More Than a Nutshell by Veronica Cookson

Germination

A much younger acquaintance recently asked if I was content with my life. When I said ‘yes’, she queried if that was because I had given up my sense of adventure. Was it actually easier, though more boring, to settle for the status quo rather than look for something more? This made me stop and consider the highways, by-ways and detours travelled during my existence.

Sure enough, I never conquered Everest or sailed lonely seas single-handed, but I didn’t want to. Many years ago I read an opinion piece written by a much-loved actor during the 60s and 70s, who said that mothers didn’t have to do those things because they’d made their lone journey, climbed peaks, triumphed over pain and gained an affinity with the earth when giving birth. ‘Is that so’, I can hear you say, ‘women can do both, they can have it all’.

Well, I did both — not with a fulfilling career, but with menial jobs, at the same time being a wife and mother, struggling to cope. You could hardly call the pressure satisfying. I’d seen the same with my mother, six children, never enough money plus a husband with secrets and itchy feet.

Tempest, Flood and Drought

So, what have I accomplished? I didn’t have the knowledge to develop a life-transforming drug or the drive to open an orphanage overseas for unwanted babies. Yes, I gave birth — to two beautiful daughters (who’ve supplied me with a clutch of grandchildren), survived 25 years in an unhappy marriage, but no-one with a crystal ball or tarot ever predicted that I would be where I am today.

I live in a 1920s gingerbread cottage near the sea with husband David, whose arrival in my life is the best thing to ever happen to me.

Like a log cabin sitting among skyscrapers, this little weatherboard house is now the eldest in the area. Built by David’s grandfather, it’s name-plate reads Lutonia, labelled after his native Luton in Bedfordshire.

David and I married on 8 November 2003 but when we first met I was already practising a long-held ambition, reading palms, travelling with a group of psychics, taking part in fairs locally as well as various parts of the state and interstate. This continued for around 20 years, but then with David by my side.

Palmistry was a fascinating part of my life. I had the privilege of meeting people who told me secrets not revealed to loved ones. They often shared sad but wonderful confidential stories.

I valued being part of that profession’s troupe, some of them as wacky as writers. A highlight of that time was the publication of my book, First Steps to Palmistry.

Sadly, the little paperback is now out of print but it was a thrill to see it on bookshelves.

Proliferation

After the myriad of jobs I did, working in offices, at a prawn factory, being a seamstress in a hospital, as a shop assistant and doing repairs and alterations at a dry cleaner, then back to office work in schools, I can recommend retirement. Retirement gives me time to pursue interests I couldn’t have undertaken previously.

David encouraged me to enrol in art classes when he knew that’s what I wanted above all else. He re-introduced me to writing which I’d given up as a school kid. He applauds my few little successes, from having poetry or prose published, to being invited to be a guest reader at forums like Coriole Winery’s annual Poetry in the Vines and Poets’ Corner as well as my spot here on Wattletales. A fulfilling challenge was being co-editor of the 2018 Friendly Street Poets Anthology, alchemy. David’s confidence in me has been a game-changer.

Vines and Tendrils

David and I have been fortunate to travel to a number of overseas countries, Egypt, China, the Adriatic, Italy and the British Isles. Those experiences have influenced much of my poetry. Sometimes we hired a car, but mostly we took bus trips, as below.

Previously published by Friendly Street Poets Inc., in ‘Dream Water Fragment’ (2017)

A Harvest of Riches

I am recording my family history in poetry, prose and prosy-poetry and below is a vignette from my childhood.

Cornucopia

My days are now simple. No longer is there an itch to burst out. I love to hear the magpies that rouse us in the mornings and spending precious time watching them, the rainbow lorikeets and rosellas at the birdbath. We travel and friends and family visit. There are plenty of shows to go to plus various group activities. Art, jigsaws and reading can take up a lot of time too.

