by Pat Ritter
days after my operation, medical staff informed me how lucky to visit the doctor when I did because if I hadn’t visited the doctor on the Friday night, I would’ve passed away in my sleep because my heart rate being so slow.
Word count: 418
Out Of Body Experience
Normally called OBE, something to do with the brain, many movies about this phenomenon - never experienced OBE myself.
‘Ghost’ a movie staring Patrick Swayze with Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg clearly illustrates this theory of OBE. In my opinion, this movie was one of the best tear jerker films.
Patrick Swayze experienced OBE when he died after being fatally wounded; his spirit moved away from his body. Swayze gazed down to his own self lying dead on the pavement. His spirit remained until he discovered the killer; after which he ventured onto eternal life.
Who could forget the scene when Patrick Swayze wrapped his arms around Demi Moore – their hands entwined in clay to the song ‘unchained melody’? Tears flowed like a waterfall from my eyes the moment I heard this song. Still does each time I remember the scene from the movie - beautiful.
You may ask what caused this phenomenon. Scientists tell us about one in ten people experience OBE. Cause is associated with mind-altering events such as trauma, drug use, whilst others experience OBE for little or no reason.
Having not personally experienced OBE, I’m unable to give a personal example of how it feels to ‘leave the body’ or ‘out of body experience’.
My imagination delivers a picture of lying on a bed asleep, without warning, the body rises above to gaze down to a sleeping self.
If this happened to me, whether I was asleep or not, I think there’d be a big mess to clean up the following morning. I hope it never happens. I consider if this event did happen in my life, I’d need to visit my doctor to determine if I was taking the correct medication.
Another OBE which comes to mind and nothing to do with ‘out of body’ experience is Order of British Empire or Over Bloody Eighty’. Which one would you prefer?
Word count: 322
Rite Of Passage
‘Is she going to die,’ asked twelve year old boy.
‘I don’t think so,’ his aunt answered. Tricky, the family pet lay in her bed, her mouth filled with foam, her heart slowly beating. Information from the vet – she’d swallowed poison. Instincts took over the twelve year old boy, however, no result found to satisfy the boy’s findings on how the dog was poisoned.
The twelve year old boy grew into an adult, his major mission in life to become a detective for Queensland Police Force, this dream he’d had since four years old.
His first posting at Cunnamulla, a town in far south-west Queensland, he received a complaint of a dog poisoned. His memory returned to his dog ‘Tricky’ so many years before.
Instincts guided him to the local rubbish collection driver, who when questioned admitted to mixing poison with lollies and throwing them on the ground when he picked up the rubbish can from a house. His reason to keep the dogs from biting him, at no time did he realise the danger involved in poisoning a child.
After solving this investigation he entered his dream role as a trainee detective in Brisbane. To become a competent detective, his rite of passage was blocked by many hours investigating crimes in the city; plus many hours attending court to provide evidence to the courts to convict criminals.
After five solid years of criminal investigation work, his rite of passage; became clear he became a designated detective, a reward capable of investigating any type of crime; this designation never to be taken away.
Breaking through each barrier, he soon realised how tough the journey had been from his initial thoughts of wanting to become a detective and finally gaining respect for his position and ability to do the job competently.
Respect with responsibility went with the title of ‘detective’. He carried this title throughout his career when reminded of the work to receive such a title he knew he’d earned each moment to be awarded the privilege and rite of passage to hold such a title.
Word count: 352
Room Number 13
For some, number 13 is lucky, for others number 13 is unlucky similar to a black cat walking across your path. Let me share a story of how Room Number 13 became lucky for a particular woman.
Mrs Chamberlain lived by herself in a small country town. Each time she heard a noise either inside or outside of her home, she became alarmed and feared something horrid was about to happen.
Unable to sleep at night fearing an intruder would break into her home, she decided to build a room and name it Room Number 13. Her plan to build this room inside her present home ensured her safety at night as well as by day. No other person apart from herself would have access to this room.
Her reason for choosing Room Number 13, she thought number 13 was a lucky number. This room constructed of besser brick lining making it soundproof. No windows with one door constructed of steel - only one key.
Inside this room she furnished with a bed, built-in cupboards, kitchenette, shower and toilet. Air-conditioning installed to keep the room cool in the summer and warm in winter.
On completion Room Number 13 she couldn’t wait to try out her new abode. Safe and secure she fell asleep knowing she would not be interrupted until she awoke.
Months after she completed Room Number 13 her fears subsided. Each morning she unlocked the door to Room Number 13 a new day approached with delight.
One particular night she retired to Room Number 13 once again she fell into a deep sleep. When she awoke the following morning, she opened the door to Room Number 13 to find her home burnt to the ground. All which remained Room Number 13.
Emotions floated through her mind filled with excitement she was alive and safe. Perhaps if she didn’t build Room Number 13 her fears would have been realised and she wouldn’t be around to live another day.
Word count: 335
Solo Crossing
Jessica Watson twenty years old; OAM recipient, Young Australian of the Year Award and many accolades to rival people three times her age, an Australian icon.
Aged eleven she lived on a boat with her family. Each night her mother read Jesse Martin’s book ‘Lionheart: A journey of human spirit to Jessica. An idea – more a dream - a deep desire embedded into her mind. Jessica wanted to sail around the world solo.
In May 2010 she unofficially became the youngest person to sail non-stop and unassisted around the world; an amazing feat for a sixteen year old teenager who at the time didn’t hold a driver’s license to drive a car.
Most Australians followed Jessica’s journey via television reports or on the internet. To be honest I don’t know how she did it – she achieved her dream. She’s one courageous young person to possess the determination to complete such a journey on her own without help from another person. I’m so proud of her determination and her will to finish what she set out to do.
Many lessons to be learned from Jessica’s sole crossing of the many oceans during her voyage in a small craft not much larger than Matthew Flinders ‘Tom Thumb’ back in 1791 when he circumnavigated Australia.
Jessica’s courage to face her demons – to believe in herself to complete the journey, must encourage youths of her age to want to reach their own goals in life. She’s certainly a guiding light to the youth of Australia.
Each time I hear and see how many young people destroy their lives through drinking alcohol and drug use – perhaps if they took a page from Jessica’s book of life and succeed the same way as she’s done, Australia would be a better place.
Determination to fulfil one’s life ambitions one thing; to sail unassisted around the globe another, especially doing it solo with your own self for company. I can’t express high enough the respect I have for Jessica Watson and the feat she achieved.
In my lifetime I’ve achieved many personal goals I never thought possible; none as important as Jessica’s feat. I congratulate you Jessica on your courage and de
termination and wish I could bottle your attitude and deliver to each young person in Australia to give them a sense of your achievement as you’ve done.
Word count: 395
Strange Bedfellows
With an upcoming election for a new Prime Minister and party to govern Australia, no one knows when this will be. To stop illegal boats entering Australian waters has become an important battle being fought between the parties.
Prior to any election, the opposing party has shouted from the tallest buildings about illegal immigrants entering our waters without permission.
To think about changes to this progressive illegal immigration of ‘boat people’ – nothing’s changed. More people make their way to this country via the sea to the Promised Land than ever before.
Personally my thoughts, if people from another country wish to settle in our country they should enter by legal means. I imagine if I wanted to settle in their country I would need sufficient funds; place to live; work to support my family and myself.
Unfortunately this process doesn’t work for this present government. Each news hour, opposition shout to ‘stop the boats – what are you doing Prime Minister – to stop the boats’.
A thought entered by head. What do you think of this suggestion? Rather than throwing blame onto the government, why doesn’t the leader of the opposition climb into bed with the Prime Minister to encourage both parties to work together to solve