Playing Catch Up

Yes, I'm playing catch up here, little by little.

149/365 Todd

It didn’t occur to me until circumstances later that the building where Todd lived was for those who were not right. Still, it was the most casual of flings and probably one of the sanest.

148/365 Bridget

One night at a sleepover, Bridget started telling jokes and kept telling them and telling them. When I woke up, she still had more to tell. So impressive, even if her family was pretty odd.

147/365 Marc

Of all those misplaced with years, I’d love to find Marc. Popcorn, beer, movies, gum, walking, darkness, snowfall, billiards, flirting without sex. Always picked up where we left off. Really hope he is happy, well.

146/365 Julie B

Julie’s crazy life on the street fascinated me, but she also made me giggle every time she referred to women and men as the difference between those with innies and those with outties. Funny girl.

145/365 Mike Mc

Mike was a lesson I learned around age 16. Just mention of his name is still like an instant emote button to those most hurt, and I can’t blame them. Me? I’ve made my peace.

144/365 Crystal

Crystal had the longest red hair and several false starts at a new way of life, but she kept trying, and last I knew, she was making it. Hope that’s still the case even today.

143/365 Joe M

Joe was one of “the boys” we were crazy about and probably the cutest one. His mother, though, would rip you a new one for riding your bike in traffic just to see her son.

142/365 R

I was 16; R was 34. I still feel bad he drank after the breakup and hope time has healed him. All along, though, he was responsible for his actions. He was (supposedly) the adult.

141/365 Jessica

I understand now that her family was screwed up, but I was actually scared when Jessica accused me of stealing her leather jacket. I had no business running with that crowd. Hope she found peace.

140/365 Allison

Allison lived down the lane but was a year older. I always thought she was cool though we didn’t even know each other. I love her name and think of her whenever I hear it.

139/365 Julie B

Julie was short like me but a few pounds heavier, which is probably where she stored all the feisty and phrases like innies and outies for girls and boys. Streets to recovery; hoping she’s well.

138/365 Marc K

I still wonder about Marc, and it makes me so sad we lost touch after so many years of always picking up our friendship after years apart. Hope he is happy. He deserves the best.

137/365 Mrs. B

Mrs. B demanded responsibility from students in the last year or two of high school. No nagging homework reminders, she treated students like adults and thus taught us about real life, not just her subject.

136/365 Mrs. W

I didn’t have Mrs. W as a classroom teacher, just our group teacher at 6^th grade Outdoor Ed. She told some joke, but I never remembered more than the silly punchline “hiss in the pit.”

135/365 Carol

Carol wore the most god-awful perfume that reminded me of pee. In a different environment, we might have gotten along instead of her having an air of superiority. We shared an interest in different places.

134/365 Keith B

I met Keith in kindergarten, ran in different enough circles that I didn’t remember us at the same high school until the advent of myspace, where it turns out we still run in different circles.

133/365 Ko-San

Ko-san from China but living in Japan visited the US on business with my old Japanese boyfriend, and as the sake flowed by Chinese customs, there was no language barrier. Ko-san was an absolute hoot!

132/365 Bethy

I learned a bittersweet lesson from Bethy. Some friends can’t be trusted to be there when your world collapses, even if she is fun. Expecting more than one is capable of is useless and heartbreaking.

131/365 Paula P-ski

Paula was a cute faced girl with a bit of a chip on her shoulder, though I don’t remember quite why. Our junior high homeroom doubled as our lunchroom, so we ate lunch together daily.

130/365 Victor

Oh, my. I was 14, staying at a hotel with family, allowed to wander, and Victor was much older. Drinks in his room and then icky. Back then jailbait was just kind of a joke.

129/365 Lisa L

I owe an apology to Lisa L for putting her in such an uncomfortable situation. I don’t know why a good girl like her even hung around bad kid like me. Sorry about the police.

128/365 John T

JT lives large in so many ways (body, mouth, spirit, toys) and is always going 90 miles an hour, grabbing success by the balls along the way and somehow making it obey. Because he’s him.

