When I was dating my baby girl’s dad, I acquired a taste for Range Rovers. I’d always thought Defender’s were hot, but when I was with him, it took my admiration to a whole new level.

I read the Range Rover Mags, watched documentaries, and learned to tell a TDI 90 from a Land Rover 110 on sight. [It’s a lot easier than it sounds.]

My brothers were appalled by this new hobby. They thought the man was influencing me, and that I was losing myself. Especially when I announced a planned road trip to The Cape. By Rover.

I dated a few bad ideas after that, and they came with a passing interest in Islam, Go Karting, pool, and bowling. Now, I’m with a beautiful, amazing, wonderful guy … and I’m suddenly consuming Manga.

I’ve always liked Manga – in a sense – though I didn’t quite know what it was. I liked cartoons that had huge eyes and purple hair and looked hilarious when they yelled. I used to trace the pictures on those large Chinese floaters – pictures of girls with doe-shaped eyes, strange-coloured bangs, and tiny red lips. These – I now know – were images from classic Manga.

I also enjoy watching Bakugan, even though nothing ever happens. I drool over Dan Cusso’s shaggy locks, Julie’s pretty coiffes, Alice’s dreamy eyes … and the clothes are nice too.  Who can forget Shun? That boy is HOT!

Yes, I’m fully aware that these creatures are all anime. It’s called Otaku. I’ve also been known to dream in Manga.

I first learnt the word Manga when STV started showing it in the 90s. They had this show called the Manga Zone, which at first I loved, because:

  1. It was a cartoon.
  2. The girls were so pretty.
  3. The boys were even more pretty.

I stopped watching the Manga Zone after the show depicted a rape scene. Clearly, not all cartoons are suitable for children. 20 years later, I’m still traumatised by Akira.

I don’t think that my love for my man feeds my interest in Japanese comics. I accept that I’m studying them in a bid to get closer to him, to get inside his mind, to know him a little better and figure him out.

I’m trying out a lot of his hobbies as I slip into his world and he softly comes into mine. It’s like that Freshly Ground video where the black girl who loves red falls for the white guy who loves green. They like the beach and they like each other, but when they try to bond, the colours get in the way.

In the end, the red girl wears some green and the green guy wears some red, and they build a beautiful multicoloured home together, on the beach. Green plus red makes purple, right?

Anyway, this habit of picking my man’s habits sounds a bit unhealthy. I look like a blank slate, built solely for the man that I love write on. It’s a scary thought.

But the truth is I’m large on fads. I was looking through my shelf the other day and found hundreds of items that I had started but never completed. Things like guitar chords, meditating lessons, rubber accupuncture, cookie recipes … even a paperback copy of Gone with the Wind. I start things with lots of energy, but I don’t always finish them.

The things I pick up from my men are fads too. I start them so we can do stuff together, and if they’re enjoyable, I’ll stick with them for a while. I started reading The Animorphs because  he recommended them, and ended up reading the ones he’d never heard of; I loved it that much.

[Please not that The Animorphs is a 90 page series for 12 year-olds. It has 54 volumes, plus 6 bumper editions. In the last six months, I have read all of them.]

I don’t know how long this Manga phase will last, and I don’t know how many more phases I’ll pick from people that I love. It’s my nature to graft onto people I care about.

Fortunately, it’s a trait that is useful in business. I find a new client and adopt their project, just like a new hobby. I find out all I can about it, absorb it as my own, and pretty soon, I’m like Mira trying to find her lost brother.

As a client, all you need to hook me is interest and personality. And possibly spiky purple hair. I could never resist good Manga.

 

136 thoughts on “Of lovers and blank slates”

  1. I am not sure where you’re getting your info, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful information I was looking for this information for my mission.

  2. Hello my family member! I want to say that this post is amazing, great written and come with almost all important infos. I would like to see extra posts like this.

  3. I’ve recently started a blog, the info you provide on this website has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work. “The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.” by Jean Paul.

