The first time I encountered folk with a skin darker than my 5 time holiday tan, was in Rockhampton. See, Dad had been given the responsibility to provide transport to church activities for a group of Torres Strait islanders living in our district. For all their differences in appearance, they still displayed a certain carefree, happy go lucky approach to life that I could relate to – even then. I was only 10 at the time but I would often be allowed to go with Dad to the church youth activities. They were obviously struggling for numbers when a 10 and 50 year old were readily accepted members of the youth group. I would often sit in the front as we would pull up outside the designated house to pick up the young brothers, sisters, cousins and friends of the TI household. The street was not well lit and the back seat corner was quickly occupied by the keenest member of the group, sitting there quietly waiting for the others. His sisters and brothers soon began arriving at the back door. Now, the scream we heard as a young girl shuffled across the back sent shivers down my spine. See, there is a reason for their board smile and their pearly white display, because if they are not on display in the dark, then they can disappear like a bat in an underground cave – even to their now very abusive and startled siblings. I remember one time when we went to pick them up, we noticed that the front door was missing. Dad felt the necessity to enquire of the first passenger What happened to the front door? Oh the young lad said Dad cut it up for firewood last night, because it was far too cold to go outside to look for any other wood for the stove. Dad was rather anxious about what he saw as a rather short sighted and quite bizarre act. So, in a more puzzled yet sterner questioning voice said Well, why did he have to do that? to which came the reply Because he chopped up the back door last night Now, ‘Dad the bank manager’ may never understand these concepts for living, but ‘Sam the gypsy’ has a certain nodding understanding and appreciation of this simple live for the moment philosophy. Happiness – life’s prized possession – must be claimed and owned each day!