127/365 Sabala

We met shortly after I moved in while I was heading out. Sabala invited me in for homemade Ethiopian food when I commented about yummy spicy smells. It was awesome, but now we just wave.

126/365 Suzanna

I still wonder sometimes how things turned out for big smiling Suzanna from Namibia. The stories she told of daily death and fighting for independence made me think of how much Americans take for granted.

125/365 Marie A

I feel really bad now. Turns out that some people smell bad for medical reasons, but as kids, we really didn’t know, and my friend Marie and family smelled bad. Our families were still friends.

124/365 Al

Al was just a good guy turning his life around, and he was always very kind to me, interested in me, my life. He was the first person I knew with an actual cell phone.

123/365 Mr. C

Mr. C was a super popular teacher, and for good reason. He was hot but also funny and caring. He was genuinely concerned at my and my friend’s lack of respect for walking across traffic.

122/365 M

M is the person I admire, look up to, respect and is absolutely my favorite person, but I’m pretty sure she thinks I’m flaky or generally dislikes me. Nothing hurts me more than believing that.

121/365 Mrs. J

Mrs. J was interested in me, wanted to know more about my story, actually had me write down for her all about who I’d become by the time I knew it all at around 17.

120/365 Dave

D is one of those guys whose mind runs 90 miles an hour faster than his mouth so that many of the important details all blur together in a jumbled mess. He’s nice; it’s forgivable.

119/365 Brenda

During darkest days in my life, I helped Brenda through some of her own. Just remembering Scrabble and tea and George Winston in Brenda’s dad’s kitchen is calming. Hope we’ll get back in touch again.

118/365 Nick

As if my acting like a whore was any of his business, Nick stuck his nose in business where it didn’t belong and gossiped like a junior high school girl. I’m better now. Is he?

117/365 Mr. B

I still remember creepy Mr. B from first grade promising if we were well-behaved, there’d be a bag of candy at end of year. We were; there wasn’t. Sadly learned even teachers can lie. Asshat.

116/365 Bob/Muff

Such an unfortunate nickname, given after a 5^th Step gone astray, Bob forever became known as “Muff.” Always in the middle of all the action, Mr. Excellent Service Work Example would have been more fitting.

115/365 Mike L

I knew Mike from kindergarten forward, and he was always one of those really smart and well-adjusted kids that wanted nothing to do with kids like me. We had nothing in common. Nothing at all.

114/365 Rhonda (no, different Rhonda)

I can’t help but wonder if Rhonda would have turned out OK had she stayed on the meds prescribed instead of taking the word of the know it all freaks practicing medicine without a license.

113/365 Jeff R

I don’t really get why, but I developed such a crush on my best friend’s brother, Jeff, that giggly summer I spent in Texas when I was 12, holding on tight going down the waterslide.

112/365 Dr. H

Dr. H taught us the art of public speaking, and I’ll always remember her creative impromptu exercise: $0.25 each, put in a jar, awarded to most persuasive. I lost to the quarter returner, somewhat unfairly…

111/365 Harry Carry

At the Chicago Cub’s Convention back in 1980-something, I stepped into an elevator, looked up, and about fainted. Right there, the real deal, in the flesh. Harry Carry. Take me out to the ballgame, indeed.

110/365 Steve B #2

Steve was often chatty, sometimes intense and always an open book, was deeply in love with his family, appreciative of every blessing and just a great dad and husband. Sadly, he died entirely too young.

109/365 Dan

I vaguely remember that I really, really, really had a crush on Dan in junior high, but for the life of me, I don’t quite know why because looking back it seems kind of random.

108/365 Larry

Down the street lived Larry, the babysitter, back when it was awkward for grown ups to know what to do with the kind of information I told them but quickly retracted. I remember. I forgive.

107/365 Kathie

Kathie was a super tall, mostly super nice closet night-time only smoker. She was one of the bright spots who was often harried and crazy but also just genuinely nice and not just to me.

106/365 Pam

PB was one of those who could alternately be complete bitch or best friend oozing friendly. If there had been a way to know who you’d get any given day, it would have been OK.

