librarina

In olden times, I never would have heard from most of these people again. Yet, the digital age brings people back together in unexpected ways. I know lots of people online. Through various message boards or happenstance, running into someone’s words across the web. Every now and again, a piece of information surfaces about someone online that I didn’t expect, and it becomes clear: I don’t know them at all. I can’t believe I thought I did. Yet, the people from my past who resurface online, I used to live my life next to them, and it’s strange how I still do know them. Nothing I find out is quite surprising. It just fits, like a new piece of a familiar puzzle. I’m coming to realize though, that a lot of people grow up to be exaggerated collections of their own ugliest traits.

I’m feeling kind of depressed tonight.

I found a pristine History of the United States from 1976. The spine had barely been cracked, no fading on the glossy pages, just as though it had been hermetically sealed for 30 years. I opened it up, and found an inscription on the flyleaf:

“To Jonathan on his 12th birthday. Much love, Uncle Alex and Aunt Helen.”

Poor Jonathan was probably hoping for a Kiss eight-track, or better yet, some cash.