Redemption Down Under

I’m pleased to report that our adventure of climbing Sydney’s Harbour Bridge was successful – we made it up and, most importantly, down from the 450+/- feet (or 134 meters) of the iconic structure. Our climb encompassed outfitting ourselves in a special climbing harness and attaching ourselves via a steel cable to the frame of the bridge before beginning the climb that included 1,332 steps to the summit. Fun facts: it is the tallest arch bridge in the world and no one died while climbing it (though there were fatalities during its construction). The first (recreational) bridge climbs were in October 1998 and to commemorate that anniversary pop music from 1998 was played at the top of the bridge to those brave enough to scale it. Delighted with my accomplishment, I was dancing at the top of the bridge overlooking the Sydney Opera House and the harbor below. (Steve was not as enthusiastic – he was pretty much eager to head back down to terra firma.)

Though the climb was one of the “must do” items on my agenda when in Australia, another that was of equal (if not superior) importance was seeing my half-brother Bruce and his wife Joy and meeting two of his three children – my nieces – and grandnephew.

I first learned of Bruce about 12 years ago when his daughter Julie wrote me regarding genealogy. Her letter pretty much said, “Your father was my father’s father and we would like some information about him.” My response, being the calm adult person that I am, was “What the heck?!” Though Bruce knew about my sister Rhonda and me, we knew nothing of him and, because our father and my mother were long deceased, I had no one to ask questions of about this unknown sibling. Though I was not initially welcoming of the idea that I was actually a middle child and not the eldest (among other misgivings), Rhonda was over-the-top excited to learn that there was a McGrath brother.

Australian residents (Joy was born in Australia), the couple made their way to the states a couple of times over the last decade. When Rhonda and I learned of their upcoming trip, I would book a flight to New Hampshire and stay with her so we could both see them when they visited. This was particularly important because Rhonda died in 2015 and it would have been a shame if we all didn’t have a chance to meet.

When Steve and I found ourselves in the position of taking a true vacation, it didn’t take much to decide to come south to Australia. After all, Bruce and Joy had trekked to the United States on more than one occasion and besides I was excited at the idea of meeting family that until a few years ago I didn’t even know I had. Thankfully Bruce and Joy (and their family) were as pleased to see us as we were to see them. In addition to hosting us in their home for a week, they took us all around Melbourne and Phillip Island (where we saw the Penguin Parade!) all the while having a chance to get to know each other on a much deeper level than just sharing a meal once every couple of years.

Due in large part to the patience of Steve, Bruce and Joy while I warmed to the idea of my extended family, I can report that I have embraced the idea of having a brother (and sister-in-law and nieces and a nephew and grandnephew). As I have grown older I’ve come to understand the importance of family – no matter when (and under what circumstances) you meet.

  robin goldsworthy