special” Richie rescued me.
“Yeah, he’s special alright…” Jon muttered and Richie and I shot him a scowl.
“I guess I’m going on a nature walk while you two hit the beach” Jon observed dryly and I nodded in affirmation.
“Atta boy, Jon! Now you’re really getting what marriage is all about” Richie smiled broadly and we all laughed.
We’d finished our breakfast and Jon wanted to round up the guys and see who was coming with us as it was a perfect day to start our adventure. The smaller charity show was tomorrow night and the large stadium concert for the public was on Saturday. The guys knew they’d be wiped out from the time change and had learned over the years to take things a bit slower and that left me plenty of opportunities to drag everyone off sightseeing.
Tico would join us on the ride to the island to play golf as Jon had expected and David thought the bikini watching sounded appealing. Hugh was torn between golf and the penguins and decided he’d spend the day with Tico and they would all meet us at sunset for the penguin walk. I was thrilled and I beamed rather triumphantly as we all headed off to Phillip Island.
***********
We drove over the bridge from the mainland and it was mid-morning when we arrived on the island and split up to go our separate ways. We dropped Tico and Hugh off at the golf resort first and then we drove on to Cowes where Jon and I would leave on the boat for Seal Rocks. Richie, Dave and Jim would check out the beaches and the limo driver would return in a couple hours to get Jon and I. As the limo pulled away, Jon made a pretense of waving goodbye wistfully to Richie and the rest of the bikini-watching crowd, exaggerating his performance for maximum macho effect. I tugged on his belt and he whirled around to embrace me as soon as the guys were out of earshot.
“I couldn’t let them think I’d rather watch you and the seals” he purred in my ear.
“If you behave yourself, I promise you that before the night’s over you will not regret skipping bikini island” I giggled.
We stepped onto the boat, the Kasey Lee, and grabbed a good spot near the prow. I closed my eyes for a moment and leaned against Jon, inhaling the fresh scent of sea air as it mingled with his natural musk. He wasn’t the only one looking forward to later tonight; I was anxious to have him all to myself.
The warmth of the sun kissed my face as I opened my eyes and looked up at Jon. His blues eyes appeared even deeper against the blue of the bay and I caught my breath for a moment as the breeze ruffled his hair. Goddess, he was a beautiful man! He smiled contentedly, his eyes crinkling with genuine pleasure, as he bent his head down and our lips met. His mouth was warm and sweet and held the promise of a night to remember.
Our first sighting was an unexpected one as we watched in the direction where the guide was pointing. Off in the distance, to the right of the prow, was a lone Humpback whale and we could see the spray catching the sunlight as it saluted us with a blow! This incredible spectacle was soon followed by a troup of dolphins who played and cavorted in the water around us. Some came so close I could almost reach out and touch them and their charming behavior kept us well entertained.
We took turns sharing the camera as we attempted to record these precious moments and I instinctively understood why so many people were immediately drawn to dolphins. There was something so friendly and immediately engaging in the way that they interacted, both with themselves and with us. It seemed as though they found us nearly as interesting as we found them and it appeared that they did their best to hold our attention; I couldn’t take my eyes off their antics.
As we approached Seal Rocks, I was awestruck by the sheer numbers of seals that lay sunning themselves before us. Our guide on the tour was extremely knowledgeable as she shared a wealth of information about the seals and their habitat. She pointed out the younger seals as well as the older bulls who watched over the colony and I found myself mesmerized as we came closer and closer.
We pulled up and anchored and were served a complimentary tea as we gazed at the spectacle on the rocks. I laughed and smiled as we got a glimpse into their lives and noted how much like humans they seemed at certain times. Mothers were seen scolding itinerant pups and younger males clearly competed for the females’ attention. I squeezed Jon’s hand as we watched an intimate moment between a mother and child, but I was touched beyond measure by one particular bull as he turned away from his post and looked directly at me.
“Trish, baby, he’s looking right at you” Jon whispered, catching the moment.
“I know…” I breathed, my eyes locked with the seals’.
There was wisdom and peace in the look that he gave me as I stared into those wisened old eyes. I felt myself melt as I gazed into the deep, liquid depths and for a moment in time I felt truly connected. I wondered what all he had seen in his lifetime and I smiled back to thank him for that special memory and Jon snapped his picture. He tossed back his head with a grunt before returning his attention to the others around him and Jon wiped a tear from my cheek.
“That was amazing…” I sighed, absorbing the experience, as I looked back at Jon.
He nodded solemnly, acknowledging the sacred bond between animals and humans, and I laid my head on his chest as we continued to watch the drama before us. It was a once in a lifetime experience I knew neither of us would ever forget.
On our way back to Phillip Island, we were once again accompanied by the cheerful dolphins and I felt suffused with their energy. Their high spirits and sense of adventure filled me with a sense of wonder and I felt grateful for merely being alive. There was something about being so close to nature that reminded me of the magic and mystery the world had to offer.
“I really am glad you made us do this, babe” Jon whispered softly, all kidding aside.
It looked like a glorious day and the sunrise was spectacular over the water. I was glad that Richie had thought of it and it fit with the romantic mood I was in. Jon and I sat together near the dock while Richie snapped several pictures to capture it on film. I was glad we’d be spending some time here to give us a chance to adjust to the time changes and I could see Jon was yawning despite the long naps on the plane.
“Breakfast? I could use some coffee, man, how about you guys?” Jon yawned again and I readily nodded, never being one to turn down an opportunity for my favorite substance.
Richie’s stomach growled in agreement as they had both missed their dinner and Jim was always ready to eat. It was still rather early and there wasn’t much open, so we headed back to the Crowne Plaza Hotel for our breakfast.
“So, babe, what’s on your agenda to see while we’re here? I know you were dying to come to Australia” Jon asked indulgently.
“The little penguin walk!” I spouted immediately as I’d read about this and was anxious to see it myself. “And I want to see Tasmanian Devils! I saw this place online…” I began when Jon and Richie started laughing.
“What’s so funny? This stuff is real, I even researched it!” I pouted.
“I have no doubt in my mind, darlin’, none whatsoever” Jon managed to get out as he tried to stifle his laughter.
“I’m serious! I’ll have you know…” I tried again but Richie interrupted with a signal to stop before the two of them split a gut.
“Trish, we know, we know, really. We just think it’s a hoot the way you research every place that we’ve gone. We’re only teasing, doll” Richie smiled.
“Well, if I left it in your hands” I glared at the two of them “we’d never see anything beyond pubs and hotel rooms!” I protested.
“She’s right, bro. The only thing you’ve contributed so far was the spa and a few restaurants. We’ve all seen more on this tour than we ever did before” Richie nudged Jon.
“Hey, I was the one who remembered Freud’s house, don’t forget!” Jon reminded me.
“That’s true, love, you did real good there, babe” I coddled him.
Jon smirked, but he knew I was right. I had become the unofficial event planner and my role was undisputed and I took my job seriously. There had been lots of time to kill on the plane and I’d brought my own laptop this time so I was fully armed with an ambitious itinerary.
“What about you, Jim? Anything special you wanna see?” Richie asked as he’d been rather quiet this morning.
“I’d be happy with babes in bikinis since it’s summertime here” Jim smirked and ducked as I pretended to slap him.
“Whoohoo! I like this guy!” Richie whistled as he put his arm around Jim’s shoulders and the three of them grinned like a bunch of idiots.
“C’mon, babydoll, there must be ‘beach’ on your list somewhere?” Jon schmoozed.
“Well, there’s a beach with some caves and interesting rock formations on Phillip Island where the little penguins and the seals are…” I offered.
“Okay, there now, everyone’s happy! And Tico will probably come too as there’s a great golf resort there, I think, right Rich?” Jon added.