If anyone asked me again whether I’m content with my life, I would honestly reiterate, ‘Hell yes’. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone, and no, I wouldn’t go back to another time or wish for more excitement, not for anything.

Author Bio

Originally from Port Lincoln, Veronica always loved poetry but didn’t start writing it until her 50s. Her poetry focuses a lot on family, travel and nature, and she often uses her early life as both inspiration and therapy.

Veronica’s sense of humour ensures her ‘country’ upbringing and quotes come to the fore in her ironic style, the funnier and more ironic the better — spying on family, friends and even her husband David, whose idiosyncrasies aren’t spared either.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS All featured photos, images, stories and poems the copyright of Veronica Cookson.

14 Replies to “More Than a Nutshell by Veronica Cookson”

Don’t our lives take the trickiest of routes and you Veronica tell your story so very well – such grace and a touch that never fails to remind me of its brevity.

Hello Veronica,
Thank you for taking me on this lovely poetic tour of your life. I am happy your adventures led to the door of David’s gingerbread cottage.
Your travel poem through the eye of your Nikon is brilliant. I love the moon at the end – and the dart.
Your life as a psychic is fascinating and I am grateful for the very accurate reading you gave me many years ago.
Keep writing your punchy poetry,
Jude x

Dear Veronica,

You were a travelling psychic! wow!
I love your story, such a colourful life, made me smile 🙂
and your humour always comes through in your poetry
Inez xx

Thanks Carolyn. Yes, the birds are a joy. David has made a nesting box and it’s sitting up in one of our trees in the back yard. We’re so excited as a rosella couple are very interested, spending time checking the accommodation out. Fingers crossed they will take up the residency.

This has been a fine addition to Lindy’s tales, well done Veronica!
I too have a love of the birds living around me, singing to me when I go outside, into their home.

Thanks Maria

Thanks Maria
Ah, the old cigarette ash thing and the way some of those habits changed — but not everywhere.
Glad you enjoyed my story and yes, it can be frustrating trying to fit in with some (ex) partners expectations re work & motherhood. It’s been a good experience putting some of it into words.

Hi Veronica and Lindy,
loved the post and just love the poem “MegaPixel Moments’. Ash in the Turkish bread? Reminds me of when I was in Greece and I rescued a Nigerian sailor who had been beaten up and took him to hospital. At 2.00 a.m in the morning, the radiographers were smoking whilst xraying him, their ash just haning on in an arc and there was a cockroach swimming desperately round and round in a toilet bowl.
Re: Careers. Isn’t birthing and raising children a career? Why do women have to not only undergo the rigours and initiation of motherhood and preganancy and then go off to get a ‘real job’?
Also, creative people often find they don’t fit into the normal work mould.
I always enjoy Veronica’s travel and family tales. Thanks to Lindy for inviting such intersting writers to share their stories,
Thanks very much for a good laugh and think.

Thanks Julie. It’s easy to feel David’s grandfather’s presence in our little house – he is stamped on every corner and I feel blessed to be able to enjoy his legacy with David.
My psychic journey was exciting if often-times challenging. Palmistry was always my love and sharing that journey with tarot readers, astrologers and others of the same ilk made it like an unusual family expedition each time we traveled away. So glad to have been able to do it.

Hi Val. Thank you for your kind words – it was quite enjoyable to do and to hear that others appreciate it is the icing on the cake.
Take care

Julie, you should know by now I love doing this but thankyou for the acknowledgement.

Your attitude is as colourful as your featured painting, Veronica. Marvellous swirls like childhood sweets.
Quite coincidentally I am also from Luton like David’s father.
How wonderful that you and David live in the home his father built. You must feel his presence.
Fancy you were a tarot card reader. I’m sure you have delicious secrets from that time.
Your story is rich with detail. The fly swat cracked me up.
You deserve to slow down and study birds, Veronica. You have done the hard slog, and bird-song is the audio of smelling roses.
Thank you, and also Lindy for bringing your wonderful story to light.
Julie Cahill.