105/365 Mr. F

Mr. F was a cool and quirky math teacher who wore a bowtie, introduced us to Calc, and even if he wasn’t one of the more popular teachers, he was generally likeable, and that’s plenty.

104/365 Kiyomi

Beautiful little Kiyomi was just four when her doting daddy went to heaven, but I hope she still remembers him somehow and is able to draw strength from his love because it was just beautiful.

103/365 Gina

Purple Kool-Aid mixed with vodka, that’s what I remember most about Gina. That and her face resembling a Barbie doll. Looking back, I see now that our home lives were actually quite a bit different.

102/365 Mrs. L

Somewhat quirky with odd little tics, I remember Mrs. L teaching us about the concept of juxtaposition at the start of The Scarlet Letter. Hopefully she’s enjoying a nice retirement after teaching many great lessons.

101/365 Mike's Uncle

I can’t even remember his gross name, but he’ll always just be Mike’s uncle, anyway, the creep with the first real gun I ever saw and an attraction to 16 year old run away girls.

100/365 Brandi

So pretty, but appearing so very empty, Brandi was the queen, the wife of “the leader” in the mini-cult. Well, until we all found out that among other lies, they weren’t actually even really married.

99/365 RS

My concept of “neighbors” started with sweet RS who could always be counted on to loan a cup of sugar and who reminded me to look both ways as I carried it across the street.

98/365 FI

FI became a favorite professor once I decided to stick with Japanese. I know there was some bad blood between her and my college, but it was odd she didn’t respond even for reference requests.

97/365 Mike

My mom had such a blast with crazy young co-workers like Mike. He was so much fun that even if there are party pictures, the stories cannot be told publicly. Protecting the innocent, and all.

96/365 Joni

Joni (said like “Johnny”) was a tall and strong woman with a little boy’s name. She had beautiful long red hair that was always neat and well-kept, and she was just good people, all class.

95/365 Wayne B

Cult leaders are usually real pricks, and Wayne was definitely both, convincing those seeking that he had their answer right there in his fluff and bullshit and that we non-believers, the non-Wayne-abees, were the nutcakes.

94/365 Billy

Billy was a twin. Their mom died when we were in elementary school. In my young mind, twins and a dead parent were oddities. Today, older, my heart breaks for their widower daddy of two.

93/365 Dr. C (the good one)

Too bad Dr. C is only my “girl part doctor” instead of primary physician. She asked questions, listened, and put the tragic details in the chart saying I could stop recounting the sadness every visit.

92/365 Mrs. M

Mrs. M drove me to Sunday School at the church I now think is nuts, but she was sweet, smart and progressive enough to believe in the seat belt when so few did circa 1978.

91/365 Palm Reader at Hong Kong Harbour

A palm reader on an early morning walk along the beautiful Hong Kong Harbour will swindle you just the same as any scam artist by any name in any country. Didn’t bother getting her name…

90/365 Kelly

I learned about taking people at face value from Kelly. It hurt, but I learned that just because I think someone is cool or a good person, it doesn’t necessarily make the person my friend.

89/365 Jennifer C

Funny how people that seemed relevant in high school just aren’t anymore. I can’t remember anything about Jennifer C other than that she was one of the smart/popular kids that probably looked down on me.

88/365 A

In college when A was born, I feel older than hell that he’s almost 17 now. Such a cute kid transforming into a really good guy, and it makes me proud to be his aunt.

87/365 M

I became an aunt when M was born, and we share a connection with awkward childhoods. Among the many reasons I love him, he saves mice that would have become snake food. Such wonderful compassion.

86/365 Connie

Nice Connie just dropped off the face of the earth one day, I noticed when I called to chat. Somehow her collectors had my name, but apparently they weren’t able to locate her either. Creepy.

85/365 Dr. N

There are no “bad students” if capable of learning, interested enough to pay student loans for 10 years after college. In exchange, there are bad professors like Dr. N. who can’t translate their vast knowledge.

84/365 Tracy

I knew Tracy so many years ago that it’s hard to even remember the exact circumstances that made me finally, at long last, fight back so deservedly with my metal lunch box against her head.

