Deep Links

Coyote in the Night

I'm no stranger to coyote calls - howls and yips in the night. Often starting as a single voice, joined by other in a cacophony of sound. But last night's coyote's voice was something straight out a joker's mouth. How do I describe the almost, but not quite human laughter? A chuckle call twisting into a scream-howl, joined by the more traditional howls of the pack. King Coyote was in the backyard in some back bushes and I knew they were on the prowl. 

I was awoken later in the night by the same cackling laughter howls. They were on the other side of the house and I knew something was up. The dog was antsy to go out, but I was hesitated. I wasn't convinced the fenced in yard was secure and Mr. D, while a fighter in his younger years, is older. Still, Mr D persisted. He does like his 3am bathroom time, so I let him go out. His strange, inconsistent barks concerned me. He is normally a silent, but deadly type. So I knew something was out there. I put the outside light on, pulled him in and sealed the dog door.

He immediately started going crazy. Trying to scratch through the dog door. I knew some shit was going to go down and I didn't want to take him to the emergency vet at 3am. So we waited.... and watched. Less than a minute later, King Coyote, solid build, well fed, beautiful coat and bushy tail trotted outside the door - inside the fenced yard. Spying us in the door, he scamped off, only to return more cautiously to watch us. 

How the hell did trickster Coyote get inside the fence? And what would have happened if Mr D was out there?

The Yarra River

The Australian accent is best explained by saying the main river in Melbourne. Over and over I attempt the pronunciation. I open the edges of my mouth, Cheshire cat grin like and swallow the vowels, but they still come out as crisp as a bite into a cucumber sandwich. 

Yeah-rah. I'm told to say "yeah", drawing out the eehahh. That strange bending of the tongue on palate and teeth. Another tip, I am told, is to talk like a pirate. Yeah-argh. Speaking with either instruction, the sound out of my mouth still feel too uptight. After a few attempts I become self-conscious and it all goes sideways.

One thing going for me is my high rising intonation aka the Valley girl accent. The rising tone in most languages is reserved for questions, but Valley girls, Aussies and the Dutch all use it with statements. It softens things. To land the end of a statement without it, is like a punch. It's a consideration for the listener. 

My California accent becomes a boon. And here I've always associated negativity with it - tried to train it out of me to increase professional credibility. Because who takes advice from a valley girl? (Certainly not the international banking community.) But here, in Oz, I feel more at home than I do in Europe. I hear the roundness of my accent. I do not try to hide it, instead, I revel in the California words pouring forth from my lips. The sound of my voice... unlike anything around me, even while I feel a familiarity with the words flowing into my ears.

It's my last night in this country and I am sad to leave. I have found much in common with the Aussies, and also differences. Melbourne is a dream with its food, fashion, wine and cool weather. Sydney was fantastic, a huge city with much to offer that I quite enjoyed; but as an Angelino, I found the beaches lacking. Still, I know hours just outside the city is a wine country to be explored and coastline and beaches and the bush. Perhaps Sydney is like LA, you have to scratch the surface, and I certainly did not have time to go deep. 

To Australia's immense credit are the avocados. And the coffee. And the wine. And the cheese. These might be my four food groups, and Australia excels with all of them. Even the regular food is more healthy than in any other country I've visited. It's like clean California eating all over. Then there is the many interesting and unusual animals. Today I saw my first Koala, Kangaroo, Tasmanian Devil, Wombat, and Platypus. I can't wait to get myself lost exploring in your desert regions. 

Then there is something about the men. This different mixture of soft, and .... not so soft. There's a sensitivity I previously ascribed to European men, and yet, there is something else, some raw, ruggedness, something out of the rocky mountains, but??? It's hard for me to put my finger on it. Yes. I am more than intrigued. It's probably a good thing I'm going home tomorrow... 

However, I will return. And I hope it is sooner than later.

Thanks Oz, for welcoming this Purple Tornado. While the four winds will blow me safely home to my California shore, I know I can return by clicking my heels on the tiles of LAX anytime, boarding pass in hand.