“Awesome, babes, bikinis and golf! And I’m assuming there’s beer. Sounds like paradise!” Jim added enthusiastically.
“We’ll see the penguins, baby, relax and the Tasmanian Devils too; although I don’t know why since you have two at home” Jon teased again.
“You must mean Floyd, who’s the other one?” Jim asked as only Floyd had given him real grief in the past.
“He’s dissing my boy, Zeke, man. Jon doesn’t like him because he prefers me. It’s not the cat’s fault, he just has good taste” Richie explained and this time it was Jon who was pouting.
“Ahh, that one-the ‘psycho’ cat” Jim grinned.
“See, I’m not the only one!” Jon winked at Jim.
“Hey! Floyd’s old and cranky and Zeke, well…” I said defensively, trying to think of an excuse for Zeke while Jon looked at me expectantly.
“Zeke is special” Richie rescued me.
“Yeah, he’s special alright…” Jon muttered and Richie and I shot him a scowl.
“I guess I’m going on a nature walk while you two hit the beach” Jon observed dryly and I nodded in affirmation.
“Atta boy, Jon! Now you’re really getting what marriage is all about” Richie smiled broadly and we all laughed.
We’d finished our breakfast and Jon wanted to round up the guys and see who was coming with us as it was a perfect day to start our adventure. The smaller charity show was tomorrow night and the large stadium concert for the public was on Saturday. The guys knew they’d be wiped out from the time change and had learned over the years to take things a bit slower and that left me plenty of opportunities to drag everyone off sightseeing.
Tico would join us on the ride to the island to play golf as Jon had expected and David thought the bikini watching sounded appealing. Hugh was torn between golf and the penguins and decided he’d spend the day with Tico and they would all meet us at sunset for the penguin walk. I was thrilled and I beamed rather triumphantly as we all headed off to Phillip Island.
***********
We drove over the bridge from the mainland and it was mid-morning when we arrived on the island and split up to go our separate ways. We dropped Tico and Hugh off at the golf resort first and then we drove on to Cowes where Jon and I would leave on the boat for Seal Rocks. Richie, Dave and Jim would check out the beaches and the limo driver would return in a couple hours to get Jon and I. As the limo pulled away, Jon made a pretense of waving goodbye wistfully to Richie and the rest of the bikini-watching crowd, exaggerating his performance for maximum macho effect. I tugged on his belt and he whirled around to embrace me as soon as the guys were out of earshot.
“I couldn’t let them think I’d rather watch you and the seals” he purred in my ear.
“If you behave yourself, I promise you that before the night’s over you will not regret skipping bikini island” I giggled.
We stepped onto the boat, the Kasey Lee, and grabbed a good spot near the prow. I closed my eyes for a moment and leaned against Jon, inhaling the fresh scent of sea air as it mingled with his natural musk. He wasn’t the only one looking forward to later tonight; I was anxious to have him all to myself.
The warmth of the sun kissed my face as I opened my eyes and looked up at Jon. His blues eyes appeared even deeper against the blue of the bay and I caught my breath for a moment as the breeze ruffled his hair. Goddess, he was a beautiful man! He smiled contentedly, his eyes crinkling with genuine pleasure, as he bent his head down and our lips met. His mouth was warm and sweet and held the promise of a night to remember.
Our first sighting was an unexpected one as we watched in the direction where the guide was pointing. Off in the distance, to the right of the prow, was a lone Humpback whale and we could see the spray catching the sunlight as it saluted us with a blow! This incredible spectacle was soon followed by a troup of dolphins who played and cavorted in the water around us. Some came so close I could almost reach out and touch them and their charming behavior kept us well entertained.
We took turns sharing the camera as we attempted to record these precious moments and I instinctively understood why so many people were immediately drawn to dolphins. There was something so friendly and immediately engaging in the way that they interacted, both with themselves and with us. It seemed as though they found us nearly as interesting as we found them and it appeared that they did their best to hold our attention; I couldn’t take my eyes off their antics.
As we approached Seal Rocks, I was awestruck by the sheer numbers of seals that lay sunning themselves before us. Our guide on the tour was extremely knowledgeable as she shared a wealth of information about the seals and their habitat. She pointed out the younger seals as well as the older bulls who watched over the colony and I found myself mesmerized as we came closer and closer.
We pulled up and anchored and were served a complimentary tea as we gazed at the spectacle on the rocks. I laughed and smiled as we got a glimpse into their lives and noted how much like humans they seemed at certain times. Mothers were seen scolding itinerant pups and younger males clearly competed for the females’ attention. I squeezed Jon’s hand as we watched an intimate moment between a mother and child, but I was touched beyond measure by one particular bull as he turned away from his post and looked directly at me.
“Trish, baby, he’s looking right at you” Jon whispered, catching the moment.
“I know…” I breathed, my eyes locked with the seals’.
There was wisdom and peace in the look that he gave me as I stared into those wisened old eyes. I felt myself melt as I gazed into the deep, liquid depths and for a moment in time I felt truly connected. I wondered what all he had seen in his lifetime and I smiled back to thank him for that special memory and Jon snapped his picture. He tossed back his head with a grunt before returning his attention to the others around him and Jon wiped a tear from my cheek.
“That was amazing…” I sighed, absorbing the experience, as I looked back at Jon.
He nodded solemnly, acknowledging the sacred bond between animals and humans, and I laid my head on his chest as we continued to watch the drama before us. It was a once in a lifetime experience I knew neither of us would ever forget.
On our way back to Phillip Island, we were once again accompanied by the cheerful dolphins and I felt suffused with their energy. Their high spirits and sense of adventure filled me with a sense of wonder and I felt grateful for merely being alive. There was something about being so close to nature that reminded me of the magic and mystery the world had to offer.
“I really am glad you made us do this, babe” Jon whispered softly, all kidding aside.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The Sauna Part 266
I’d finally fallen asleep after knowing that all was well and, of course, after several glasses of wine to help ease me off into dreamland. I had just woken up after a very long nap and I’d enjoyed a rather delicious dream in which Jon’s talents were other than musical. Jim nudged me gently as I stretched and struggled to orient myself to where I was.
“Hey, sleepyhead! You must’ve been dreaming about Jon, eh?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Why do you ask?” I wondered suspiciously.
“Because the only time I see you smile quite that way is when he’s in the room” he said a little wistfully.
I nodded and looked directly at Jim without hiding the flush I felt stealing over my face. There really was something to what he had said, I knew, because Jon made me feel things I’d never felt before in my life. I wasn’t surprised that I had become so transparent as I knew I had begun opening up more than I ever had and I no longer felt I needed to disguise my emotions. I wasn’t afraid to show my feelings like I had been when I first met Jon.
“You’ve gotten to be a pretty observant guy” I acknowledged, thinking back to how he had been when we were together.
“I guess we’ve both grown, Trish” he said somewhat sadly.
Jim and I had been very different back then. Sure, we’d had fun and we laughed quite a lot, but there’d always been something missing. We never really talked about us, or what we were feeling, and we certainly never shared what we needed from each other. We were too busy back then with judging each other’s shortcomings to take an honest look at our own. Jim held my eyes as he looked at me and we each felt a trace of regret.
“Jim, I’m sorry…” I began, but he stopped me.
“It was a long time ago, Trish. Let’s not revisit the past, let’s just keep moving forward as we seem to be headed in the right direction these days” he said wisely and I bowed to his wisdom.
My phone rang just then and I saw it was Jon. He still had a few hours before he’d be landing and I guessed he was bored and feeling restless. My flight was a mere eighteen hours where his was closer to twenty-four after several stops to refuel.
“Hi baby” I purred into the phone. “Miss me?” I asked playfully.
“Every single minute of every single day, babe, but that’s not why I called” he said, sounding a bit more serious now.
