Run Damon Run!

I was standing at the bus stop in front of my school waiting to catch a bus to go to work when a sweet little Chinese girl, I didn't get her name so let's call her Chun-Li, walked up behind me:

Chun-Li: Is this the bus stand for the 393 bus to Central Station?

Damon: Yes. You can take the 395 bus as well and it should be coming in about 2 minutes.

Chun-Li: (Her eyes lit up and she asked with amazement) Are you American?

Damon: Yes.  Did my accent give me away?

Chun-Li: (With even more excitement) I've never met an American before.  I am from a small village in northern China and foreigners don't come to my village.  I could tell you are American because you sound like that famous movie star...um...what's his name...um...Tom...Tom Hanks...

Damon thinking:  Maybe I do sound a little like Tom, in Japan people said I looked like Harrison Ford so I guess I can see why she might think I sound like Tom Hanks.

Chun-Li:...From that movie...um...the one where...um...he is always running and where he has a shrimp boat.  Do you know the one?

Damon:  You mean Forrest Gump?

Chun-Li:  Yes.  I really like that movie.

Phantom

Growing up in Wyoming, getting dressed up and going to a show was putting on your best jeans and boots and attending the Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo and if you were really lucky seeing the demolition derby (I love a good car crash).  In Sydney, first the Symphony and now Phantom of the Opera, my eyes are being opened to a new world.  When Amy called me at work and told me she got two free tickets, I tried to be excited with her but I have to say the idea of seeing an opera didn't really appeal to me, to say the least.  So imagine my joy when I found out that Phantom of the OPERA is not actually an opera, it's a MUSICAL about a phantom who lives in an opera house.  I think Andrew knew what he was doing when he named it, husbands are so relieved that they don't have to sit through an opera they are completely happy going to a musical, it's not the best selling musical of all time for nothing.  So off we went.  We had really good seats and it was really good.  They had a lot of really cool effects.  It definitely surpassed the other three musicals that I have seen.  

There is just one thing I don't understand (if you haven't seen it stop reading because I don't want to ruin the ending for you) so if you guys could help me out I would appreciate it.  The Phantom by my count kills three people, kidnaps the girl twice, nearly hangs the boyfriend and sings about you will learn to love me.  Finally the girl kisses him and he got what he wanted and then he sends her away.  Why?  

2nd in Sydney

Cafe dinner with Harbour Bridge behind us

All dressed up

Inside the Opera House

We celebrated our 2 year anniversary on May 6th with a night on the town.  The day started with a dozen red roses delivered to my work-what a nice surprise!  I took off work a little early and met Damon at home.  We got dressed up and headed down to Circular Quay.  We enjoyed dinner at an outdoor cafe that was right on the water.  It was a beautiful night and we had a great view of the harbour with ferries passing by and the Harbour Bridge in the background.  After dinner, we went to the Sydney Opera House to enjoy the Sydney Symphony, and four vocalists, presenting "Hits From the Movies".  They played- "New York, New York", "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", "9 to 5", "ET", "Ghostbusters" and more.  We had such a wonderful time.  I think it was a pivotal moment for us.  Sydney is a beautiful city that is filled with great people, food, sights and sounds.  We are finally able to relax and enjoy this wonderful city that we live in.  It has taken us 3 months to get settled in and back on our feet but we are making it and determined to make the most of it.  

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

We thank God for the past two years and for all that we have experienced together in that time.  Only He knows what the next year will hold.