83/365 IG

It’s almost sad about IG because I would have so many simply fun memories of times we shared instead of now tarnished memories because of his odd and inappropriate actions and comments as an adult.

82/365 Mick A

I’m glad my path crossed with Mick’s because even if I didn’t get to know him very well, I knew enough to recognize that he was a quality human being, one of the good guys.

81/365 Aaron

Some people get one best friend in life who is there through thick and thin, no matter what and close enough to count as family, and I’m thankful that Aaron is that friend to mine.

80/365 Maggie

One street over, in a house with the same floorplan as mine, lived another Maggie, and she was the first person I knew with my name. Wonder how many other Maggies she’s met by now.

79/365 Hiroyuki

So many maybes I had with Hiroyuki, but instead it turned into a friendship where we meet when he’s in the US on business, and we drink sake and eat on the company’s 10 yen.

78/365 Chie

Smaller than even me, tiny Chie greeted me in Japan, and we couldn’t carry my bag. We became friends, but eventually the ocean between us became too big, and we lost touch. I miss her.

77/365 January

January put the quirk in quirky, doing her mailroom thing and humming odd little tunes as she went. For unexplained reasons, I always suspected unhappiness lurking beneath the hum, but I hope I was wrong.

76/365 Corinne

Super sweet but just a little too religious for the likes of someone like me who allows myself to watch rated R movies. It’s a shame we lost touch because Corinne was such good folk.

75/365 Collette

I met Collette in pre-school, circa age 3, and never saw her beyond that, but I never forgot her beautiful long hair that I envied, and I her name still sounds so classy to me.

74/365 Mr. D

The idea that I’m typing with both hands instead of hunting and pecking and could word process before the new-fangled computers is thanks to Mr. D who taught me more useful skills than college did.

73/365 Mr. K

Mr. K was my first chemistry teacher, but he couldn’t quite bridge that gap for non-scientific me. Still, he let me bring coffee to class, so it’s really not like he wasn’t a good guy.

72/365 Misa

Misa insists on speaking Japanese while I speak English, though her English has become far better than my Japanese. She’s a strong young widow mother of precious cuties, an inspiration who doesn’t mean to be.

71/365 Dani

Rugged, but still so pretty, Dani could parrot the words, but kept slipping back into a life she said she didn’t want. I do hope that she eventually made it out of her own hell.

70/365 Beauty Queen

Beauty Queen in study hall was so polished and pageant pretty perfect looking that I wondered if she competed or just walked around looking put together beautiful for no reason. I never knew her name.

69/365 Cheryl

My second mom, Cheryl, became very good friends with my mom sharing crazy times, and I do wish we were closer because I know that my mom lives on in her in so many ways.

68/365 Meg

I always thought Meg was one of the smart and popular crowd because she always hung out with them in 6^th through 12^th, but adult Meg’s myspace seems to indicate otherwise. Grown-ups can be funny.

67/365 Kathleen

Another grown woman who loves Hello Kitty, wine, cats and cooking. I do wish we’d gotten around to hanging out like we kept saying we were going to because it would have been really fun.

66/365 Mameaw

When we went to the mall in 6^th grade, unbeknownst to me until we were in my mom’s car, sneaky little Mameaw had half the mall under her shirt and in her thieving little pockets.

65/365 Heather B

Why Heather chose my bedroom window for her runaway antics is beyond me, but we spent the day ditching school and being 13 years old enough to avoid the cops, and then she went home.

64/365 Mr. G

Shop class with the stoners was as expected, but shower phobic Mr. G rounded out the experience with bits of sawdust clinging fearfully to his greasy hair during sound and smell of saws cutting wood.

63/365 Sue

When my mom was dying and I though I needed to do step work, wonderful sponsor Sue wisely advised me to let the situation at hand teach me more than any step work ever could.

62/365 Randy

When he was on his meds and not acting like a rabid evangelist, Randy was a really decent and likeable guy, who sometimes decided he was bigger than his mental illness and stopped his meds.

61/365 Mr. M

Every morning in high school, a nameless but super friendly teacher greeted everyone, and it mattered. My yearbook advises that he’s Mr. M who the Special Ed kids were lucky enough to call their teacher.

