I was once a volunteer at the Brisbane Writer’s Festival.
I met another volunteer — I forgot her name — and she was from, either England, or Ireland, or America or Canada — another English speaking, but far away country…
She told me about how she moved to Australia for her partner.
She told me about how in their “courtship” — it was used, that word. Even she felt it a bit funny, but also — didn’t know how else to describe this — and we were literary nerds, it didn’t really matter. She talked about how it was so many emails — “Oh, he would write me long, lengthy emails about his days…” — and this was before everyone feared everything about emails and cybersecurity…
And then she lamented, “Now our conversations are about sock drawers and whether or not the other has hung up the laundry.”
I don’t really know whether she had a bad day with him?
Whether she was trying to be… low-key? Humble in a way? About it?
Or… it simply was… a new reality… that marriage can have its lulls… and it’s not necessarily a “bad” thing…
Uhuh…
Will we reach a point where you’re just sitting in front of the TV drinking a beer and replying me with one-word answers?
Will we reach a point where you’re just in your Man Cave avoiding me?
Will we reach a point where — there isn’t even any inspiration? There’s no creativity? No spark? No drive? No passions?
Sock drawers and laundry?
I don’t think so.
Why not?
Because… whatever they had going on that day — maybe she was in her own narrative. She’s a writer, too — I’m assuming. She was in her own “Oh… contrasting the romantic, lengthy emails to the daily mundane things… sock drawers and laundry…” It doesn’t mean she’s not passionate with her husband, even today. It doesn’t mean they don’t have date nights — they probably do, and it just happened to not be that day. Maybe she was so busy that week volunteering and the relationship was a little strained? Maybe they have some inside jokes about socks and laundry like the way we have our inside jokes about showering!?
You think they have a… laundry kink!?!?
(Laughing) You never know! Whatever people are into behind closed doors, within their own relationships!
Okay… well.. what she said to me that day… it had been at the back of my mind for a while…
When were you AT the Brisbane Writer’s Festival? I don’t remember seeing this on Facebook or Instagram or anything?!
Yeah… sometimes I just keep those kinds of experiences to myself… I don’t take photos, I don’t post anything…
(Shaking his head in disbelief) Always… surprising me… with random things…
(Giggling)
Did you meet any authors?
(Nodding) Yeah…
What?!?! And…?!?!
Nothing — I don’t even remember their names… there was one guy, who was like a Sci-Fi writer? And he also had an office job? And he said, he just keeps at it, every night. Like he goes to work — normal office job — then comes home. Has dinner with his wife and kids, and then he has to go to his “man cave” — and he writes. He writes everyday and then he publishes his books. He has a niche following. And that’s what he does. That’s it. That’s the most memorable moment that I remember from the Brisbane Writer’s Festival that year…
Australian author?
Yes.
(Nodding) That’s kind of cool…
Yeah?
Yeah… he’s kind of like a… writing Bat Man…
(Chuckling) Yeah, maybe…
Virgo Sun Pisces Moon 