AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND – MALAYSIA – ENGLAND
I am currently flying over the Middle East as I write this. We just made a large turn North West to start heading toward Europe and home.
As I walked earlier to the gate in Auckland, I left Jon at the gate. By now, we’ve become good at reading each other, I hope. Jon, when tired, becomes distant and, in general, is very fact-oriented, so he went straight to gate and stayed there even though there was a long time until our flight boarded. I, by contrast, (we’ve said this is why we make such a good team) was feeling much more pensive and reflective. So, I wandered.
I found a last lovely present for my partner, who was happy and living their best life at Birmingham Pride, which I was sorry not to share with them. But, we were messaging as they were getting ready, which was really special.
Equally, I felt a sudden wave of gratitude for everyone I’d met and the tour and the adventure of everything. I’ve already said, there’s something really reassuring in a message thread keeping strong after parting, it somehow let’s you know the connection and bonds you make aren’t just “out of sight, out of mind“. As such, McKenzie and I message back and forth, and Joseph too. Emma, I’ve spoken to briefly, but in true UK work till you die style, Liam and Emma were straight back to the grind. So, I sent Joe and McKenzie little messages of gratitude too and wish them a happy Memorial Day with their plans. It really does feel like the beginning of a great bond, not the end of one. That’s pretty wonderful.
And so, here we are, here at the end of all things. It’s been an adventure. It’s more than an adventure, actually. It’s been a legend. I can look down at my right shoulder every day and be reminded of this incredible story. But, I will summarise more in an epilogue and even more in a broader context in an Afterword. At least, that’s the plan.
At present, Jon and I have spoken a little. But mainly the flights have been quite solitary. Jon is sleeping his way through the flights, which is good. He’s had a knackering week, and this is his second major flight in 15 years. The first was coming out to Aotearoa. But, that’s not to say it’s a bad or grumpy vibe with us. We’re just happy relaxing in our spaces.
It’s 5 hours before we get back to the UK, and then I have another few hours of train travel, but that’s okay. 3 and a bit weeks is a long time to go without *holding* someone, then add a partner on top of that. It’s too long I’m looking forward to mot having to worry about time difference and bad wifi and just being able to enjoy being with my partner again and then giving out my gifts to people and all the endless regaling.
The flight to Kuala Lumpur was incredibly smooth. We both slept through most of it, which, for me, is a golden rarity. Someone should have snapped it!
Other than that, I shed a few tears as we took off from Auckland, none of them sad. All of them for the memories I have, the adrenaline, the adventures, of Chiefs, Kings and Dark Lords, the stories, the locations… and, as Joseph, Jon, and I put it… for the people.
We’re more than just friends. The bonds and connections are deeper than that. We went on this thing *together*. Kinda like veterans. It’s a shared experience.
We’re more than close.
We’re a Fellowship.
And I can’t wait to see where our futures take us all. Something tells me back to Middle-Earth…
Until then, I’m ready to be home. Where I can hear my partner’s voice and laughter.
We did it.
It is done…
…and now, I’m going home.
The Road goes ever on and on
J.R.R. Tolkien
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
– Jake,
26 May 2024
The Long Expected Journey 