60/365 Joanie

Joanie was very old and quite a bit crazy when I met her, and not much about her ever really changed. She added flavor and fun, even if the crazy part was kind of sad.

59/365 Michelle C

Michelle ran in different circles, and I don’t recall if we ever even talked at all, but I just remember her as being loud and happy, kind of like how I grew up to be.

58/365 Jeff L

On the sidewalk in my hometown it read “Jeff loves Mago” where Jeff ran out of spray-paint on that second “g” in Maggie. Wonder if it’s still there now and hope Jeff grew up happy.

57/365 Gary (or something)

I wanted him to be Ray; it was close enough, but I think his name was Gary (or something). We shared fun and crazy times at the church thing being un-church-like, and nobody got hurt.

56/365 Danielle

Danielle and I’ve spent the last 25 years or so promising then mostly failing to keep in decent touch, even when winding up within hours of each other on the other side of the country.

55/365 Jim

Certain job positions seem to create abrupt people that co-workers hate having to call, but Jim was always polite and pleasant, even if others in his position used it as an excuse to be rude.

54/365 Connie

Super cool Connie by another screen name, who I’ve only met online, is just one of those people with obviously just the right mix of smart, caring, fun. We’d be friends in person for sure.

53/365 Mr. A

When I was so lost and trying to destroy myself junior high young Mr. A believed in me, and I didn’t say it then, probably denied it, but it mattered, and I wish he knew.

52/365 The F's

Brother, sister, and more? The F’s were older than dirt deadbeats who owned half the derelict side of another town yet had a mansion bearing their name. Why end the family legacy in that way?

51/365 DH

It’s amazing how someone can be such a genuinely caring person and so much fun outside of work yet so unbearably anal, vindictive and hypocritical in the office. DH perfected this complete contradiction of character.

50/365 Kanae

Chipmunk cheek cute with crazy good English skills, Kanae lived near me in Japan but went to the smart kids’ school. As a college student in America, she visited, but so sadly we lost touch.

49/365 Christine

Just looking Christine’s yard told that there was dysfunction and heartache inside that house, and I’d love to know that she grew up super well-adjusted and happy in spite of whatever went on in there.

48/365 Karen

Karen got my address from someone when I moved away and wrote to me and seemed to think I was someone special even though I couldn’t really ever remember meeting her. Being liked feels nice.

47/365 Dr. S

The most arrogant and atrocious bedside-manner having doctor I’ve met was Dr. S that saddest night of my life when his utter absence of compassion was even worse than him, unfortunately, being so very wrong.

46/365 Phyllis

From my perspective as a self-centered elementary school kid, Phyllis thought her kids could do no wrong and was a little snotty, but compared to half the parents of today, I guess that’s actually good.

45/365 Takashi

It’s heartbreaking to see Takashi’s mischievous smile knowing he was just a year old when his daddy died, but if anyone could carry Steve’s roomful of spirit forward it’s this boy that doesn’t remember him.

44/365 Mr. D

Mr. D was that cool teacher everyone loved. He taught history in ways now would be politically incorrect, but there was nothing mean-spirited about it, really. He was dead wrong about beta vs. VHS, though.

43/365 Leslie A

I went to high school with Leslie, and we weren’t in the same circles but also not really in opposite circles, either. Just acquaintances, but since her no show at graduation I’ve wondered about her.

42/365 Dr. C (the bad one)

Dr. C is part of the reason I’ve gone non-smoking, but not because he was a decent doctor who suggested it. As condescending and flippant as he was, he still prescribed Chantix as I asked.

41/365 Brad

There is a picture of me at about three years old in pajamas Christmas Eve looking into Santa’s eyes in wonder and awe. Years later I found out it was Brad, but I still believe.

40/365 Linda N

Down the street in a house with a strange entrance lived Linda, one of my first little friends, who was part of my Popsicles, kiddy pool and sprinkler summers. Bet we played in winter, too.

39/365 Stacy M

Stacy was a friend who could be really bratty sometimes and played piano, did gymnastics and played softball better than me. She also looked cuter with braces than me. Wonder what she’s better at now?

