BREAKFAST WITH LONESOME

When I pick up my cup of coffee to begin my day, I think of Lonesome, an Emu we met while visiting Australia where curious Koalas stared at us wondering what sort of creatures these fur-less strangers were, fur seals ignored us--and snoozed in the sun and kangaroos, as friendly as puppies gathered around. A short ferry ride, on the Sealink, across the Backstairs Passage, brought my husband and I to Kangaroo Island. Lonesome, the Emu, yearned for friendship and his own egg to sit on. He lives at the Emu ridge Eucalyptus Oil distillery, where the oil distilled from a multi-stemmed tree called the Narrow-Leaf Mallee produces the Bush product used as an insect repellent, stain remover, disinfectant, flea-remover, antiseptic and mouthwash. For reasons known only to his fellow Emus, Lonesome is ignored making it difficult for him to father the egg, paternal Emus are born to sit on. We were given a bottle of eucalyptus and I bought the mug with Lonesome's likeness. We chatted awhile and listened to the guide tell Lonesome's story as he scratched his feathered head. he seemed like a charming bird to me but I guess he lacked that certain something a female Emu looks for in a future mate. romance can be difficult.

I greet him everyday as I add a teaspoon of sugar, and a few drop of milk to my coffee. Hope he finally found the right mate.

Bests, Elise