“What’s up?” I asked, sitting up a bit straighter in my seat.
“Guess who just called me” he challenged.
“Matt?” I answered immediately.
“Worse. Who do you suppose Matt went running to with his tail between his legs?” he said sarcastically.
“Oh shit, Jon, not your mother? I guess we should have expected that” I realized with a sigh.
“I knew it was coming, babe, but I was ready for it this time” he told me.
“Are you okay?” I asked worriedly, fearing he could slip into melancholy.
“I’m okay, really. Ask Richie, he gave me a standing ovation” Jon teased but he handed the phone to Richie to reassure me.
“Trish? Yeah, damn, you should have heard the ole boy. He gave her hell and he done me right proud” he said with a twang and I knew he was grinning.
“Seriously, Rich, is he okay?” I repeated.
“Yeah, darlin’, he’s good, really” he said honestly and I heard the genuine relief in his voice as he handed the phone back to Jon.
He didn’t reveal the entire conversation but he gave me the gist and shared some of the more colorful exchanges and I had to admit he sounded okay. It seemed as though a great weight had been lifted and his voice came across lighter. He’d finally shed the denial he’d carried for so many years and it felt good to walk in the sun again. Jon was back.
**************
We finally arrived in Australia and it was almost three in the morning on Thursday. We’d lost a day crossing over the dateline and it still felt like Wednesday to me. We disembarked and planned to head straight for the VIP lounge where Jon had been waiting with Richie. The others had gone back to the hotel as they’d arrived a few hours earlier, but Richie wanted to see me and Jon appreciated the company.
It took longer than I expected to clear customs as the plane had been full and we hadn’t been the first ones to exit. I looked just beyond the checkpoint and saw Richie’s Stetson and the figure of Jon pacing beside him and waved. Richie saw me first and nudged Jon as he pointed and they both came running towards the gate. Security wouldn’t let me get close enough to hug him over the barrier, but they finally let Jon through to me since he’d already been cleared.
He scooped me up in his arms and whirled me around as Jim and Richie looked on and laughed. They nodded to each other while Jon and I kissed and Jim finally tapped my shoulder to indicate that the customs officials were ready to clear us. Jon let me go, but he held my hand and we walked through the metal detector looking like love-struck teenagers.
“Hey! Don’t I get a hug?” Richie pouted and I ran straight at him and nearly knocked him right over, his hat flying off as he caught me up in a hug.
“Damn, girl, we could use you on defense at the next Soul game! Let’s sign her up, bro” Richie grinned and I stooped down to pick up his hat.
“It’s so good to see you” I gushed, hugging him again before I felt Jon’s arms slip around me.
“It’s good to see you too, darlin’. And you must be Jim?” Richie smiled, extending his hand.
“Since you’re Richie Sambora, I must be Jim. Yep, seems everyone’s present and accounted for” Jim smiled back, shaking his hand.
“C’mon, let’s blow this place. Richie and I’ve seen enough of airports and planes to last us a lifetime” Jon insisted, pulling me along with him.
“What about luggage? We need our bags” I reminded him as they’d sent theirs on to the hotel.
“Shit, I forgot about that. Good thing there’s three of us to help carry your bags, babe” Jon winked at Jim.
“Hey, you’ll be impressed. She only brought one” Jim announced.
“One? No fuckin’ way” Jon quirked his eyebrows at me.
“Only one. Like you said, there are stores in other countries” I smirked and the three of them groaned.
We collected our luggage and walked out to the limo and piled in. Richie cracked open the champagne and poured us each a glass and Jon raised his for a toast.
“To better times and smooth sailing” he proposed and we all drank to that.
“To good friends and great memories” I said, raising my glass.
“To wine, women and song” Richie added, winking at me.
“To sharing the wealth” Jim laughed, nudging Richie and we laughed and kidded each other all the way back to the hotel.
“Hey, sleepyhead! You must’ve been dreaming about Jon, eh?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Why do you ask?” I wondered suspiciously.
“Because the only time I see you smile quite that way is when he’s in the room” he said a little wistfully.
I nodded and looked directly at Jim without hiding the flush I felt stealing over my face. There really was something to what he had said, I knew, because Jon made me feel things I’d never felt before in my life. I wasn’t surprised that I had become so transparent as I knew I had begun opening up more than I ever had and I no longer felt I needed to disguise my emotions. I wasn’t afraid to show my feelings like I had been when I first met Jon.
“You’ve gotten to be a pretty observant guy” I acknowledged, thinking back to how he had been when we were together.
“I guess we’ve both grown, Trish” he said somewhat sadly.
Jim and I had been very different back then. Sure, we’d had fun and we laughed quite a lot, but there’d always been something missing. We never really talked about us, or what we were feeling, and we certainly never shared what we needed from each other. We were too busy back then with judging each other’s shortcomings to take an honest look at our own. Jim held my eyes as he looked at me and we each felt a trace of regret.
“Jim, I’m sorry…” I began, but he stopped me.
“It was a long time ago, Trish. Let’s not revisit the past, let’s just keep moving forward as we seem to be headed in the right direction these days” he said wisely and I bowed to his wisdom.
My phone rang just then and I saw it was Jon. He still had a few hours before he’d be landing and I guessed he was bored and feeling restless. My flight was a mere eighteen hours where his was closer to twenty-four after several stops to refuel.
“Hi baby” I purred into the phone. “Miss me?” I asked playfully.
“Every single minute of every single day, babe, but that’s not why I called” he said, sounding a bit more serious now.
“What’s up?” I asked, sitting up a bit straighter in my seat.
“Guess who just called me” he challenged.
“Matt?” I answered immediately.
“Worse. Who do you suppose Matt went running to with his tail between his legs?” he said sarcastically.
“Oh shit, Jon, not your mother? I guess we should have expected that” I realized with a sigh.
“I knew it was coming, babe, but I was ready for it this time” he told me.
“Are you okay?” I asked worriedly, fearing he could slip into melancholy.
“I’m okay, really. Ask Richie, he gave me a standing ovation” Jon teased but he handed the phone to Richie to reassure me.
“Trish? Yeah, damn, you should have heard the ole boy. He gave her hell and he done me right proud” he said with a twang and I knew he was grinning.
“Seriously, Rich, is he okay?” I repeated.
“Yeah, darlin’, he’s good, really” he said honestly and I heard the genuine relief in his voice as he handed the phone back to Jon.
He didn’t reveal the entire conversation but he gave me the gist and shared some of the more colorful exchanges and I had to admit he sounded okay. It seemed as though a great weight had been lifted and his voice came across lighter. He’d finally shed the denial he’d carried for so many years and it felt good to walk in the sun again. Jon was back.
**************
We finally arrived in Australia and it was almost three in the morning on Thursday. We’d lost a day crossing over the dateline and it still felt like Wednesday to me. We disembarked and planned to head straight for the VIP lounge where Jon had been waiting with Richie. The others had gone back to the hotel as they’d arrived a few hours earlier, but Richie wanted to see me and Jon appreciated the company.
It took longer than I expected to clear customs as the plane had been full and we hadn’t been the first ones to exit. I looked just beyond the checkpoint and saw Richie’s Stetson and the figure of Jon pacing beside him and waved. Richie saw me first and nudged Jon as he pointed and they both came running towards the gate. Security wouldn’t let me get close enough to hug him over the barrier, but they finally let Jon through to me since he’d already been cleared.
He scooped me up in his arms and whirled me around as Jim and Richie looked on and laughed. They nodded to each other while Jon and I kissed and Jim finally tapped my shoulder to indicate that the customs officials were ready to clear us. Jon let me go, but he held my hand and we walked through the metal detector looking like love-struck teenagers.
“Hey! Don’t I get a hug?” Richie pouted and I ran straight at him and nearly knocked him right over, his hat flying off as he caught me up in a hug.