38/365 Mike C

Mike was my first couple’s skate, the first boy in my diary, my first kiss, and so many other firsts except that one, and apparently he still makes me do a goofy twisted remembering smile.

37/365 Jim G

My stoner boyfriend’s friend Jim lived in what seemed like his parent’s mansion, and I was blown away by the size of the bathroom and so later glad I didn’t join doing lines in there.

36/365 AM

AM came across as difficult to work with, not very bright, and generally unpleasant. Though no excuse, she worked in hell with a boss to match, so I made myself sometimes feel bad for her.

35/365 Linnea N

Independent and cool Linnea was a tapeworm phobic, pomegranate promoter, dorm lounge smoker, fellow English major, who loved animals, environment and orange coffee and made first year college OK for someone as awkward as me.

34/365 Jerry R

Jerry worked hard, provided for his family and let his wife wear the pants. Still, he seemed happy enough, and I do hope she doted on him extra special when none of us were looking.

33/365 Mr. McM

Creepy Mr. McM was a science teacher, but not the health class or sex ed teacher, so it seemed odd to take a sex test as punishment. He wouldn’t stand a chance in today’s schools.

32/365 Adam

Adam liked me awhile, then didn’t, and maybe, I hope, turned into an OK rocker guy once outgrowing his concert t-shirts and bong collection. Adam and his garage are an entire chapter of my life.

31/365 Heather K

Think Boy George somehow trapped in the body of a pre-teen girl who was punky quirky, and that’s the Heather who taught me to carve boys’ names on my arms with safety pins. Ah, youth.

30/365 Jim W

One of the few bright spots in an otherwise very bleak place, Jim was truly a star, and I called him such often because he proved that “the IT guy” doesn’t have to be condescending.

29/365 Kyra

Kyra was a business customer of sorts that was just plain cool to work with and deal with, and I hope she moved on to a place more worthy of all her brains and goodness.

28/365 Julie T

Julie didn’t need to stray far from home, so I puzzled her, and she puzzled me, but now I’d consider hers a blessing, raising a family in the arms of more family still back home.

27/365 Shannon

I met Shannon online when she responded to my request for an insurance quote. I was so impressed with so much about her that I took that policy and transferred another over to her agency.

26/365 Greg N

Greg was cute in an almost strange brand of cute typically reserved for toddlers - blond curls, long eyelashes, blue pools for eyes. I can’t help but wonder what a grown up Greg looks like.

25/365 Rodney

Rodney was a decent enough kid in elementary school, not particularly hatful, and I recall thinking he was nice. By high school Rodney treated people according to race and just became an unkind, angry guy.

24/365 Mr. P

I once turned in an assignment, for which others would have gotten an A, but Mr. P gave it back to me with a C because he knew I was capable of more than that.

23/365 Cindy

It seemed likely Cindy had been little Ms. Popular growing up and looked down on people like me. Still, at least she never intentionally gunned for me in that hellish workplace, just acted somewhat superior.

22/365 Rick S

Rick was that side of town, over where people don’t know much better than to act trashy, so he promised but kissed and told anyway, but I was no better and learned about double standards.

21/365 Mrs. G

Glory for anything grammatically correct I write goes to hardcore grammarian Mrs. G. (blame me for my errors) and her crazy “today is the first day of the rest of your life” nomadic teacher cart.

20/365 Leon

I remember watching in awe as Leon’s house was built, and the coast of anything wheeled on the slant of his driveway, and those pearly landscaping rocks, and truly “connected” times of knowing your neighbors.

19/365 Treeler

I took a “Marriage and Family Living” class in high school for an easy A; Treeler (and others) took it already pregnant as an “oh shit, now what?” handbook class. Well, minus the marriage part.

18/365 Steve F

Steve was the kind of boss that sent me on Starbucks runs, sometimes buying the round, and was just all kinds of cool and laid back, perhaps to a fault, I suppose, but fun nonetheless.

17/365 Iggy

Iggy apparently liked me just because, and that means much more now looking back. Iggy helped me when I twisted my ankle running through the tires. Drakar Noir and Melt with You = Iggy always.

