This entry is for Leanne who probably stopped reading ages ago but just in case. She is the only one who knows it is true.

When I first found myself in Mandurah I was a loser. There was no doubting my role in any social group was non existent and my previous school being one for academics wasn’t really providing me with a great grounding in how to merge with your Mandurah average.

Now Mandurah wasn’t the worst place in the world. I think in the surveys that were run it never came higher than fifth worst and sometimes even dipped outside the top ten. It was just that Mandurah people are a different breed. Most of the people I knew there still live there and most of them will never leave. Some still hold jobs they had in high school and almost all have settled into suburban life a little too perfectly.

At the time it was daunting and exciting. I had the chance to reinvent myself as well as I guess to actually find myself. My social circles varied greatly whilst I was there. To give you a quick summary,

- Christian goodie goodies

- The Squares (my girlfriend was a nerd)

- The cool kids (very briefly)

- The underage drinkers (Many a lifelong friendship built)

- The weirdos

It was with the weirdos that I met Leanne. She was the chief weirdo I guess along with her partner in crime at the time in Louisa. I finally found myself amongst freaks and weirdos which was a hell of a realization for me.

I started dressing in jeans and a huge blue jumper that went to me knees, I grew a fringe I could chew on and sometimes did. I even occasionally started listening to the Cure although that part never took hold. Debbie Gibson still raged through my veins.

I don’t think I realized quite how weird I had become until walking to school one day and not even blinking as Leanne plucked a rose off a bush on the way and started just munching on it. That apparently is just normal behaviour to some people and for me I didn’t even blink twice.

Leanne and I have always remained friends although contact has been limited. A friendship forged in the pub her parents ran before it was demolished. Many days spent wholed up in her dungeon like room discussing life and love before we even knew what it was. Playing with her beautiful cat and later on hanging with everyone else down at Blue Bay or the beach whose name I cant remember although it was named after the take away store opposite. When I was stressed out about my secret brother not long ago Leanne was one of the first people to email me and say “it will all be ok’.

So this entry is nothing more I guess than a thank you to Leanne for helping to feed my inner weirdo and helping my realize that I had indeed been a freak all along. Is why I love ya. I hope we get to catch up for a beer sooner rather than later although am sure it will be a while.

We are all who we are but it is the people we meet and the souls we connect with who help to shape us as we move through life.

Keep Smiling

Jason

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