August, 2005 - "People Do It Every Day"
So, on August 9, 2005, Joni got brought to the airport to get on a plane and fly across the world to actually, really, meet Stephen. Yes, this was daunting, to say the least, and even a bit scary. O.K. - WAY more than a bit scary. Terrifying. But necessary. So, the only thing that got Joni through the flights was the mantra "People do it every day." As in: people fall in love every day. People meet people every day. People fly around the world every day. People do extraordinary things every single day for a million reasons, so this thing can't be that big a deal or that scary an enterprise. Riiiggghhhtttt....
Needless to say, obviously, things went really well, and obviously, things worked out. And the thing that was the hardest in the end was going to the airport and walking away at the end of those first two weeks together to go back to separate lives across the world from one another. As evidenced by the email that Joni got from Stephen when she arrived back at her apartment at 4 a.m. after having flown back across the world:
"My own dearest Joni,
It’s now 11:42AM on Tuesday, and I guess your plane is now somewhere in the sky above Melbourne. I’m typing this at my place, I’ve got the You-Me-Us music on and a cup of coffee from the plunger at my elbow. I decided not to go back to the office today. I just found all I wanted to do was come back here and cling on to your ghost. When I walked in the door here, I nearly broke down. I miss you so much, so much, so much. As I sit here, I know the feeling you had of wanting to throw up. I can smell your hair on your pillow. The smell of your cooking hangs in the air, and I find myself aching for you in ways I didn’t know existed. I’m still glad though that I came back here. I’m glad – and pleased – to find that I miss you so much it hurts. And I was close to tears when I found your note under my mouse mat.
My dearest, dearest Joni, I don’t think I’m going to cope well without you. At first, I wasn’t sure about having you in my life, at least in the way it has turned out. But now, I don’t like to think about it without you.
I don’t know what else to say. I keep looking around and everything I see reminds me of you. Including the CD copy of the report on the Third Delta Conveyance Channel Project. I never thought such a thing could shake me up so much.
===
OK, just got back – went and heated up a bowl of Kajun Kangaroo. I looked at the rest of the flat while I was doing it. Precious, lovesome Joni, I will make this place better. I will make myself better. All I want now is to be the man you deserve.
Dearest one, I don’t know what else to say. I’m almost in tears at this point. The last two weeks have been beyond my dreams, and like you I think they have to have been the best two weeks of my life. You have made my life more perfect and wonderful than I could ever deserve to have had it. I will now, most definitely, be waiting for the days and weeks to pass until I can step off the plane in your world and again feel you in my arms and to kiss your sweet lips and face again.
I love you Joni. Hopelessly, hopelesly, hopelessly.
Stephen"
And then, there was, of course, mutual longing. Herewith is Joni's 4 a.m. reply to Stephen's email above:
"My dearest love Stephen,
Its now about 3 a.m. here, and I have just gotten out of the shower, hair dripping and all, and all I can say is "me too". I know that's feeble and infinitely less than the epic ballad ye deserve describing how I have cried on every plane I've been on today, in every airport, and am crying right now. I have looked at photos of us at intervals all day today, and all I can say is that every single mile of my journey, of any future journeys, any hardships, any anything that it takes to put me back in your arms is worth it and then so much more.
Also, in fairness, there's another note lurking in your flat. Look on top of the microwave, between the two tins of biscuits. (I can't believe I just called the little butter cookies biscuits... see what you've done to me in two short weeks?) Oh, and there's one I wrote on your blotter on your desk on the right hand side of said blotter.
I love you so deeply Stephen, and whatever happens with us will be worth every minute of this wrenching heartache, for you have made my life and my world and me so much better than I ever thought possible.
I love you and I miss you,
With all my love,
Your Princess"
So, on August 9, 2005, Joni got brought to the airport to get on a plane and fly across the world to actually, really, meet Stephen. Yes, this was daunting, to say the least, and even a bit scary. O.K. - WAY more than a bit scary. Terrifying. But necessary. So, the only thing that got Joni through the flights was the mantra "People do it every day." As in: people fall in love every day. People meet people every day. People fly around the world every day. People do extraordinary things every single day for a million reasons, so this thing can't be that big a deal or that scary an enterprise. Riiiggghhhtttt....
Needless to say, obviously, things went really well, and obviously, things worked out. And the thing that was the hardest in the end was going to the airport and walking away at the end of those first two weeks together to go back to separate lives across the world from one another. As evidenced by the email that Joni got from Stephen when she arrived back at her apartment at 4 a.m. after having flown back across the world:
"My own dearest Joni,
It’s now 11:42AM on Tuesday, and I guess your plane is now somewhere in the sky above Melbourne. I’m typing this at my place, I’ve got the You-Me-Us music on and a cup of coffee from the plunger at my elbow. I decided not to go back to the office today. I just found all I wanted to do was come back here and cling on to your ghost. When I walked in the door here, I nearly broke down. I miss you so much, so much, so much. As I sit here, I know the feeling you had of wanting to throw up. I can smell your hair on your pillow. The smell of your cooking hangs in the air, and I find myself aching for you in ways I didn’t know existed. I’m still glad though that I came back here. I’m glad – and pleased – to find that I miss you so much it hurts. And I was close to tears when I found your note under my mouse mat.
My dearest, dearest Joni, I don’t think I’m going to cope well without you. At first, I wasn’t sure about having you in my life, at least in the way it has turned out. But now, I don’t like to think about it without you.
I don’t know what else to say. I keep looking around and everything I see reminds me of you. Including the CD copy of the report on the Third Delta Conveyance Channel Project. I never thought such a thing could shake me up so much.
===
OK, just got back – went and heated up a bowl of Kajun Kangaroo. I looked at the rest of the flat while I was doing it. Precious, lovesome Joni, I will make this place better. I will make myself better. All I want now is to be the man you deserve.
Dearest one, I don’t know what else to say. I’m almost in tears at this point. The last two weeks have been beyond my dreams, and like you I think they have to have been the best two weeks of my life. You have made my life more perfect and wonderful than I could ever deserve to have had it. I will now, most definitely, be waiting for the days and weeks to pass until I can step off the plane in your world and again feel you in my arms and to kiss your sweet lips and face again.
I love you Joni. Hopelessly, hopelesly, hopelessly.
Stephen"
And then, there was, of course, mutual longing. Herewith is Joni's 4 a.m. reply to Stephen's email above:
"My dearest love Stephen,
Its now about 3 a.m. here, and I have just gotten out of the shower, hair dripping and all, and all I can say is "me too". I know that's feeble and infinitely less than the epic ballad ye deserve describing how I have cried on every plane I've been on today, in every airport, and am crying right now. I have looked at photos of us at intervals all day today, and all I can say is that every single mile of my journey, of any future journeys, any hardships, any anything that it takes to put me back in your arms is worth it and then so much more.
Also, in fairness, there's another note lurking in your flat. Look on top of the microwave, between the two tins of biscuits. (I can't believe I just called the little butter cookies biscuits... see what you've done to me in two short weeks?) Oh, and there's one I wrote on your blotter on your desk on the right hand side of said blotter.
I love you so deeply Stephen, and whatever happens with us will be worth every minute of this wrenching heartache, for you have made my life and my world and me so much better than I ever thought possible.
I love you and I miss you,
With all my love,
Your Princess"
posted by Joni and Stephen | 9:40 AM
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