Wonderous Experiences
A story for the True Fiction Project podcast by Mark Berridge
“Bob are you coming?” The voice cut through the cool night air, commanding his instant attention. It was a tone he had heard many times, but it still took Bob a moment to collect himself and respond. His gentle eyes met those of his wife as she scrutinized him. “Are you with us?
“In a moment, dear.”
“Is that going to be a ‘Bob moment’? Well, don’t try to phone me if you can’t find us in the dark.”
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Bob returned his focus to the vast night sky, then to the specific source of his wonder. He felt compelled to consume it for a fraction longer. The “Emu in the Sky”. A flowing array of nebula and dust lanes that link together to generate the likeness of Australia’s large flightless bird.
He had never gazed upon something as immense and beautiful. This light and shade of our universe.
It had been there all his life of course. Yet Bob never contemplated its existence until the Astro-tour guide described it, showing the group where to look. Even then took almost a minute for Bob to grasp the shape. The scale was so much bigger than he expected. He needed to broaden his
perspective to see it.
The form challenged how Bob viewed the night sky. He could not simply imagine a series of straight white lines to “join the dots” between pointer stars like the constellations he was conditioned to finding. This giant emu was not 2 dimensional. It had depth. It seemed to have texture. It enhanced his awareness of the endless pinholes of light above, rather than exalting just a handful of stars.
It changed how Bob considered something that he had observed thousands of times before. The view demanded appreciation of the glow of distant light and the voids provided by its absence.
Perhaps it was these contrasts that triggered Bob’s sudden introspection? Its timeless magnificence versus his own temporary existence.
Bob’s thoughts drifted to his expansive life moments. Like when he secured his first full time job for a global mining company. The boy who had grown up in small country towns was suddenly engaging with the world, discovering how large and diverse it was. Finding adventure and opportunity as he managed the operation of iron ore vessels via facsimile and telex. Ships the size of 3 football pitches laid end to end, steaming around famous places like the Cape of Good Hope.
Memories flashed back to the first time he rode the creaking Peak Tram to Victoria Peak, and the wondrous view it provided of Hong Kong. The tightly packed apartment blocks rising like giant man-made stalagmites, undeterred by the engineering complexity of the steep slope from which they clung. The pockets of tropical woodland, a reminder of the wildness of the island. The stunning lights of the sprawling business towers and the flashing neon of the countless restaurants and shop fronts below. The hive of activity on the harbor and the beeline of planes seemingly scraping then top of high-rises as they curled their way to Kai Tak airport.
Hong Kong made Bob feel like he had arrived in this world, looking out on the incredible array of possibilities that it offered. How insatiable and impactful the human desire for progress could be.
“I tried to live with an open mind, but perhaps I didn’t achieve that?”, Bob thought. I wonder what things I didn’t see, because of how I was conditioned to perceive this world. I wonder what opportunities I missed?”
Missed. The thought jolted Bob’s attention back to the ancient red earth he was standing on, and the Fields of Light display where he was supposed to be with his family.
He swung hard left as he rushed to catch them.
Fiona had found the Emu in the Sky quickly. Perhaps she was even the first to identify it from the guide’s description. It had made her proud to be able to show others where to look, to help them appreciate its enormity. To guide them to their moment of realization.
She would always treasure finding it, but it failed to hold her attention for long. She wanted to see the Field of Light. That was the reason she was here.
She waited while the rest of the group walked into the maze of coloured lights. She wanted to admire the scope of it from this distance first, before exploring the various paths that wove through the carefully curated display. 50,000 spindles of light creating layers and waves of colour, contemplation and inspiration.
The glowing field had made her think of her own potential. 24 and gaining momentum into her legal career. The opportunity to create something amazing with her life, or in fact many amazing things. Hungry for adventure. Ready for anything.
She was about to step down the path when she was clattered into from behind.
Bob spun towards the voice that had recently disturbed his thoughts, planning to move first then get his bearings on the direction his wife had gone. He saw the figure too late to react, bumping into Fiona, causing her to jump away startled. Both instantly apologized. Fiona’s was out of courtesy for the older man, rather than feeling any sense of fault. Bob’s was more urgent and sincere, conveying embarrassment for his clumsiness in moving without looking.
“Oh wow — that really is quite something, isn’t it.” Bob said, once his disruption had settled.
“Yes I was captivated, before you crashed into me!” the words were shared with enough warmth for Bob to recognise that no grudge would be held from his careless nudge. The stars provided enough light for Bob to recognize the hint of a smile.
“I just love the colors” Fiona said. It makes me feel alive, like the world is truly vibrant and full of possibility.
Bob paused for a minute to appraise the view in front of him. “So it does. It takes me back to when I was about your age, seeing the view from the Hong Kong peak for the first time. That moment encouraged me to wholeheartedly pursue the amazing opportunities provided by our world. That island — the feelings stirred by that view — remind me to keep doing that today.
“Why was it so special?” Fiona asked.
“I can tell you a little as we walk. But I have learned that the sights and stories belong to each place and only come fully alive when you are there. To forge a true sense of connection it is necessary to go; to feel, hear and see for yourself”.
Fiona paused for thought, sensing wisdom in these words. This is special because I am here, seeing and feeling this unique place. If I immerse myself in the world’s range of potential experiences, I can feel truly alive.
“Tonight convinces me you are right”.
Nothing more needed to be said. So they walked peacefully towards the Field of Lights, buoyant for new adventures.
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