Normanton

Not much going on today. Went and got some groceries and stayed around camp. There is a nice group of sheep farmers from Swan Hill camped across from us that I've been hanging out with. Mango took a ride in the helicopter today. This caravan park has a helicopter. A little 3 seater. It goes 220 knots!

We were just sitting over with the Swan Hill gang and Mango was telling us how he sometimes works as a lyric doctor for Faith Hill and Garth Brooks. Basically if they get stuck on a song lyric Mango is tasked with providing every possible lyric that could go in that song. He said usually all that does is eliminate possibilities and the artist usually uses their own, but he gets paid well for the service.

After he'd finished that story, one of these rugged sheep farmers desperately wanted to tell a story which sounded like it was related. He started telling us about how his son is now his daughter. The son was a big, tall sheep shearer and after this bloke's wife died the son sent a letter saying he couldn't be part of the family anymore because he was actually a lady.

The dad said he read it and reread it trying to figure out what the joke was and realised it was for real. He decided to ring his son/daughter to sort it out. He read up about it all and he accepted his daughter for who she was and eventually paid for gender reassignment surgery.

Everyone was totally absorbed in what he was saying. It was a very raw and moving admission. Something he clearly felt he needed to share and that we were worthy of sharing with.

I listened along but the entire time I couldn't help thinking "What does this have to do with being a lyric doctor for Faith Hill?"

Turns out, nothing.