“Damn, girl, we could use you on defense at the next Soul game! Let’s sign her up, bro” Richie grinned and I stooped down to pick up his hat.
“It’s so good to see you” I gushed, hugging him again before I felt Jon’s arms slip around me.
“It’s good to see you too, darlin’. And you must be Jim?” Richie smiled, extending his hand.
“Since you’re Richie Sambora, I must be Jim. Yep, seems everyone’s present and accounted for” Jim smiled back, shaking his hand.
“C’mon, let’s blow this place. Richie and I’ve seen enough of airports and planes to last us a lifetime” Jon insisted, pulling me along with him.
“What about luggage? We need our bags” I reminded him as they’d sent theirs on to the hotel.
“Shit, I forgot about that. Good thing there’s three of us to help carry your bags, babe” Jon winked at Jim.
“Hey, you’ll be impressed. She only brought one” Jim announced.
“One? No fuckin’ way” Jon quirked his eyebrows at me.
“Only one. Like you said, there are stores in other countries” I smirked and the three of them groaned.
We collected our luggage and walked out to the limo and piled in. Richie cracked open the champagne and poured us each a glass and Jon raised his for a toast.
“To better times and smooth sailing” he proposed and we all drank to that.
“To good friends and great memories” I said, raising my glass.
“To wine, women and song” Richie added, winking at me.
“To sharing the wealth” Jim laughed, nudging Richie and we laughed and kidded each other all the way back to the hotel.
Friday, October 3, 2008
The Sauna Part 265
Once I’d hung up the phone, I ordered a glass of wine and heaved a sigh of relief. It hadn’t gone smoothly, but it could have been a lot worse. I filled Jim in on the details and smiled wryly as I finished telling him about the last part of my conversation.
“Damn, that would make a good story for the book, but I’m guessing you and Jon would rather I not get into explicit details here?” he asked quizzically.
“Yeah, I’d say that’s a safe bet” I agreed.
I knew Jon would be pacing anxiously in his plane, waiting for news, so I didn’t delay any longer and dialed his cell. He picked up immediately on the first ring.
“Trish? Is it done?” he asked tensely.
“It’s done, love. It’s all over and Matt’s gone and everything is okay. Jack’s got it all under control and he’s already working on getting things in order, so we both can relax” I hurriedly explained, knowing I’d have wanted the synopsis first too.
“Good, I’m glad it’s finally taken care of. How did it go?” he asked, needing to hear all the details himself.
I recounted what I’d been told and Jon interrupted only once to curse when I shared that Matt had tried to assault Jack. He listened to the rest of the story pensively as he ticked off the answers to his own questions in his mind.
“Sounds like you covered all the bases, babe. I’d say we’ve got a few people to thank, but I want you to know how much I appreciate you. You did a great job just like I knew you would and I feel like an ass for ever doubting your judgment. Rest assured that it’s one mistake I’ll never repeat. I’m no longer blind when it comes to my family” he apologized yet again.
“Jon, stop it. Please, stop apologizing, okay? I was angry, I admit, but I don’t want you to keep doing penance for having a blind spot when it comes to family, okay? You made a mistake and I made mistakes too. We’re not perfect, but neither of us screwed up because we’re stupid. We’re just human, so stop with the ‘Mea culpa’ and let it go. Please, Jon, don’t let this eat at you. Let it go, for my sake even, okay?” I snapped.
I just couldn’t handle his continued remorse and I knew he was still punishing himself for letting me down in the beginning. I regretted having spoken so harshly when it all started, but I couldn’t take back what I’d said. I remembered how devastated I used to feel when my father would tell me how disapppointed he was after I’d made a mistake and I silently kicked myself for acting just like him.
“Trish, baby, I love you and maybe someday you won’t have to keep kicking my ass” he chuckled. “But until that day comes, don’t stop, okay?” he teased.
“Stop flirting with me when we’ve still got half a day before I can discipline you properly” I smirked back.
“Aaawww, shit, darlin’…” he blushed and with that I knew we’d be okay again soon.
*************
Jon was still in the air and he’d fallen into an fitful slumber after updating the guys with the news. The emotions he’d felt in the last several days had taken their toll and he was exhausted. He also knew that the worst was yet to come as he hadn’t heard from his mother and he had prepared himself mentally for when the call came. He might as well get some rest while he could, so he’d downed the last of his wine and closed his eyes.
Scenes from his childhood peppered his dreams as he remembered how close he and his mom had been. She’d bought him his first guitar and she’d encouraged him to learn how to play, even arranging for him to get lessons from the neighbor across the street. He’d been awful at first and he’d wanted to quit, just like he had when he’d been younger and she’d brought him a violin. But his mom realized this time he was trying and she’d never lost faith; she’d always believed he could do anything. Those were the good times.
He remembered her smile as he saw her and his dad out in the audience when he had his first gig at Giants. She’d winked back when he threw her a smile and he felt the warm rush of a mother’s pride in her son. She created the Fan Club and it seemed fitting; she’d always seemed like his biggest fan. As he grew more successful, and the money rolled in, he’d bought her the dream house she’d always wanted and she’d seemed so content. And then she had started drinking.
There had always been parties in the neighborhood and he remembered that she had often come home a bit tipsy, but his dad had just laughed it off. He’d never really thought twice about himself until the night many years later when he’d been honored for his success and the record company had thrown a big bash. He’d said a few words and he’d thanked everyone for their support, including his family, but he hadn’t singled her out. He’d just married Dot and he’d been riding high on the charts and yet his mother hadn’t seemed happy for him. She’d blasted both him and Dorothea for being ungrateful brats and had left the party in quite a huff. Jon passed it off as she’d had too much to drink.
But their relationship grew strained over the years since that episode and it seemed like he could never please her. When he had a hit record, she’d push him to do more and when his career had sagged at some points, she berated him for letting things slide and he began to avoid her as he was sick of her tirades. She’d never treated Dot like a member of the family and actually seemed to resent her importance in his life. And through it all, her drinking continued and he remembered one evening when he went to visit and it ended up being just him and his dad.
His father had always stayed in the background while Jon was growing up and that seemed even more true once his career had taken off. Not that he wasn’t proud of his son, because he was, but more because he tended to shun the limelight, unlike his wife, who soaked up attention like a sponge. Jon had spent the evening alone with his father, without Carol hogging the spotlight, and he was surprised at what he had learned.
Jon’s eyelids fluttered as he continued remembering that night in his dream, so vivid now that he was almost reliving it.
“Dad, how come we never spent any time together, just you and me, before now?” Jon had asked.
“Your mother would never have allowed it” John Sr. had smiled. “You were her baby, her darling. There wasn’t room for me in that picture” he’d replied truthfully.
“Where’s mom tonight?” Jon had questioned, realizing it was rare that Carol wasn’t there, but then he hadn’t told her he was coming to visit.
“She’s out again with her well-to-do girlfriends” his father had said with a touch of sarcasm as they’d sat there sharing a beer at the kitchen table.
Jon had suddenly realized how lonely his father sounded and how left out he must have felt. Carol had embraced her new lifestyle and she seemed to have left dad behind now that she had the opportunity to mingle with the rich and famous, thanks to his success. When Carol had returned home later that night and stumbled into the house, drunk and gushing over her powerful friends, Jon had seen his dad age right in front of his eyes.
“I’m really sorry, dad. I never meant for it to turn out like this” he’d apologized.
“I know, son. It isn’t your fault. It’s just your mother” John Sr. had said as he helped her into bed before she passed out.
That had been the beginning of the “grey summer” as Jon had come to call it and the first time he had been seriously depressed. Whatever shred of innocence he’d retained about his notions of fame and fortune had withered away and he’d become bitter and jaded for a time. But Dot had pulled him out of it and he eventually moved on, repressing the knowledge that his mother wasn’t who he needed her to be. But it all came crashing back with a vengeance as his subconscious mind subtly reminded him of what he’d tried to forget.
