Monday, December 22, 2008

blast from the past

I got "one of those" e-mails last night. I want to emphasize that although it came from a man, I never slept with him or anything like that. He's just, well, complicated. He was a student, a very good student, but also someone I know that I know I was a life-changing person and pushed him and did good things and that's a kind of strange and heavy piece to carry sometimes.

He's not sentimental, so I don't hear from him often. When I do, I always want to push push push - what are you doing? How are you doing? Married? kids? I know this man and I know that pushing him in that direction is a surefire way to make sure I learn nothing. He may be the only man who has ever gotten me to play by his rules.

We exchanged e-mails last night - I don't think that any of them was longer than 20 words. I know that he is alive and employed. (At a conservative estimate, he makes 100 times more than I make.) I don't think there's any way to make it fully clear to him how much that means to me.

3 comments:

John Burzynski said...

Just be careful, getting those type of emotions stirring around Christmas time is no good.

Hugh said...

I hear you, Lemming. Coming back to Ohio has stirred a lot of wacky emotions, fueled by the incredible hold the past has on this place.

Chase Driven said...

Must be a seasonal thing. I had one of those from someone I haven't spoken with in more than 20 years. It's like an early Christmas present.