Top Gun

Recently I was paid a visit from a super hero.

It was not the first time I had crossed paths with this stunning creature who ignites the skies. I had met him before and we had come together a few months after that, quite randomly as these things go.

A F18 Fighter Pilot, the super hero calls himself a free spirit - a mad keen surfer who chases the waves in Micronesia and travels the world for work. With his intrepid lifestyle, it's a surprise I met him at all. I've hardly moved from this town in two years and when I do it's to visit friends and family in Adelaide or Sydney.

But life works like that if you let it. Super hero and I met through a mutual friend. The more people you reach out to... the more introductions find their way.

In the short time of our acquaintance - super hero turned my humdrum existence on its head. He inadvertently reminded me life can be an adventure and with the right people on board, a whole lot of fun.

Super hero's long gone, no doubt saving other mere mortals like me from the mundanities of everyday life. He said to think of him when I see jets flying overhead. But F18 fighter jets don't often pass this way. Nor do people like him. But for the brief moment they do, their super powers keep us fully charged.

Learning from Marilyn, it could all end today

I'm a huge Marilyn Monroe fan - I can't remember when my fascination began, but it's been years and years and years. So many years that I am now the age Marilyn was when she died. I'm 36 and two months old. Marilyn Monroe was 36 and two months old (01-6-26 to 05-8-62).

It's made me think about my life and her life - and how one so short in relative terms can have so much impact. At the same age, I find this inspiring. I have also thought how lucky I am to have escaped what Marilyn didn't. World and media focus, mental illness and drugs.

It's also made me consider what comes next.

At present for me life is in limbo. I am living in Melbourne - but don't particularly want to be here any longer - so I've made steps to move on. I have entered the Green Card Lottery and find out next year (May 2011) if I become a US citizen. My father, slightly bemused by this prospect, took it on himself to do some research into my chances for success and reported back "I think you can forget it." He read that millions applied last year and just over 1000 Australians won - not sure which stats he pulled from, but the bottom line is; unlikely. I've also met someone who has entered it for the past five years - so he's living proof, the odds are stacked against us!

I have a beautiful pet dog who I have written about here before. He's 16.5 years old - already well past average life expectancy. I had a boyfriend with the promise of setting up home and having kids - but he chose to exit stage left. So now I'm in between boyfriends and plodding the single trail - wondering if I will ever have children?

I was working in an office throughout my 20s and early 30s, but now, I'm at home consulting on my own - driven by my desire to be with Walt the dog and to determine my own pace - in life and work.

Many things feel in between. But it ain't bad overall. I'm proud to be strong enough not to be led too much by keeping up with the Jones' and feeling as though I should be doing what society says I should be doing.