He was jolted awake by the sound of his cell phone and he reached in his pocket to retrieve it. He looked at the number and braced himself for the onslaught. Here we go.
“I’ve been expecting your call” Jon said coolly as he answered the phone.
“Jon, what have you done?” Carol bleated frantically into the phone.
“Something I should have done years ago, mother” he answered in a steady voice, catching her off guard with his icy tone.
“I’ve spent the last several hours trying to console your brother after the humiliating way you and that wife of yours treated him” she huffed.
“Trish was much kinder than I would have been” he stated with a snort, dismissing her unwarranted haughtiness.
“Jon, what’s the matter with you? Matt didn’t deserve to be treated that way. All he did was try to clean up the mess that wife of yours made when she interferred with the Fan Club! Why are you blaming your brother? He warned you not to let her go through with it in the first place! I can’t believe you don’t see that!” she fumed.
“The only mistake Trish ever made was believing that Matt could be trusted to carry out her wishes and she did that for my sake” he countered.
“For Heaven’s sake, Jon, Matt doesn’t monitor the boards himself. He didn’t realize there was a problem and when he learned about what had happened to the fans, he tried to do what he could to correct it and stop any more bills from being generated” she insisted.
Ah, so that’s the game. She doesn’t think we know how the billing works. She doesn’t realize that we know what they did. Let’s cut to the chase and get this over.
“Trish wasn’t as stupid as I was, mother. She figured out what you and Matt did and how you did it. And as soon as we determine who else was involved, they’ll be terminated as well, so don’t think for a moment that you’re fooling anyone or that you’ll ever have such an opportunity in the future” Jon hissed.
He was seething now and ready for a fight. He wasn’t looking to make amends and even if she’d apologized and owned up to the plot, he doubted he’d have forgiven her. But continuing the charade and trying to blame his wife who she’d victimized was just way too much and he was incensed at her persistence in trying to manipulate him just like she always had.
“What are you saying? Now you’re blaming me? How dare you! After everything I’ve tried to do for you? How could you let that woman turn you against me that way? I’ve given up everything for you! For you, Jon!” she howled.
“Don’t you mean that you’re afraid of losing everything that you have because of me?” he spat back.
“Jon, you’re my son and I love you” Carol whimpered, but Jon was having none of it.
“You love my money and my fame; in fact you love it more than I do. You don’t know the first thing about love, mother. You tried to destroy my relationship with my wife, the most precious thing that I have…” he reminded her but she interrupted.
“Jonny, you’re blind. You don’t realize what you’re saying. One day you’ll open your eyes and see…” she tried to convince him but he cut her off, his heart steeled against her now.
“I closed my eyes for a long time because it hurt me too much to see, but they’re open now and what I see is an incredibly selfish, spoiled woman who’s panicking because the gravy train has dried up. If it wasn’t for dad, I might not ever see you again” he threatened her.
“But Jon, I’m your mother…” she wailed.
“Then act like it!” he said finally and hung up the phone.
The guys in the band heard most of what Jon had said and they didn’t know what to say. Tico stared at his hands, while David looked out the window and Hugh pretended to read the book he was holding. Only Richie ventured a response. He applauded. It was about fuckin’ time.
“Damn, that would make a good story for the book, but I’m guessing you and Jon would rather I not get into explicit details here?” he asked quizzically.
“Yeah, I’d say that’s a safe bet” I agreed.
I knew Jon would be pacing anxiously in his plane, waiting for news, so I didn’t delay any longer and dialed his cell. He picked up immediately on the first ring.
“Trish? Is it done?” he asked tensely.
“It’s done, love. It’s all over and Matt’s gone and everything is okay. Jack’s got it all under control and he’s already working on getting things in order, so we both can relax” I hurriedly explained, knowing I’d have wanted the synopsis first too.
“Good, I’m glad it’s finally taken care of. How did it go?” he asked, needing to hear all the details himself.
I recounted what I’d been told and Jon interrupted only once to curse when I shared that Matt had tried to assault Jack. He listened to the rest of the story pensively as he ticked off the answers to his own questions in his mind.
“Sounds like you covered all the bases, babe. I’d say we’ve got a few people to thank, but I want you to know how much I appreciate you. You did a great job just like I knew you would and I feel like an ass for ever doubting your judgment. Rest assured that it’s one mistake I’ll never repeat. I’m no longer blind when it comes to my family” he apologized yet again.
“Jon, stop it. Please, stop apologizing, okay? I was angry, I admit, but I don’t want you to keep doing penance for having a blind spot when it comes to family, okay? You made a mistake and I made mistakes too. We’re not perfect, but neither of us screwed up because we’re stupid. We’re just human, so stop with the ‘Mea culpa’ and let it go. Please, Jon, don’t let this eat at you. Let it go, for my sake even, okay?” I snapped.
I just couldn’t handle his continued remorse and I knew he was still punishing himself for letting me down in the beginning. I regretted having spoken so harshly when it all started, but I couldn’t take back what I’d said. I remembered how devastated I used to feel when my father would tell me how disapppointed he was after I’d made a mistake and I silently kicked myself for acting just like him.
“Trish, baby, I love you and maybe someday you won’t have to keep kicking my ass” he chuckled. “But until that day comes, don’t stop, okay?” he teased.
“Stop flirting with me when we’ve still got half a day before I can discipline you properly” I smirked back.
“Aaawww, shit, darlin’…” he blushed and with that I knew we’d be okay again soon.
*************
Jon was still in the air and he’d fallen into an fitful slumber after updating the guys with the news. The emotions he’d felt in the last several days had taken their toll and he was exhausted. He also knew that the worst was yet to come as he hadn’t heard from his mother and he had prepared himself mentally for when the call came. He might as well get some rest while he could, so he’d downed the last of his wine and closed his eyes.
Scenes from his childhood peppered his dreams as he remembered how close he and his mom had been. She’d bought him his first guitar and she’d encouraged him to learn how to play, even arranging for him to get lessons from the neighbor across the street. He’d been awful at first and he’d wanted to quit, just like he had when he’d been younger and she’d brought him a violin. But his mom realized this time he was trying and she’d never lost faith; she’d always believed he could do anything. Those were the good times.
He remembered her smile as he saw her and his dad out in the audience when he had his first gig at Giants. She’d winked back when he threw her a smile and he felt the warm rush of a mother’s pride in her son. She created the Fan Club and it seemed fitting; she’d always seemed like his biggest fan. As he grew more successful, and the money rolled in, he’d bought her the dream house she’d always wanted and she’d seemed so content. And then she had started drinking.
There had always been parties in the neighborhood and he remembered that she had often come home a bit tipsy, but his dad had just laughed it off. He’d never really thought twice about himself until the night many years later when he’d been honored for his success and the record company had thrown a big bash. He’d said a few words and he’d thanked everyone for their support, including his family, but he hadn’t singled her out. He’d just married Dot and he’d been riding high on the charts and yet his mother hadn’t seemed happy for him. She’d blasted both him and Dorothea for being ungrateful brats and had left the party in quite a huff. Jon passed it off as she’d had too much to drink.
But their relationship grew strained over the years since that episode and it seemed like he could never please her. When he had a hit record, she’d push him to do more and when his career had sagged at some points, she berated him for letting things slide and he began to avoid her as he was sick of her tirades. She’d never treated Dot like a member of the family and actually seemed to resent her importance in his life. And through it all, her drinking continued and he remembered one evening when he went to visit and it ended up being just him and his dad.
