Optimizing Love, Risk, and Airports in Canberra: A Romantic Adventure
I vividly remember the year 1980 in Canberra, where securing reliable Friday afternoon transportation was a gamble. However, risking the declaration of love to someone uncertain of their feelings was an even more daring move. At that time, I found myself in the midst of a perplexing long-distance friendship with a young man. While I was studying English at my university in Canberra, he was pursuing his education in Sydney. The intensity between us was undeniable, but his commitment was questionable. He had an on-and-off relationship with someone else and needed time to evaluate his emotions. In retrospect, it may sound naive and feeble, but given our youthful age of 20 and 21, we were all merely figuring things out.
As our friendship progressed, the young man suggested I visit him in Sydney after submitting my thesis. We agreed that this visit would clarify our feelings for each other. During my teenage years, I had often assumed the role of a confidante rather than being the object of romantic interest. Thus, my strategy was to present myself as an unquestionably strong candidate for the position of a girlfriend, hoping to at least secure an opportunity for romance. Looking back, whether this approach was driven by shrewd realism or festering low self-esteem is up for interpretation.
On that fateful day, I completed my thesis and left a message for him, stating that I would be taking the Friday evening train to Sydney. However, fate had other plans. Canberra taxi drivers added an element of risk to my transportation predicament by playing games with the rail schedule, and unfortunately, luck was not on my side as I missed the last train to Sydney. I frantically pleaded, “Take me to the bus station!” but faced another setback when I discovered that every bus seat was sold out. Some might have perceived these series of misfortunes as signs of doomed romantic hopes, leading them to retreat to the comfortable familiarity of their student lodgings. However, for reasons that I can’t quite explain, the urgency to go to Sydney that evening consumed me. It felt like a final opportunity, a last-ditch effort that I couldn’t pass up.
“Now, kindly drive me to the airport,” I instructed the increasingly affluent taxi driver, spending my hard-earned student dollars on a standby ticket with a slim chance of securing a seat on the last flight out of Canberra.
‘I’m not sure I would have stuck with the uncertain and sometimes bruising career as a writer through many years without his adamantine support’: Debra Oswald with Richard Glover in 2019.
At the airport, I rushed to the payphone and used up my remaining stash of 20-cent pieces to leave a message on the young man’s answering machine. I spoke with a mix of hope and uncertainty, “I may not get on a plane. If I do, I’ll be at the airport coach terminal in Oxford Street at 9am.”
Romantic comedies often portray the climactic moment as muddled lovers running towards each other in a bustling transportation hub, followed by a passionate embrace and a happily-ever-after ending. Personally, I’ve always found it difficult to believe in such idealized scenarios. However, I do believe in the possibility of connecting with someone who is nearly right for you at the most opportune moment in your lives. That Friday, having expended all my financial resources and sacrificing some of my pride, I nervously searched the bus terminal, my heart beating uncontrollably.
And there he was, waiting for me. Overwhelmed with relief and excitement, we collapsed into the black vinyl chairs, engaging in a breathless embrace. In that moment, I knew for certain that he was sure about his feelings for me.
Little did I know that the clumsy and chaotic journey to Sydney marked the beginning of an extraordinary stroke of luck. Four decades have passed since that day, and I have experienced profound passion and endless laughter with the young man who waited for me at the terminal. Without his unwavering support, I’m not sure I would have persevered through the uncertainties and challenges of a writing career. Furthermore, since that desperate day, I’ve developed an enduring fondness for the convenience and excitement of air travel.
If you crave a similar willingness to embark on risk and experience profound romantic realizations, there’s still hope. Don’t miss the captivating production “Is There Something Wrong With That Lady?” written by and starring Debra Oswald, showcasing at Ensemble Theatre in Sydney from 18 September to 14 October. Do you have an enchanting moment of romantic realization that you’d like to share? Email your story to [email protected] with “The moment I knew” in the subject line and provide a brief description. Your story might be featured in future columns, offering inspiration to readers searching for their own captivating love stories.
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