Doing the right thing

When the cleaners in the office I work in wash a floor, they put up this yellow warning sandwich board to warn everyone of the slippy stuff on the ground. This entry is a bit soppy, so perhaps if you could all imagine a yellow warning sandwich board right in front of this entry, here: *

You know an entry of mine is going to be profound when it mentions something about the title of the diary. Or maybe it’s the pompous tone of the first sentence. Whatever it is, be under no illusions. This diary has just done something amazing for me.

Because through it, I got to know this girl. I read her entries after seeing some funny notes she left in other people’s diaries, and sure enough her own diary was brilliant. This eclectic mix of observations, worries, adventures but above all the tone of it drew me in. But never in a million years would I have conceived….

Imagine you were with someone a long time, maybe some of you have. Then you break up and lose touch. I’m sure there comes a time every now and then where you ask yourself “I wonder what they’re doing now?” Well for me, as usual, it’s different. I’ve always daydreamed about the amazing girl I’ve yet to meet is doing now. It’s so vague right now and yet will become crystal clear once I meet her. A strange thought, one that compels me for some reason. Only now, when I look at Catherine’s diary, I know exactly what she was doing. I even remember reading about it.

Catherine is amazing, and for one simple reason. It’s her. Catherine is far from one-sided, she’s intelligent, beautiful and funny. So many things about this girl I simply adore, things I can barely explain. Like I love the way I can imagine having an argument with her. A huge blazing argument, which is great because it shows she’s no pushover. She’s got pride, she’s strong and she’s respectable. She’s also laughing at this so…. moving on. She’s without a doubt the most amazing girl I’ve ever met. And we’ve decided that we’re going to try and have a relationship, despite the whole her living in Cork, me in Dublin thing. And I’m not one bit scared.

She’s inspirational. She makes me want to be a better person, for her. I’ve just fallen for her, completely. Out of nowhere. Well, not really out of nowhere (I’ve always thought she was pretty special in a non-Rain Man way), but I definitely never ever thought someone as impossibly beautiful in so many ways as her could feel anything towards me. Even now, I look at this picture taken back in May when I first met her and I can’t believe this girl wants anything to do with me. And yet it’s come to pass. So all bets are off and now anything could happen.

First of all, the Two Grand Plan has been controversially scrapped amid claims it was costing me €100 a week to fund a rapidly pointless dream. I have €1000, which is enough for a week in Spain or a weekend somewhere really nice. I no longer want Australia, because for as long as I’ve had this diary, my biggest ambition was to find someone special. And Catherine is so special, I’d be crazy to continue saving in order to leave the country. It’s an unwritten rule of my life; cancel everything if you find someone.

And the other unwritten prime directive of this diary; a lady friend shall halt proceedings. I just never wanted to write about the minutiae of a relationship in a public diary, especially when she’s reading with everyone else (I know lots of people do but…. I dunno). So I’m not sure what to do. Other than go to Cork next Thursday, stay down on Saturday when I should be in work and wish I could stay forever.

I’ve never felt like this before. It’s been the craziest week, talking and texting for hours on end with someone who gets me, who likes me even when I’m talking too much and making no sense, instead of nodding, frowning and saying “ok so”. I could just listen to her for hours; she puts me at ease so much and makes me laugh and smile at stomach-churningly sweet gick talk we send each other that we’ve both condemned so much in the past. Two romantic cynics have just cancelled each other out.

So thanks.

j X