His father had always stayed in the background while Jon was growing up and that seemed even more true once his career had taken off. Not that he wasn’t proud of his son, because he was, but more because he tended to shun the limelight, unlike his wife, who soaked up attention like a sponge. Jon had spent the evening alone with his father, without Carol hogging the spotlight, and he was surprised at what he had learned.
Jon’s eyelids fluttered as he continued remembering that night in his dream, so vivid now that he was almost reliving it.
“Dad, how come we never spent any time together, just you and me, before now?” Jon had asked.
“Your mother would never have allowed it” John Sr. had smiled. “You were her baby, her darling. There wasn’t room for me in that picture” he’d replied truthfully.
“Where’s mom tonight?” Jon had questioned, realizing it was rare that Carol wasn’t there, but then he hadn’t told her he was coming to visit.
“She’s out again with her well-to-do girlfriends” his father had said with a touch of sarcasm as they’d sat there sharing a beer at the kitchen table.
Jon had suddenly realized how lonely his father sounded and how left out he must have felt. Carol had embraced her new lifestyle and she seemed to have left dad behind now that she had the opportunity to mingle with the rich and famous, thanks to his success. When Carol had returned home later that night and stumbled into the house, drunk and gushing over her powerful friends, Jon had seen his dad age right in front of his eyes.
“I’m really sorry, dad. I never meant for it to turn out like this” he’d apologized.
“I know, son. It isn’t your fault. It’s just your mother” John Sr. had said as he helped her into bed before she passed out.
That had been the beginning of the “grey summer” as Jon had come to call it and the first time he had been seriously depressed. Whatever shred of innocence he’d retained about his notions of fame and fortune had withered away and he’d become bitter and jaded for a time. But Dot had pulled him out of it and he eventually moved on, repressing the knowledge that his mother wasn’t who he needed her to be. But it all came crashing back with a vengeance as his subconscious mind subtly reminded him of what he’d tried to forget.
He was jolted awake by the sound of his cell phone and he reached in his pocket to retrieve it. He looked at the number and braced himself for the onslaught. Here we go.
“I’ve been expecting your call” Jon said coolly as he answered the phone.
“Jon, what have you done?” Carol bleated frantically into the phone.
“Something I should have done years ago, mother” he answered in a steady voice, catching her off guard with his icy tone.
“I’ve spent the last several hours trying to console your brother after the humiliating way you and that wife of yours treated him” she huffed.
“Trish was much kinder than I would have been” he stated with a snort, dismissing her unwarranted haughtiness.
“Jon, what’s the matter with you? Matt didn’t deserve to be treated that way. All he did was try to clean up the mess that wife of yours made when she interferred with the Fan Club! Why are you blaming your brother? He warned you not to let her go through with it in the first place! I can’t believe you don’t see that!” she fumed.
“The only mistake Trish ever made was believing that Matt could be trusted to carry out her wishes and she did that for my sake” he countered.
“For Heaven’s sake, Jon, Matt doesn’t monitor the boards himself. He didn’t realize there was a problem and when he learned about what had happened to the fans, he tried to do what he could to correct it and stop any more bills from being generated” she insisted.
Ah, so that’s the game. She doesn’t think we know how the billing works. She doesn’t realize that we know what they did. Let’s cut to the chase and get this over.
“Trish wasn’t as stupid as I was, mother. She figured out what you and Matt did and how you did it. And as soon as we determine who else was involved, they’ll be terminated as well, so don’t think for a moment that you’re fooling anyone or that you’ll ever have such an opportunity in the future” Jon hissed.
He was seething now and ready for a fight. He wasn’t looking to make amends and even if she’d apologized and owned up to the plot, he doubted he’d have forgiven her. But continuing the charade and trying to blame his wife who she’d victimized was just way too much and he was incensed at her persistence in trying to manipulate him just like she always had.
“What are you saying? Now you’re blaming me? How dare you! After everything I’ve tried to do for you? How could you let that woman turn you against me that way? I’ve given up everything for you! For you, Jon!” she howled.
“Don’t you mean that you’re afraid of losing everything that you have because of me?” he spat back.
“Jon, you’re my son and I love you” Carol whimpered, but Jon was having none of it.
“You love my money and my fame; in fact you love it more than I do. You don’t know the first thing about love, mother. You tried to destroy my relationship with my wife, the most precious thing that I have…” he reminded her but she interrupted.
“Jonny, you’re blind. You don’t realize what you’re saying. One day you’ll open your eyes and see…” she tried to convince him but he cut her off, his heart steeled against her now.
“I closed my eyes for a long time because it hurt me too much to see, but they’re open now and what I see is an incredibly selfish, spoiled woman who’s panicking because the gravy train has dried up. If it wasn’t for dad, I might not ever see you again” he threatened her.
“But Jon, I’m your mother…” she wailed.
“Then act like it!” he said finally and hung up the phone.
The guys in the band heard most of what Jon had said and they didn’t know what to say. Tico stared at his hands, while David looked out the window and Hugh pretended to read the book he was holding. Only Richie ventured a response. He applauded. It was about fuckin’ time.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The Sauna Part 264
I’d taken a shower and re-packed my suitcases, leaving a good deal that I no longer needed here at the house. I smiled to myself as I realized that Jon had been right; there were stores in other countries. Jim was busy packing his suitcase and I made myself a pot of tea and sat down to relax. I looked at the clock and it was just before nine in New Jersey and I pictured Matt’s face as I imagined he’d look when he walked into the headquarters of Backstage, feeling pretty pleased with himself. It was the last time he’d be smiling for a while, I thought smugly.
I sipped my tea and glanced at the clock again and suddenly realized I’d almost forgotten that I needed to arrange for a limo to pick up Hugh’s niece, Alice, at the airport. It was just striking eleven here in Colorado and her plane was scheduled to arrive at noon.
“Shit!” I cried out in alarm, startling Eddie who fled from my lap.
“What’s wrong?” Jim shouted from the top of the stairs.
“Hugh’s niece! Alice! The cat sitter!” I said finally as he looked at me blankly. “I’ve got to arrange for a ride for her. Her plane will be here in an hour!”
I grabbed the phone book and looked up the number for the limousine service we used as I had remembered to schedule a pick-up to take Jim and I to the airport at two. I quickly dialed the number and explained the situation and asked if they could send the limo we’d reserved to pick Alice up first and bring her here and just wait until we were ready to leave. Fortunately since it was a weekday they could accommodate the change in plan as they already had a limo on standby at the airport. I gave them the necessary information and hung up the phone, breathing a sigh of relief.
“What was that you were saying about drama isn’t normally part of your life” Jim teased as he brought down his suitcase.
“Okay, so I lied. I didn’t want you to get cold feet” I pouted and he laughed and went back up the stairs to get my bags.
I settled back on the couch and patted the seat and Eddie jumped up, snuggling back in my lap while Zeke sprawled out alongside me on the cushion. It seemed like I’d barely had any time to just cuddle my boys and I took the opportunity now. I’d be leaving them again in a few hours and I’d be taking away the person they’d just gotten used to and introducing them to another stranger. Eddie looked up at me with his great big green eyes and I nuzzled my face in his fur. Sometimes it sucked to be married to a rock star.
************
Alice arrived and we introduced her to all of the cats, sort of. Zeke was hiding and wouldn’t come down from upstairs and I pointed him out where he was standing, cautiously peering around the doorway from my bedroom. I apologized to Alice for having so little time to spend with her and thanked her profusely for allowing Hugh to talk her into this gig.
“It’s fine, Trish, really. After twenty some years of my Uncle being on the road, I know how it is” she laughed. “We’ll be fine, don’t worry. I brought my secret weapon” she giggled.
Alice drew a long stick with feathers attached to it out of her bag and began to wave it in front of Eddie. His eyes turned as big as saucers and his whiskers twitched forward as he swatted at the new toy. Zeke watched from a distance, but I could see he was curious and it was only a matter of time before she’d have him eating out of her hand. Opie was batting at the toy too, but Floyd was a tough nut to crack.
