G*Nice: The perks of anonymity

I received an email from Suzana John who posed not only a million-dollar question; but followed it up with a trillion-dollar double whammy. Ms SJ keeps it short and straight to the point so I can pretty much just retype what she wrote: "I don't understand. What will happen if you reveal your name or identity? Don't you wanna be famous and popular? If I were in your place then I would have revealed my self first".

What first struck me was SJ's choice of words - "what will happen…". Maybe, like Cinderella's carriage, my head will turn into a pumpkin (not too far to go, some would say). In answer, nothing would happen as such. I have told you before that over the past couple of years, a few budding Sherlocks have spotted me writing and blown my cover. I truly believe though that in a world of shameless self-promotion through social networks and our voluntary submission of every facet and photograph of our existence, that a little bit of mystery helps our relationship.

It wasn't a big master plan from the beginning by the way - it just suited me at the time of article number one and, like a bad habit, we just carried on. But rather than just putting it down to laziness, I for one can propose some benefits that I think are true for both sides.

Speaking for myself, I sometimes have stuff that I need to share, and the anonymity really helps me just express what's in my head and my heart so that it's out there. And like that stuff that floats around in the summer air - the flying flower that looks like an afro - it delicately trips around touching everyone without us ever really knowing the source. On the flipside, I am amazed and humbled at the personal stuff and issues that my readership chooses to share with me which I think could only happen within the space that we have built between us. Maybe I am reading too much into it, but I am so happy with what we have, and I see no benefit in suddenly trying to become a celebrity just for the sake of… whatever? Anyway, I am just so truly gorgeous that I fear that I might break too many hearts! Did I mention I am extra humble as well… just a little flaw I am working on!

The second question from SJ comes at me like this: "How do you get ideas for your column. Can you tell me the recipe?'' Well, take a sprinkle of humour and flirtation, a huge slice of pointlessness, chuck in some sentimentality and raw emotion, and top with a layer of honesty. Pop that into the oven called life and stir with the spoon of experience… and voila - a sweet-tasting concoction that is a true guilty pleasure. It is not so filling and you can never have too much in one sitting, but strangely it always leaves you wanting more! And much like doughnuts, after chomping through the big bits, it's the sugary sensation left on your lips to savour long after that is the most seductive!

A-Moment-on-the-Lips-A-Lifetime-On-Your-Hips-ingly Yours
G*Nice