Crazy/Beautiful

Falling in love. It's a crazy thing, yes? While I am a person with a lot of love - for my family, my boyfriend, my dogs, my friends, for seasons (summer and spring), for traditions (Anzac Day), for occasions (any time my beloved Blues are playing, and the AFL Grand Final, irrespective of who is competing), I can count on one hand the times I have consciously felt myself falling in love, or realizing 'this is love'.

Recent recognitions have been the arrivals of my much adored niece and two darling nephews. I can recall vividly the physical reaction I had to meeting my niece the first time - a swelling of my heart and physical pain that had a sweetness to it - a feeling that I knew was love. That I would devote my life to the protection and adoration of this tiny human. A feeling I experienced again when her brother and her cousin were born. This is love.

Then, a short time after I began to see my boyfriend, it dawned on me again. "Shivers. What is going on here?" I remember being alone, in a hotel room in Kalgoorlie, of all places. We'd just gotten off the phone and I was replaying the conversation in my head when I thought "here we go... I'm falling in love with this man".

And then, tonight, it happened again. I'd just attended my umpteenth Chinese banquet, shared 13-14 courses of food with 500 or so of my peers here in Guangzhou, exchanged countless business cards and partaken in endless toasts. Afterwards, driving home, from 'old' Guangzhou to my apartment in Zhujiang New Town, it struck me - I love this city. This crazy, beautiful city of 10.2 million, wild disparity and unexpected beauty. I truly love it here. And - in a different time or different way (with my bloke and my pups and regular visits with my family), I think I'd happily live here. For a while, anyway.

Falling in love with a city is a strange thing. I am seeing everything through fresh eyes. The next 5-6 weeks will fly by, but I hope to make the most of my new paramour while I can. And grateful for the chance to fall in love, again.