Lunch with Cousin Bruce

I had lunch with cousin Bruce Wilson today at the Wheeler's hill pub. Just the two of us. It was originally suggested by Bruce that Meredith and Roger and Lib and I and Bruce's wife Jill should get together for lunch soon, as we did last year. As it turned out I said I would be in Melbourne today to pick up Gordon in the afternoon after his week in the Gold Coast so lunch would be convenient. The others couldn't make it but Bruce took me up on it.

I'm glad that it was only Bruce and myself. We could focus on our own conversation and we talked of many things. Besides having common grandparents on mum's side we had a number of connections obviously- we have known each other most of our lives despite minimal contact and we have shared the same part of history, being born in 1948 and me in 1952. Bruce was called up for National Service and served in Vietnam, and I was called up for NS also but this after Australia's decision to withdraw and I did not complete my service due to the change in politics well known by most.

Bruce is proud of his service in the Australian Army which I can well understand. We exchanged stories of our experience at recruit training at Puckapunyal and of the general intrusion into our lives of being conscripted, right down to our fears and trauma in the lead up and induction into the strange world of the military. I can understand why Bruce is proud and retains many friendships with those he served with and is active with his unit's reunions. I have none of that, not being in long enough, although I do have good memories of the people in my hut. I'm glad it happened.

Bruce is a great traveler. He and Jill have been just about everywhere. He was most interested in our recent trip to Europe and I very much enjoyed talking about it. In fact I talked and talked about so many things and it was so good to have someone interested in all that I said. And I loved his stories too. Army recollections, how he met Jill, thoughts about his parents, our grandparents, and most of all probably talk about plants and gardening.

A very nice day it was for me. Life is good.