Alice then drew a can of cat treats out of her bag and Floyd wandered over then for a sniff. He turned up his nose, though, and stalked off, making it clear he was above bribery and couldn’t be bought. Alice laughed, but she didn’t give up, as she rummaged back in her bag for yet another item she hoped would entice the grumpy old furball.
“I guess it’s time to pull out the big guns” she said confidently as she fished out a small stuffed mouse from the bag.
I tried to explain that Floyd was pretty ornery and that I didn’t really expect him to come around as he still hated Jon and he didn’t care much for Jim. Alice shook her head and tossed him the mouse and I watched in fascination as he turned around in mid-stride. When I saw him pounce on the mouse and roll onto his back, still holding it between his paws, I knew she was a master.
“Catnip?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.
“Only the best stuff” she winked back.
“What are you? Cat Nanny 911?” Jim said as he watched Floyd turn into a pussycat while Alice rubbed his belly.
Alice giggled at that, but it was obvious that she truly loved cats and that they’d be in good hands. I wrote out our itinerary and gave her both of our cell numbers in case anything came up or she needed anything and I gave her the keys to the SUV.
It was almost two o’clock and I wanted to say goodbye to my boys. Floyd was still preoccupied with the nip and barely acknowledged my attempt to give him a pat. Opie bumped his head into my hand, purring, while I scratched his ears but Eddie gave me a forlorn look as he rubbed his scent over my bags. I picked him up and kissed him repeatedly, with tears in my eyes. I hated leaving them yet again and Eddie knew just how to make me feel guilty. The only one left was Zeke and I tried to coax him down the stairs, but he made me come to him and only then did he give me a kiss.
“Trish, c’mon! We’ve gotta leave” Jim called up, checking his watch.
I held Eddie one final time and Alice gave me a wink and promised to pay special attention to my little buddy. Jim had already loaded the suitcases into the limo and he came back just to retrieve me. I handed Eddie over to Alice and he hugged her, turning away and refusing to look at me. He was being a brat, but he was still my little brat. I paused at the doorway and took one last look at the house, making sure I had what I needed and closed the door. We were on our way.
*****************
We reached the airport with little time to spare and managed to clear security pretty quickly. I wasn’t attempting to smuggle contraband cookies this time; I’d learned my lesson. We settled in for the long flight, but I couldn’t relax as I was waiting to hear that my letter to Matt had been delivered.
The longer I waited, the more anxious I felt. I kept checking my watch and reminding myself that it was two hours ahead in New Jersey. The call finally came at quarter to seven and I bit my lip as I answered the phone. Jim placed his hand on my arm and I steadied myself and sucked in my breath.
“Hello, this is Trish” I answered.
“This is security, ma’am. We were just calling to inform you that Matthew Bongiovi has been escorted off the premises” the voice on the other end informed me.
I let out the breath I’d been holding and closed my eyes. It was done. Finally. I needed to make sure that everything went as planned and that Matt hadn’t been allowed any opportunity to further sabotage any files or equipment and that Jack had been able to block further access.
“Did everything go smoothly? How bad of a scene did he cause?” I wanted to know.
“We were prepared when the courier arrived, so we gave him a moment to read the letter before we stepped in. I think we surprised him and he didn’t have time to do any damage, but he started cussing and protesting that he was in charge. My partner showed him a copy of your letter we’d received on the fax and he really blew a gasket when the new guy walked in” the man explained.
“Jack? He’s there then?” I asked, my heart pounding.
“Yes, he’s right here. Would you like to speak to him yourself?” the man offered and I indicated that I did.
“Trish? Yeah, I’m here. I was waiting until the deed was done and I just pretended to be a repairman, so he never noticed me until it was too late. I gotta tell you, it was ugly there for a moment, but everything’s okay” he reassured me.
“What do you mean ‘it was ugly’?” I asked, clenching my jaw.
“Well, the bastard took a swing at me when he found out who I was and saw your letter to the staff. Good move, by the way” Jack chuckled.
“Shit, Jack, did he hit you?” I responded.
“Nope, never connected. Your security saw it coming before I did and stopped him. Hey listen, I’m having trouble disabling his account access. Any idea what he might have used as a password? I’ve tried all the obvious ones” Jack inquired and I thought for a moment.
“Have you tried ‘mom’ or ‘carol’?” I suggested.
“No, actually, lemme see…” he replied, testing those. “Nope, wait a minute… hah, got it. ‘mother’ was it, damn. Good call” Jack replied, scratching his head. “Thanks, Trish, that just saved me a lot of work trying to find a back door into the system. Okay, I’m good to go now” he added.
I shook my head and smiled; he really was a ‘Mama’s Boy’ after all. But I was glad there was something I could do to make Jack’s job a little easier as I knew he’d have plenty of challenges trying to undo all the damage.
“Jack, did Matt try and take anything with him?” I needed to know.
“Security let him take his personal effects, but they had me check over everything he took before they let him have it. There wasn’t much; a few photographs, some CD’s, a couple bottles of booze and some clothes, that sort of stuff. I checked the pockets to make sure there wasn’t a flash drive or a disk, but the only thing in there was an old tie and a rubber, for Christ’s sake” Jack explained.
“I’m still glad you looked. Matt isn’t that clever and I’m sure he never saw any of this coming, but I still don’t trust him as far as I could throw him” I said, breathing a sigh of relief.
“Yeah, me either. Listen, there’s some stuff I wanna get started on right away and I’ll call you with updates or if I run into any snags. Did you wanna talk to security again?” he said, anxious to get on with the job.
“Thanks, Jack, I don’t know how to repay you. But trust me on this, I’ll find a way. Let me speak with security before you hang up” I smiled.
“Hey, don’t sweat it. You’re paying me well and I love a challenge” he replied before handing me back to security.
“I just wanted to thank you again for handling such a difficult situation so professionally. I’ll make sure that Jon knows too. I’m very sorry that you had to do this, but things should be back to normal in a few days” I praised them.
“No problem, Missus B. It wasn’t that bad” the man said.
“Call me Trish, please” I winced, not wanting to ever hear myself referred to by Carol’s nickname.
“Okay, uhm, is there anything else, Trish?” he said uncomfortably.
“Just your name. What should I call you?” I laughed.
“Don’t laugh, but it’s actually Matt. Matt Ryan. But I’d rather you call me Ryan if you don’t mind” he laughed a little and I did too.
“Okay, then, Ryan. Thanks again” I said goodbye and hung up the phone, shaking my head.
I sipped my tea and glanced at the clock again and suddenly realized I’d almost forgotten that I needed to arrange for a limo to pick up Hugh’s niece, Alice, at the airport. It was just striking eleven here in Colorado and her plane was scheduled to arrive at noon.
“Shit!” I cried out in alarm, startling Eddie who fled from my lap.
“What’s wrong?” Jim shouted from the top of the stairs.
“Hugh’s niece! Alice! The cat sitter!” I said finally as he looked at me blankly. “I’ve got to arrange for a ride for her. Her plane will be here in an hour!”
I grabbed the phone book and looked up the number for the limousine service we used as I had remembered to schedule a pick-up to take Jim and I to the airport at two. I quickly dialed the number and explained the situation and asked if they could send the limo we’d reserved to pick Alice up first and bring her here and just wait until we were ready to leave. Fortunately since it was a weekday they could accommodate the change in plan as they already had a limo on standby at the airport. I gave them the necessary information and hung up the phone, breathing a sigh of relief.
“What was that you were saying about drama isn’t normally part of your life” Jim teased as he brought down his suitcase.
“Okay, so I lied. I didn’t want you to get cold feet” I pouted and he laughed and went back up the stairs to get my bags.
