Rememberances Of Things Past...POW PROMPT 18

I parked in the shaded
laneway to Double Bay Beach
and thought of you
Here is where I met you all those years ago
a tall tanned beautiful blonde
eating huge slices of watermelon
juice running down your polished manicured nails
As it turned out, we were neighbours

I remember
being shocked at your multiple marriages
and then immediately decided to be your friend

I remember
you tipsy on New Years Eve
slow dancing with an American on stage in a cowboy hat

I remember
you in the early hours
wading in the harbour in your silver mini dress
an Anita Eckberg impersonation in La Doce Vita
much to the mirth of the local council workers

I remember
giggling and chortling holding on to the broken handle
of your Alfa Romeo to stop the door flying open
(which you never got around to fixing)

I remember
going to countless art exhibitions and openings
you, weighed down with diamonds and your expensive pedigree
stuffing smoked salmon sandwiches into your bag
Dancing at Arthurs

I remember
you,marching into the Police Station
insisting the Coppers drive us home
because your car was towed away with the dogs in the back seat

I remember
you, giving away the hotel towels to impoverished natives
on Vanuatu
you,almost being arrested at Denpasar airport for
wearing a temple scarf as a tank top
a young Italian waiter waving goodbye in tears
as you left Rome

I remember
you always being so welcoming to me
arriving on your doorstep uninvited
offering that delicious capuccino
and a sympathetic ear

I remember
your house that looked like the aftermath of Hiroshima
strewn with freshly ironed pillow slips, linen handerchiefs
and an ecritoire to write your morning letters on
courtesy of your mother who would only visit
if her cleaning lady had prepared for her arrival
the day before

I should have written

I never did tell you what fun you were
how inspirational your free spirit was
and what a good friend you were to me
You introduced me to fearless and reckless
I'm still wearing all the crinkled laughter lines
a legacy of all the hilarity
from those very exhausting but exciting years

I should have written

I have always been a failure
in expressing my feelings
in soundbites of spoken speech
And now it's too late
Too late
to tell you all of this
To thank you

I should have written

My life should be an exchange of hand written notes
Speaking is ephemeral
Spoken words are will o' the wisp
nowt but fleeting puffs of breath

I should have written