One of our newest contributors, Laura Kebby has penned this open letter to Newcastle. Do you agree? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
Dear Newcastle,
I know it’s been a while and I’ve been cold and distant lately but hey, so have you. Dreary rain is an awful backdrop for your green wintery sea. It’s not your fault, it’s just that grey really isn’t your colour. I was ready to let you go. Do the typical novocastrian thing and pack up my cookies and move to greener pastures to chase bright lights. But thinking about you lately, and all the good times we’ve shared during our 21 years together, who am I to just let go without a fight? I think maybe there are still some dusty corners left to uncover, that there’s still some magic hidden beneath the surface of our now rocky relationship. Instead of calling it quits and turning my back on your sunny shores, I think there needs to be some effort on my behalf. Because apparently it aint over till it’s over. I know that this is meant to be a two way street, and you’re not the only one to blame. I’ve been staying out late and taking our time together for granted. I’ve been working all the time, which for me means rolling in the door at 2am bleary eyed, excited, with ears ringing from watching yet another local band kill it. This is usually followed by writing words about guitar riffs, down beats and openly swooning over girls with long hair who play guitar. Instead of a relationship, our time together had become a routinely flippant affair conducted under the cover of darkness fuelled my smokey back rooms and beer stained carpet.
Don’t get me wrong, I love this side of you, stumbling through your back streets lost, full and wonderful. But… My love for substance and longevity called for more. Instead of giving up though, metaphorically walking home in last nights clothes to never call you again, this weekend I took a different tact. I took some time off, away from scrawled words and sweaty stages and at a time where the sun actually decided to shine in the sky and with some good company in tow, I walked. And apparently… this is a side of you I’d been missing. I was truly taken aback by how many people seemed to also feel the need to take in some sunshine and frivolity. For the first time in a long time I wasn’t hiding behind headphones or subconscious agendas, finally catching glimpses of what we used to be. I saw colour in your bones again. The Newcastle I fell in love with lay right before my eyes. Noticing once more the brilliant blue of your edges, I became transfixed. Slowly yet surely, the happiness between us that I thought was lost, somewhere between the depths of winter and an impromptu forearm tattoo, came to light once more. Because… Here I was. Having a proper Sunday. Spending quality time with you drinking milkshakes in the sunshine. Seemingly losing the broody chip on my shoulder and thinking that there maybe hope for us after all.
So dear Newcastle, think of this as the first of many letters to you, and my promise to not give up. Because I know there must be others like me. Confused and fed up Novocastrians who are one step away from reading personal columns about Pina Coladas and rain. Here’s to us. Here’s to 6 weeks of exploration… Of getting to know you, the real you, again. Here’s to seeing you with fresh eyes, working out our differences and falling in love with you all over again.
Laura.
PHOTO: www.gorillaseo.com.au
ABOUT LAURA
I’m Laura, and writing about our wonderful city is something I am oh so passionate about. You can find me tucked away in the corner of your local open mic night, taking in the sights with a local artist flowing through my headphones, or hanging out in the front row of your first gig where you’re debating whether the staff count as crowd members. Built on coffee, live music and punk nostalgia, I write about talented people doing talented things.
Twitter: @laurakebby
Instagram @laurakebby