  4. Valuable information. Fortunate me I discovered your website by accident, and I am shocked why this accident didn’t took place earlier! I bookmarked it.

  5. I do agree with all of the ideas you have presented in your post. They are very convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are very short for newbies. Could you please extend them a little from next time? Thanks for the post.

  6. Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue along with your website in web explorer, might check this… IE nonetheless is the market chief and a huge section of folks will pass over your excellent writing due to this problem.

  9. A person essentially lend a hand to make critically articles I would state. That is the first time I frequented your website page and up to now? I surprised with the research you made to create this particular put up incredible. Fantastic activity!

  13. Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Very useful info specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was looking for this certain info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.

  14. It’s really a nice and helpful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

  15. Thank you a lot for providing individuals with a very brilliant possiblity to read from this site. It can be so cool and jam-packed with fun for me personally and my office fellow workers to search your website on the least 3 times weekly to see the fresh items you will have. And lastly, I am also certainly contented concerning the stunning tips you serve. Certain 3 areas in this article are in fact the most impressive we have had.

  16. I simply could not go away your website prior to suggesting that I extremely
    loved the standard info an individual supply to your visitors?
    Is gonna be again ceaselessly in order to check up on new posts

  17. Wow! This can be one particular of the most useful blogs We’ve ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Magnificent. I am also an expert in this topic so I can understand your hard work.

  19. One thing is one of the most widespread incentives for applying your card is a cash-back and also rebate supply. Generally, you’ll receive 1-5% back in various expenses. Depending on the cards, you may get 1% back on most purchases, and 5% again on expenses made in convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores and also ‘member merchants’.

  21. Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  23. Thanks for your thoughts. One thing we’ve noticed is banks along with financial institutions know the dimensions and spending patterns of consumers while also understand that many people max out their cards around the trips. They correctly take advantage of this specific fact and begin flooding your inbox plus snail-mail box by using hundreds of no interest APR credit cards offers just after the holiday season comes to an end. Knowing that for anyone who is like 98% of all American general public, you’ll rush at the possible opportunity to consolidate financial debt and shift balances to 0 annual percentage rates credit cards.

  24. Whats up this is somewhat of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding experience so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  25. Thank you, I’ve just been looking for info about this subject for a while and yours is the best I have came upon so far. However, what about the bottom line? Are you certain in regards to the supply?

  26. Hi i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anywhere,
    when i read this article i thought i could also create comment
    due to this sensible paragraph.

  28. The following time I learn a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I imply, I know it was my option to learn, however I really thought youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you may repair in the event you werent too busy looking for attention.

  29. hello there and thank you for your information – I’ve certainly picked up something new from right here.
    I did however expertise some technical points using this website,
    since I experienced to reload the web site lots of
    times previous to I could get it to load properly.
    I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but slow loading instances times will very
    frequently affect your placement in google and could damage your high quality
    score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I’m adding
    this RSS to my email and can look out for much more of your respective exciting content.

    Make sure you update this again soon.

  30. I think this is among the most vital information for me. And i am glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things, The site style is great, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers

  31. I like this site very much, Its a real nice billet to read and receive information. “Anger is a signal, and one worth listening to.” by Harriet Lerner.

  34. Definitely believe that which you said. Your favorite justification appeared
    to be on the internet the easiest thing to be aware
    of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people consider
    worries that they plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top
    and defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people could take a signal.
    Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

  35. I do love the manner in which you have framed this situation plus it does indeed give me personally some fodder for thought. Nevertheless, from what I have personally seen, I only hope when the actual commentary stack on that men and women remain on issue and don’t start upon a soap box regarding the news of the day. Still, thank you for this outstanding point and whilst I can not agree with it in totality, I value your perspective.

  36. Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thanks, However I am experiencing problems with your RSS.

    I don’t understand the reason why I am unable to join it.
    Is there anybody getting the same RSS issues?
    Anybody who knows the answer can you kindly respond?
    Thanks!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.