I always love watching the Australian Open - that oasis in the Grand Slam desert that stretches from September to May - but this year it was especially enjoyable because I could see, in the shots of Melbourne, familiar places.
In fact, thinking back to my visit in July, I saw certain parallels to Federer's stay.
I was there participating in the Melbourne Festival of Travel Writing. It was put on by the University of Melbourne, and had an international group of participants, including a couple big hitters like Tony Wheeler.
And everything went well. I heard some fascinating speakers, met many interesting people, and in my free time explored the city. (Though instead of a heat wave, I experienced a damp cold.) When I gave my talk, it got a warm reception. (Though I did not toss my pens to the audience afterwards.)
Then, just before I left, I received an e-mail from my newspaper that I was getting laid off. So after two weeks of success and adulation, dismissal. Exactly as with Federer. Except that his defeat was public; mine was private. He was devastated. I was relieved.
My friend Jen, whom you know, sent me a book - a collection of advice for women - because it had a chapter on travel. (At least I hope that's why she sent it.)
The chapter is prefaced by two quotes, the second of which I hadn't heard before:
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.
St. Augustine
If it looks good in Guatemala, leave it in Guatemala.
Dame Edna
"I love reading you in the Sun-Sentinel," the woman said to me at the library entrance.
"Loved," I corrected her. "I was laid off in July."
She looked shocked; I, no doubt, flattered. But then I thought: If I'm loved, shouldn't I then be missed? Though perhaps she was a snowbird, and had just recently come back.
About fifty people sat in the room, almost all of them seniors. I spoke on "The 7 Joys of Travel," and then opened it up to questions. One woman said she had a free ticket on Spirit and asked me where she should go. Travel writers always get this question, which is impossible to answer because travel is such a personal thing. Just because we've been a lot of places doesn't mean we know which ones other people would like. You wouldn't ask a bigamist for advice on choosing a spouse.
Another woman asked if I could recommend an inexpensive hotel in London. It's always like this: I talk about the eternals, happily see a few heads nodding in agreement and following my drift, and then the questions come and they're all about the economics. Forget Pico Iyer, it's Arthur Frommer they want. When I was a travel editor I felt a little guilty not being able to give good practical information. Now that I've been relieved of the title, it's no longer my job. One advantage to being unemployed.