I settled back on the couch and patted the seat and Eddie jumped up, snuggling back in my lap while Zeke sprawled out alongside me on the cushion. It seemed like I’d barely had any time to just cuddle my boys and I took the opportunity now. I’d be leaving them again in a few hours and I’d be taking away the person they’d just gotten used to and introducing them to another stranger. Eddie looked up at me with his great big green eyes and I nuzzled my face in his fur. Sometimes it sucked to be married to a rock star.
************
Alice arrived and we introduced her to all of the cats, sort of. Zeke was hiding and wouldn’t come down from upstairs and I pointed him out where he was standing, cautiously peering around the doorway from my bedroom. I apologized to Alice for having so little time to spend with her and thanked her profusely for allowing Hugh to talk her into this gig.
“It’s fine, Trish, really. After twenty some years of my Uncle being on the road, I know how it is” she laughed. “We’ll be fine, don’t worry. I brought my secret weapon” she giggled.
Alice drew a long stick with feathers attached to it out of her bag and began to wave it in front of Eddie. His eyes turned as big as saucers and his whiskers twitched forward as he swatted at the new toy. Zeke watched from a distance, but I could see he was curious and it was only a matter of time before she’d have him eating out of her hand. Opie was batting at the toy too, but Floyd was a tough nut to crack.
Alice then drew a can of cat treats out of her bag and Floyd wandered over then for a sniff. He turned up his nose, though, and stalked off, making it clear he was above bribery and couldn’t be bought. Alice laughed, but she didn’t give up, as she rummaged back in her bag for yet another item she hoped would entice the grumpy old furball.
“I guess it’s time to pull out the big guns” she said confidently as she fished out a small stuffed mouse from the bag.
I tried to explain that Floyd was pretty ornery and that I didn’t really expect him to come around as he still hated Jon and he didn’t care much for Jim. Alice shook her head and tossed him the mouse and I watched in fascination as he turned around in mid-stride. When I saw him pounce on the mouse and roll onto his back, still holding it between his paws, I knew she was a master.
“Catnip?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.
“Only the best stuff” she winked back.
“What are you? Cat Nanny 911?” Jim said as he watched Floyd turn into a pussycat while Alice rubbed his belly.
Alice giggled at that, but it was obvious that she truly loved cats and that they’d be in good hands. I wrote out our itinerary and gave her both of our cell numbers in case anything came up or she needed anything and I gave her the keys to the SUV.
It was almost two o’clock and I wanted to say goodbye to my boys. Floyd was still preoccupied with the nip and barely acknowledged my attempt to give him a pat. Opie bumped his head into my hand, purring, while I scratched his ears but Eddie gave me a forlorn look as he rubbed his scent over my bags. I picked him up and kissed him repeatedly, with tears in my eyes. I hated leaving them yet again and Eddie knew just how to make me feel guilty. The only one left was Zeke and I tried to coax him down the stairs, but he made me come to him and only then did he give me a kiss.
“Trish, c’mon! We’ve gotta leave” Jim called up, checking his watch.
I held Eddie one final time and Alice gave me a wink and promised to pay special attention to my little buddy. Jim had already loaded the suitcases into the limo and he came back just to retrieve me. I handed Eddie over to Alice and he hugged her, turning away and refusing to look at me. He was being a brat, but he was still my little brat. I paused at the doorway and took one last look at the house, making sure I had what I needed and closed the door. We were on our way.
*****************
We reached the airport with little time to spare and managed to clear security pretty quickly. I wasn’t attempting to smuggle contraband cookies this time; I’d learned my lesson. We settled in for the long flight, but I couldn’t relax as I was waiting to hear that my letter to Matt had been delivered.
The longer I waited, the more anxious I felt. I kept checking my watch and reminding myself that it was two hours ahead in New Jersey. The call finally came at quarter to seven and I bit my lip as I answered the phone. Jim placed his hand on my arm and I steadied myself and sucked in my breath.
“Hello, this is Trish” I answered.
“This is security, ma’am. We were just calling to inform you that Matthew Bongiovi has been escorted off the premises” the voice on the other end informed me.
I let out the breath I’d been holding and closed my eyes. It was done. Finally. I needed to make sure that everything went as planned and that Matt hadn’t been allowed any opportunity to further sabotage any files or equipment and that Jack had been able to block further access.
“Did everything go smoothly? How bad of a scene did he cause?” I wanted to know.
“We were prepared when the courier arrived, so we gave him a moment to read the letter before we stepped in. I think we surprised him and he didn’t have time to do any damage, but he started cussing and protesting that he was in charge. My partner showed him a copy of your letter we’d received on the fax and he really blew a gasket when the new guy walked in” the man explained.
“Jack? He’s there then?” I asked, my heart pounding.
“Yes, he’s right here. Would you like to speak to him yourself?” the man offered and I indicated that I did.
“Trish? Yeah, I’m here. I was waiting until the deed was done and I just pretended to be a repairman, so he never noticed me until it was too late. I gotta tell you, it was ugly there for a moment, but everything’s okay” he reassured me.
“What do you mean ‘it was ugly’?” I asked, clenching my jaw.
“Well, the bastard took a swing at me when he found out who I was and saw your letter to the staff. Good move, by the way” Jack chuckled.
“Shit, Jack, did he hit you?” I responded.
“Nope, never connected. Your security saw it coming before I did and stopped him. Hey listen, I’m having trouble disabling his account access. Any idea what he might have used as a password? I’ve tried all the obvious ones” Jack inquired and I thought for a moment.
“Have you tried ‘mom’ or ‘carol’?” I suggested.
“No, actually, lemme see…” he replied, testing those. “Nope, wait a minute… hah, got it. ‘mother’ was it, damn. Good call” Jack replied, scratching his head. “Thanks, Trish, that just saved me a lot of work trying to find a back door into the system. Okay, I’m good to go now” he added.
I shook my head and smiled; he really was a ‘Mama’s Boy’ after all. But I was glad there was something I could do to make Jack’s job a little easier as I knew he’d have plenty of challenges trying to undo all the damage.
“Jack, did Matt try and take anything with him?” I needed to know.
“Security let him take his personal effects, but they had me check over everything he took before they let him have it. There wasn’t much; a few photographs, some CD’s, a couple bottles of booze and some clothes, that sort of stuff. I checked the pockets to make sure there wasn’t a flash drive or a disk, but the only thing in there was an old tie and a rubber, for Christ’s sake” Jack explained.
“I’m still glad you looked. Matt isn’t that clever and I’m sure he never saw any of this coming, but I still don’t trust him as far as I could throw him” I said, breathing a sigh of relief.
“Yeah, me either. Listen, there’s some stuff I wanna get started on right away and I’ll call you with updates or if I run into any snags. Did you wanna talk to security again?” he said, anxious to get on with the job.
“Thanks, Jack, I don’t know how to repay you. But trust me on this, I’ll find a way. Let me speak with security before you hang up” I smiled.
“Hey, don’t sweat it. You’re paying me well and I love a challenge” he replied before handing me back to security.
“I just wanted to thank you again for handling such a difficult situation so professionally. I’ll make sure that Jon knows too. I’m very sorry that you had to do this, but things should be back to normal in a few days” I praised them.
“No problem, Missus B. It wasn’t that bad” the man said.
“Call me Trish, please” I winced, not wanting to ever hear myself referred to by Carol’s nickname.
“Okay, uhm, is there anything else, Trish?” he said uncomfortably.
“Just your name. What should I call you?” I laughed.
“Don’t laugh, but it’s actually Matt. Matt Ryan. But I’d rather you call me Ryan if you don’t mind” he laughed a little and I did too.
“Okay, then, Ryan. Thanks again” I said goodbye and hung up the phone, shaking my head.
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