I haven’t changed my mind. That’s the point! I want to spend my life with you even though it’s totally irrational. And you have short earlobes. Socially and genetically there’s no reason for me to be attracted to you. The only logical conclusion is that I must be in love with you.
Graeme SimsionI asked you here tonight because when you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.
Graeme SimsionGene told me the next day that I got it wrong. But he was not in a taxi, after an evening of total sensory overload, with the most beautiful woman in the world. I believed I did well. I detected the trick question. I wanted Rosie to like me, and I remembered her passionate statement about men treating women as objects. She was testing to see if I saw her as an object or as a person. Obviously the correct answer was the latter. ‘I haven’t really noticed,’ I told the most beautiful woman in the world.
Graeme SimsionSo, to add to a momentous day, I corrected a misconception that my family had held for at least fifteen years and came out to them as straight.
Graeme SimsionYou’re unbelievable,’ said Rosie. ‘Look at me when I’m talking.’ I kept looking out the window. I was already over-stimulated. ‘I know what you look like.
Graeme SimsionResearch consistently shows that the risks to health outweigh the benefits of drinking alcohol. My argument is that the benefits to my mental health justify the risks.
Graeme SimsionA woman at the rear of the room raised her hand. I was focused on the argument now and made a minor social error, which I quickly corrected. "The fat woman-overweight woman-at the back?"
Graeme SimsionTo the world's most perfect woman. It was lucky my father was not present. Perfect is an absolute that cannot be modified, like unique or pregnant. My love for Rosie was so powerful that it had caused my brain to make a grammatical error.
Graeme SimsionI set out to write a screenplay but, since my early 20s, had dreamed of writing a novel.
Graeme SimsionI could not see the speedometer, and was not accustomed to travelling in an open vehicle, but I estimated that we were consistently exceeding the speed limit. Discordant sound, wind, risk of death—I tried to assume the mental state that I used at the dentist.
Graeme SimsionI worked in information technology and academia for a long time and met many people who were better with things and ideas than with people.
Graeme SimsionAll of us have to make some accommodations and allowances if we are to live with another person.
Graeme SimsionWhat would you like?" "A skinny decaf latte." This is a ridiculous form of coffee, but I did not point it out.
Graeme SimsionI watched as Humphrey Bogart’s character used beans as a metaphor for the relative unimportance in the wider world of his relationship with Ingrid Bergman’s character, and chose logic and decency ahead of his selfish emotional desires. The quandary and resulting decision made for an engrossing film. But this was not what people cried about. They were in love and could not be together. I repeated this statement to myself, trying to force an emotional reaction. I couldn’t. I didn’t care. I had enough problems of my own.
Graeme SimsionI know this song!’ Rosie laughed. ‘If you didn’t, that’d be the final proof that you’re from Mars.
Graeme SimsionProfessor Tillman. Most of us here are not scientists, so you may need to be a little less technical.’ This sort of thing is incredibly annoying. People can tell you the supposed characteristics of a Gemini or a Taurus and will spend five days watching a cricket match, but cannot find the interest or the time to learn the basics of what they, as humans, are made up of.
Graeme SimsionThere are so many weird people that nobody takes any notice. We all just fit right in.
Graeme Simsion