The Year of Love and Heartbreak

A couple of nights ago I had a really great night. Not because anything particularly exciting happened but because it was just one of the evenings when it was great to be alive.

Monday was a really hot day. The type of hot where this Tasmanian could have very easily decided the only thing to do was lie under the full force of the air con and wallow in self-pity. My black and white baby however had her heart set on a walk. Puppy eyes win every time. I stripped down to what I deemed the bare minimum of clothing required to be walking the dog and stepped outside. I am so glad I did. The rivers edge was abuzz with people making the most of the cooler part of the day. The heat-hazed sky was a palette of pastels that faded into dusk as we walked. The full moon then appeared casting its light across the calm river. This stunning evening was an eerie contrast to the same day one year prior.

 

Although most peoples year started a little over a week ago, Cameron and I have felt, like many other Queenslanders, that our new year cannot start anew until this week has past. This week marks the one-year anniversary of the Queensland Floods. For us, this means it has been one year since we have been displaced and unable to move into to our own little shoebox. For many others however, it means so much more. This week marks a whole year since many have been able to hug and hold their loved ones. 2011 was the year of heartbreak.

Cameron and I feel incredibly blessed that our losses in January 2011 were of a nature that allowed us to come to terms with them and emotionally at least, move on, because for all the anguish and chaos the start of the year brought, 2011 had much more positivity to offer us. 2011 turned out to be the year of L-O-V-E. The year that through one very important question (and I guess, answer!) we, and equally excitingly, many of our friends, demonstrated our commitment and adoration of one another!

An unexpected blessing of the floods was that, being in our home state, we were able to share these exciting times with some of our favourite people. 2011 slowly evolved into the year of family, friends and food, lots of food, which meant that other, less attractive F-word took a back seat in our memories. Love changed our year from what could have been remembered as the worst, into one of the best!

2012 can only get better. This year will be the year we finally get to move back into our little shoebox, it is the year we can finally start planning a wedding and another year to grow, learn and LOVE as a couple. Yes, 2012 will be a great year. We look forward to sharing it with those who follow our blog. 

For this week though, we remember. We remember the mud and the fear. We remember the amazing community spirit and the wonderful volunteers. We remember the sweat and the tears. Above all we remember those who aren’t here to remember and we hope for love where there is heartbreak. 

Love Love Love xxx