Things I like about Oz

   I think that it's about time I put down in words the things that I like about my adopted country.  My husband says to me "if you wrote a column, everyone would hate you" because I am constantly making remarks like  "I find the upper class in Australia to be more materialistic than than the same class in the US but with less good stuff to spend their money on........"  My response to him is that I am just telling it like I see it and that I'd say the same things in/ about the states if we were living there.
It's funny how sometimes a comment like "I really miss original Cheerios, the kind in the yellow box" can be misinterpreted as "I miss Cheerios and I hate Australia".  Sometimes I really do just miss Cheerios.  That's all.
   As the outsider in most conversations, I think people look a bit deeper into my remarks and my sense of humor than they should or that they need to.  But, I'm too old to edit myself and I have to say I'm really looking forward to being 80 when I can just say what I want when I want to whomever I want and they can go stuff it if they don't like it.   At 40, I am a bit more diplomatic with my words, but I come from a line of strong women and most of my girl friends back in the states are like me.  We have our opinions and we let people know about it, (and, in fact, I'm the soft spoken one of the bunch!  I'd fear for the men of Australia if some of my girl friends were let loose down here.) Maybe that's an American thing?
     So, I'd like everyone to know that there are things I do really like about Oz.  Here they are, in no particular order..................

1)  Universal Health Care.  The US is so screwed up in this regard that their idea of universal health care is to make everyone buy insurance whether or not they can afford it.  Universal Health Care means that if you lose a finger, a hand, break a foot or a leg, you will not lose your house or have to file for bankruptcy.  It means that a everyone can see a doctor if they need it, and it means that every child's health is looked after from birth onwards.  It means that people get the care that they need without having to worry about how they will pay for it.

2)  Cool changes after oven hot days in the summer, (Thank you, Antarctic breezes!)

3)  Volcanic rocks on the road from Melbourne through Kyneton.

4)  Koalas

5)  The big old Kookaburra that watches us on our property in East Warburton.

6) The sound of Kookaburras laughing in the forest.

7) Tea and Scones on Puffing Billy

8) Ferntree gullys in the Dandedongs

9) Antique shops in Olinda

10) The marshland lake in Ballarat that used to have water in it and the optimistic rowing clubs that keep their clubhouses in order waiting for the day when it fills with water again

11) The Sequoia walk in the Ballarat botanical garden - more than a dozen beautiful tall California redwoods.... expats, just like me

12) The water wall at the NGV International Gallery (my stepkids' maternal grandfather helped design it and they tell me so every time I mention it!)

13) The shade awnings on most stores in village shopping areas, especially the older shops in Carlton North and historic neighborhoods.

14)  The service at David Jones department stores.

15)  Luna Park at St Kilda.

16)  Wild and crazy cold oceans and the amazing coastline along the Great Ocean Road.

17)  The Yarra River bubbling along before it enters urban Melbourne.

18)  Small boutiques supporting local designers on Smith Street and surrounds in Melbourne.

19) Spicks and Specks

20)  The Avenue of Honor in Bacchus Marsh - one elm tree planted for every soldier lost in World War 1.  It is overwhelming to see how many young men volunteered and never came home from such a small town.  The trees are so old now that they create an archway over the road and they are so beautiful, leafy and shady.  All of the elm trees in that states died from Dutch Elm Disease so the site is even more amazing to me because I haven't seen trees like this since I was a very small girl.

21)  The smell of gum trees after a cool rain.

22)  Bondi Vet - tanned, young, intelligent and ready to help your animals in need!

23) All of the roses defying the climate and blooming in riotous colors in the spring!

24)  Walking along the Yarra at Southbank - shopping at DFO, afternoon tea at the Hilton with Julianna and Alessandra.

25)  My aussie laid back daughter - I may be a yank, but I have a feeling she will not be half as uptight as I am!

26) Flinders Street Station

27) The Royal Arcade

28)  High ceilings in old houses during hot summers

29)  California Bungalows in the inner west (alas, that I can't afford!)

30)  Galah parrots playing along in the breeze

31)  Indoor rooms with window walls that open to the outside, (dream house, anyone?)

32)  Flat whites

33)  Crossing the ranges on the way to Echuca

34)  Somewhere, in winter, it does snow, even if I'm too scared to drive up the mountain to see it (no guard rails, drops of hundreds of feet!)

35)  The gardens and parks in urban Melbourne

36)  Knowing that there are still so many amazing things to see: like Hanging Rock, Uluru, The Nullaboor, Sydney Harbor, The Glass House mountains  and more.........

These are some of the things that I like about Oz.