I’m not suggesting it was love at first sight but I cannot sleep with a woman with whom I do not have some connection. So I gave of myself hoping to forge a stronger attraction and link. And of course that was my mistake – well only in so much as I climbed aboard a slippery slope. I opened a part of myself, my heart to give and in so doing allowed her to sneak in.
Now I’ve had many girlfriends, too many – and if I’m honest with myself and with no criticism intended to some who were just not my type, my history has been one of quantity with little very quality. I’ve been married and I’ve had a “life partner” but there had been only three occasions when I ever felt that I had lost myself in the love of another. I was head over heels in love with three of my first four girlfriends. And in each case they broke my heart. I think the final one was responsible for the council moving in and boarding up my heart. Or at least limiting the access of visitors. Sure I loved others; I certainly felt strong love for my wife and Germaine. I was probably even in love, no, I was. Just that I was not totally besotted. With Germaine, I was singled minded and dogged in my pursuit, she seemed the most amazing woman, and all of the feelings I had were strong and healthy and normal. But until I fell for Ruby, I had forgotten how much of my heart had been off limits for 17 years.
And so it was that she became known as Number Four.
Incidentally, it was the girlfriend during those first four for whom I have the most fond feelings still. This even includes my ex-wife, Mavis was a wonderful woman and I realised when I met up with her recently that she was almost the perfect combination of my ex-wife and Germaine. Yet I was a complete khunnt to her, what I did was bordering inhumane. I wonder if it was coincidence that I should meet her again when I was in the midst of pain from a separation from Ruby. She reminded my of the pain I had caused her – it was awful, I was worse than awful. So what was happening to me then was perhaps karma? Fair enough too.
And I should also explain that Numbers Two and Three were massive mistakes. Mavis pointed out, quite rightly that No 2 was just trailer trash – and that was more a statement of fact than an insult (her Dad was returning to his wife after a week of straying and the mistress took the opportunity to all the wife and tell her “when your husband gets home, smell his cock cos I just fucked him”. I don’t think No. 2 fell too far from the tree. And my nickname for Number Three is Dead Horse, because whilst I pursued my relationship with her (including declining a ticket to see Nirvana at ANU Bar!!) it was akin to Flogging a Dead Horse. So whilst I was startled by the behaviour of my heart it didn’t bode well.
Number One is exempt as she and I were too young to really understand what it all meant. Sure she was my first true love and we had great relationship, as best you can when you are allowed a sleep over at each other’s house with parents present. I suspect that the agony I felt when we split was more than just love and aroused our abandonment issues too.