I am leaving the manic depressed community
I am very sad.
The manic depressed community has been my home for 38 years. It has been my family - the place I have run to when everything goes wrong.
I am very sad.
'Where will you go?' asks the manic depressed community
'I am not sure' I reply 'but I know I will be okay'
The manic depressed community all shake their heads and look at each other in a very worried fashion 'but why are you leaving us?'
'Because it is time' I say, fighting the tears that sting my eyes like salt and vinegar crisps on a unhealed hair-lip 'I need to leave this community and spread the faith'
'Jesus' they all sigh in perfect unison
'Yes' I say 'just like the sweet baby Jesus and his God stuff, I too have a message of hope and salvation for the lost and the lonely and the not right in the head'
'What will you say?' they ask
'I will say ... I have beaten my demons ... and so can you ... all you need is faith in yourself ... and a bloody good psychotherapist'
The manic depressed community all nod their heads profusely.
'Right' I say, standing at the edge of the manic depressed community garden, waiting for my taxi to arrive 'it's time'
'Good luck' I hear them cry, as I enter the taxi 'don't forget us'
'I will never forget you' I shout back
'Where to?' asks the taxi driver
'The real world' I joyously smile, 'take me to the real world'
'Sorry, mate - the real world's South of the river...'
Welcome, from the non-manic-depressed community. Let's have a pint again sometime to celebrate this.
Posted by: JonnyB | December 12, 2005 at 10:38 AM
I think a pint would be lovely
[oh and thanks for the manic-depressed community sound bite - yes i did pinch it from your comments box - you clever handsome swine you]
Posted by: andre | December 12, 2005 at 10:47 AM
Hallelujah!
Posted by: Gordon | December 12, 2005 at 11:38 AM
Nice one mate.
Posted by: The Girl | December 12, 2005 at 11:49 AM
YAY!!~
Posted by: jon | December 12, 2005 at 12:08 PM
Send us a postcard won't you?
Posted by: Robin | December 12, 2005 at 12:29 PM
That is truly lovely. I'm so happy for you, Andre. Good luck, you talented soul!
Posted by: varla | December 12, 2005 at 01:24 PM
Ain't antidepressants and therapy grand? I've been there and back, amigo. It's a hard journey - congratulations on making it!
Posted by: Ms. Jane | December 12, 2005 at 02:11 PM
2 weeks after I started writing this blog - I stopped taking the anti-depressants.
Posted by: andre | December 12, 2005 at 02:28 PM
I love your blog andre.
Posted by: juliana | December 12, 2005 at 05:17 PM
Does this mean you're going to stop carrying black balloons? I hope not.
I find black balloons quite lovely.
Oh, and congratulations; it's always great to be doing the opposite thing from the masses during the holidays.
Posted by: M. Spider | December 12, 2005 at 10:07 PM
Good for You Andre,
You are ace!
Posted by: Darcy | December 13, 2005 at 02:33 AM
If you're heading for the real world then please avoid Hemel Hempstead. There appears to be a large depressing black cloud over there at the moment.
Now you're better perhaps we'll see more Andre photos. They are (to use your own word) ace.
Posted by: Mike E | December 13, 2005 at 02:42 AM
I shall avoid hemel hempstead [forever]and continue to carry a black balloon in honour of the manic depressed community that once held my hand so tightly on lonely lonely friday nights.
Posted by: andre | December 13, 2005 at 03:44 AM
Congratulations on leaving the manic depressed community and joining us out here in the real world. Now you get the chance to meet some seriously fucked up people!
Posted by: Alan | December 13, 2005 at 05:47 AM
>>2 weeks after I started writing this blog - I stopped taking the anti-depressants. <<
-Gasp!- You're HEALED!!! Yay!
Posted by: Ms. Jane | December 13, 2005 at 10:21 AM
Ms. Jane - I wrote about not taking the pills - they're alright if you want a weird buzzing sound in your head but not so great if rampant sex is on the menu - everyone sent me emails saying - don't stop the pills - I said I wouldn't, but I did ...
Posted by: andre | December 13, 2005 at 10:29 AM
Thats fabulous Andre! Really fabulous.
p.s.
I have to agree with you about the whole pills/rampant sex issue.
Posted by: Karol Cross | December 13, 2005 at 04:47 PM
I never get invited to the parties, so I've never been to the manic-depressed community myself. Maybe, since I don't have any real way to compare, this is all wrong, but . . . the real world is mainly something most people spend their time figuring ways out of. (Like that sentence.)
Posted by: quixote | December 13, 2005 at 09:22 PM
I'm just so glad you're not depressed anymore! I've been there myself and it took lots of therapy and pills. Still taking the pills - I'm afraid to stop.
Posted by: Ms. Jane | December 14, 2005 at 09:55 AM
Does that mean you're not writing in this blog anymore? Not FaiR!! I just found it, and AbSolUteLY lOVE it ! Screw the "real world"...it's too flat..."not right in the head" is the only way to make it, in the 3D...peace, Marlene
Posted by: Marlene Azoulai | January 07, 2006 at 11:14 AM