I wrote something on Twitter last night after spending an hour or so reading old emails between the missus and me from our dating days. At the time we were living 750 miles apart, so email was one of our major means of communication.  Seemingly unrelated, I wrote a post a couple of weeks ago about some messages I was reviewing from an old Yahoo! group that was really active 6 or 7 years ago.Â
I’ve never been one to knowingly keep a journal, especially one of those “deepest inner secrets” type things. I know that for some people it’s a theraputic exercise, and I get that, but it’s not something I’ve ever really felt the need to do. I’m reasonably good at sorting things out in my head, and honestly, there isn’t that much to sort out anyway. I’m lucky enough to lead a very stress free, unscarred life. It helps that I have a wide streak of apathy to boot.
However, I really like reviewing the back and forths I had with other people during different times of my life. The major things in your life don’t need documenting because they are things you’ll always remember. But it’s hard to think back and remember what happened during an unremarkable day or week. Reading even the shortest little email from someone else makes it much easier to recall everything else that was going on in my life during that time.
I guess that could be the argument for personal journaling, but it is so much more natural for me to write dialogue instead of a monologue. I need those other people to make it pop.
So I’m making a proposal to Mrs. Missus (hey, you finally get a real proposal). How about if we make an effort to send each other an email every now and then, even though we now have the luxury of being able to talk to each other every day? Maybe you have to communicate with me more than you’d like already, but let’s give it a shot just for a little while, say 5 or 6 years, and see how it goes.
Feel free to email your answer to me…I think you still have the address.
Hey, is this your way of getting me to stick around for another 5 or 6 years?
Either way, I’m in! Check your email.
What did you do with my no non-sense “beat a guy up behind Schlotzsky’s because he looked at me funny” friend?
If you don’t get off his blog, I’ll e-mail him and tell on you.
Meet me behind Schlotzky’s and I’ll show you what happened to him.
And that guy hit me first.
Besides, those aren’t really appropriate stories for me to tell. Not that I’m ashamed…I just don’t want to sound like I’m bragging or anything. 😛
What did you do with my no non-sense “beat a guy up behind Schlotzsky’s because he looked at me funny†friend?
Nothing… he’s still around. How do you think he kept me around for the first few years?