Dear Johannesburg - the honeymoon

First published on the John Dory on June 4, 2009

Dear Joburg (You don't mind if I call you that do you? I feel I have known you long enough now to use your nickname)



Anyway - it seems the honeymoon is finally over. I must admit that in the almost two years that we have known eachother I could not help but fall completely and utterly in love with you. The fact that I was running away when I came here is besides the point. You managed to charm me. You are the most diverse woman I have ever met in my life. Your beauty in some parts is unrivaled. The manmade forest which is Rosebank and its surrounds calms my drive to work everyday.

The old world charm of the city centre on a quiet Sunday afternoon also remains unrivaled. Newtown with its bohemian African chique nightlife welcomed me without any questions.

Sandton with its high end boutiques and upmarket bars sometimes help me forget that I am still in third world Africa.



But something seems to have changed in the last few weeks. You have turned cold. Shunning me at every turn it would seem. The neon lights which characterise your parts further north have blinded me. It seems, dear Joburg, that the honeymoon is over.



Have you grown tired of me? Am I now just another of your large number. Just a rat on a wheel trying to win a race that will never end?

Or is this your way of saying it is time for me to take stock? Do you want me to re-evaluate my priorities? Should I refocus on more stable goals?



Whatever it is I will admit dear City of Gold that I am head over heels for you. I think of leaving not because I want to but because if I don't you will eat me up and spit me out.

I still don't know what the right thing is to do as far as you are concerned. What I do know though is that no amount of begging will convince you to take it easy on me. I think that if I want you to love me again. If I want your respect I will need show a stiff upper lip and face what you throw at me head on. Give me some time though. Your recent behaviour has taken me by surprise and I need to gather my thoughts. Maybe some meditation will be in order.



Until then don't you go changing because as harsh as you are I don't think I could bear it if you weren't you.

Ps. Jen says hi - she is pregnant you know - I am sure you will agree that is awesome news.