16/365 Larissa

Larissa was ahead of me in college, dated some radio DJ far enough away that they joked she needed her tongue on the antenna to hear his show, and transferred before I knew much more.

15/365 Joel

Joel was one of my first boyfriends, who became one of my best friend’s boyfriends and decided he hated me but then grew up into a decent guy and found me on myspace years later.

14/365 Andy W

Andy was in 1^st grade, then mysteriously gone until high school. All those years I kept a picture of a house he drew because it looked really cool, but I don’t think he remembered me.

13/365 Larry K

Larry lived quickly, and he is the only person I personally knew brutally murdered. Before that, he was a dad, husband and friend who helped many and was one of those just plain good guys.

12/365 Slim

Slim was born old, I think. He called me a little tomato and talked about cats’ pajamas. His faith in me really meant a lot, and I will always remember how much he helped others.

11/365 Steve B #1

Steve was the first real live atheist I met who, in rooms full of people often considering issues of faith, unapologetically proclaimed himself to be so. Whatever he had going on was working for him.

10/365 Mrs. S

Mrs. S tried. She really tried to teach me how to play piano. How do you help a student with little talent won’t practice? Still, today I play for enjoyment sometimes, thanks to Mrs. S.

9/365 Glenn

Glenn was a super smart friend that solicited thoughts and advice but made his own decisions. He couldn’t forgive me for doing things he’d also once done, so the friendship ended, but I respect him.

8/365 Stacy M

Stacy tried saving me from slipping from the top of the waterslide line, but she was smaller, so I made her let me fall alone. Rightfully fearful, her family never invited me anywhere again. Ever.

7/365 Judy

Judy has definite opinions and isn’t afraid to share, but after watching her cope with her son’s death and helping his widow and children, now I think of her first as heart-strong instead of head-strong.

6/365 Dawn

Dawn gave me the incredible opportunity to be her Lamaze partner. Nobody could have guessed then that it would likely be the closest I’d get to experiencing childbirth, so I’m more grateful now than then.

5/365 Matsubara-Sensei

Energetic-faced Matsubara-Sensei taught me this about coping in Japan: if you tell co-workers you’re traveling, you’ll owe souvenirs and answers to prying questions, unless you just tell the foreigner, who'll find it all humorously perplexing.

4/365 Paula P

Paula was the city mouse, and I was the suburban mouse. Schools in the city were scary, but I was shocked she dropped out citing safety. Hope somewhere she’s still batting happy mascara blue lashes.

3/365 Marsha

Marsha was 50-ish and full of issues when I knew her 15 years ago. She did whatever you initially do to put your name in the hat to be president. Then they locked her up.

2/365 Ray B

Ray loved Zeppelin and pot and perhaps me. I only thought I’d loved until my first unselfish love for Ray made me wish for nothing but his happiness, even when circumstance meant we’d never be.

1/365 My Mom, Judy

My mom lived, laughed and loved unrestrained. I’m delighted seeing her in myself, a living legacy, but missing her terribly. Finally I remember her life beyond just illness, and Mom, I promise I’ll never forget.

Ouch

It took a lot out of me just coming up with all of those names, and a strange almost depression set in about people I haven't thought about in years. It's not a bad thing, that. It just is. Enough with my commentary. From here, it's all about what this is supposed to be about:

365 People I've Met

Wow

I am already up to 85 names, but it's already getting tougher. With each name I added, there was a memory. Happy, sad, something in between. It's already powerful.

I'm Doing This

What a cool project! This all started here with Dan Waber on his 40th birthday when he decided to write 40 words about a different person each day of the year. Lots of others are doing the same. Since I'm 35, I'll be writing 35 words each day. I wish I had found this shortly before my birthday just to make it all nice and orderly, but I didn't. If I don't do this now, I might not come back to it, and it feels really important to me somehow that I start immediately. You just never know what's coming next. I don't mean that as creepy as it sounds.

Today I'll start working on my list of 365 people, and I'll either get started with my first of 365 posts either today or tomorrow.