FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 6:18 p.m.
Dear Miles:
Oh, I’m so glad I didn’t offend you! (Either with my reference to “waste” or by asking a personal question.)
I haven’t read Ralston’s book or seen the movie about him. I think I would find the latter upsetting. I’m not much for bloodshed, either in movies or in print. I’m more a fan of period dramas or anything about art, film, music, etc. Right now, I’m halfway through a biography of Matisse, and the illustrations are gorgeous.
I did read Into Thin Air for our adult book club, though, and I highly recommend it. It’s a gripping account, and if you find yourself interested in that particular incident on Everest, I can point you to other books on the topic. And it’s not gory at all. (I have to admit that I still had trouble reading it. But that’s not Krakauer’s fault.)
Sincerely,
Mary
FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 6:27 p.m.
What kind of trouble?
FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 6:33 p.m.
I found it hard to read about people putting themselves in such a dangerous situation, especially since I knew it would all go terribly wrong. (Or should I say “whore”ably wrong?)
Sincerely,
Mary
FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 6:40 p.m.
Ah. I see what you mean.
How do you feel about people who put themselves in a position to be hurt by doing something stupid or dangerous? Do you still have sympathy for them? Or do they get what they deserve?
FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 6:55 p.m.
Do I have sympathy for risk-takers who get injured? Well, of course. Taking risks doesn’t make someone a bad person, and it doesn’t ameliorate their suffering if they get hurt. If they kept repeating the same mistakes that led to their injury, and those mistakes were avoidable, well…maybe I’d get frustrated after a while. But I’m not a big believer in trying to change people. As far as I’m concerned, the only thing I can change is how I relate to them.
Why do you ask?
Oh, goodness. I’m at a friend’s wedding, and I should probably turn off my phone now.
Sincerely,
Mary
FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 7:00 p.m.
Did you have to buy a bridesmaid’s dress? Over the years, I’ve heard more than a few complaints about those. Although I can’t imagine you looking anything less than lovely, no matter what you wore.
FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 7:08 p.m.
The bride is my coworker and a close friend—but she didn’t have bridesmaids. So no bridesmaid’s dress! Hallelujah!
P.S. That was a very nice compliment, but you have no idea how I look. I might shatter mirrors with a single glance.
FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 7:31 p.m.
The local newspaper took a picture of you last year. You were doing scientific experiments with kids during the library’s summer reading club kick-off event. It’s still on their website. Lovely, as I said.
Okay, that seems a little creepy, and I apologize. But to be fair, you know my address, phone number, birthday, etc., and I know next to nothing about you. It seemed equitable to let Google even things up a little bit.
FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 7:49 p.m.
Miles, I’m going to switch from my work account to my personal e-mail address. I hope that’s okay.
FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 7:54 p.m.
Oh, goodness, I’d forgotten about that picture. Please keep in mind that I’m not photogenic. Like, at all.
More importantly: You Googled me? No fair! There are a million Miles O’Connors!
Are you a soccer player? Or an ice hockey defenseman? (No, wait, that’s Myles-with-a-y.) Or a TV star?
FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 7:58 p.m.
Not at the moment. Sorry. I’m just plain old Miles O’Connor.
Shouldn’t you be catching bouquets and charming smitten groomsmen? Or taking lots of selfies, since you’re totally photogenic, despite your protests?
FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 8:08 p.m.
Sadly, my life is not a romantic comedy. My current record: Zero bouquets caught. Zero smitten groomsmen. Zero selfies.
It was a lovely wedding, though.
FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 8:13 p.m.
The groomsmen are fools.
FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 8:20 p.m.
Thank you. That’s sweet.
FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 8:22 p.m.
That’s the truth.
FROM: [email protected]
Thursday, January 26, 2017 8:25 p.m.
Are