I step outside.
The first day of winter had earmaked today on its planner. I break into a sweat and the sunlight cooks my face walking across the lawn.
Hot and sunny....again.
Every day....hot and sunny.
Summer, Winter, it doesnt seem to care.
I miss having seasons, but I live in the hot part of a hot country. Back in my hometown, a place from years ago and two thousand miles away, you'd see frost in the winter, you see the colours of Autumn, Spring feels like a relief from the dark winter. People like wearing black.
You dont see too many Goths in this neck of the woods
"I must own the only black car in this state", I think to myself as I drive up the coastal highway.
I quickly slam on my brake check my speedometer as I realise I'm moving at a faster speed than all around me. Nope, I was fine in the first place.
I slowly bumper my way into town at the speed of a parade float, behind the endless year long holiday crowd checking their maps, looking for their hotels, and taking photographs as they drive.
I live where people holiday.
So they built a town for them.
Surfers Paradise has the warm charm of an Airport Shopping mall and the cultral depth of a street of Strip bars. We have have one of those.
At its best its reminiscant of a David Lee Roth video, at its worst its everything thats bad about the over-commercialisation of a once beautiful place. Highrises shadow the beaches after 3pm, there is an information booth on every street corner, neon is the constant theme, and Theme Parks haunt the outskirts.
Meter maids in gold bikinis are touted in the advertising as the face of the Gold Coast, but the true face is a 50something, bleached blonde Divorcee with a facelift, lipstick on her teeth and a thong riding four inches above her sweatpants as she walks her Poodle down Cavill Avenue. The dreams they once had for this town are long broken, its hopes may have been similar to what they thought Springfield might have been like once they built the monorail.
We have one of them too.
I pull into my workplace, and the hours crash by.
The guests at the resturant are quite amused to have a little blonde freak behind the bar whipping out cocktails.
After work, I stop into my 7-11 to grab a late dinner.
The white lights make everyone look dead.
I go to open my bag to pay for the burgers and chocolate, pick the thing up upside down and the entire contents spill across the counter. Pens, paper, guitar strings, coins, and my book.
The counterhand picks up the book "Labyrinth Of Evil" and looks confused.
"You are reading this?" he stammers.
"Yup, I like Star Wars"
"You are reading a film?"
"Well no, actually this book takes place just before the new film"
"Oh yes!" he excitedly claps his hands together pointing to Anakin " I saw the last one, and he gets told that Darth Vader is his father!"
"Um, no. That film wasnt the last one, it was made a long time ago, and that IS Darth Vader on the cover, well, before he had the suit."
"Oh, so in the new film does he kill Darth Vader ?"
"No, this new film is about when he becomes Darth Vader, see these new ones take place before the old ones"
..............................there is an awkward silence.
I pay for my dinner and leave adding;
"Cheers matey, hey May The Force Be With You!"
He laughs adding..
"Yes, I'll be back"
.............there is an awkward silence.
"Thats the wrong film dude"
I retreat back to my little blonde lair.