June 14, 2003

"I cherish the selective past..."

I found this letter many years ago near the Andronicos on Telegraph and Carlton in Berkeley. It's written in black ballpoint on what was once heavy off-white paper, but it had been folded and re-folded over and over.

Dear Fred,

I appreciate the thought that you called me on X-mas. I was at work at the time though. I don't want to go into any indepth explanation of my Feelings and a theory for my thoughts.

I only want to tell you that it is best for now that we aren't in contact with each other. It's not a sad thing, it's good. For me I guess, no, I know for me. So then it is good for you too, in the long run it will be deffinently for both of us.

Like I had told you, I don't know when I'll see you again or talk to you all I do know is that I've stopped the head games with myself because of my feelings for you, and I feel I can grow to love another without the thoughts and feelings interrupting.

All this with you has been unforgettable, I cherish the selective past and memories inside my soul always and, yes, Forever [underlined].

LOVE, Khryssie


In small letters squeezed into the lower left corner, there is an added line: "This antidote will work this time."

It appears to have been originally signed "Khryssie" with no closing.

Afterwards, the word "LOVE" in tiny block capitals has been squeezed unconvincingly above the "K".

Posted by Dr. Frank at June 14, 2003 03:50 AM
Comments

Oooh. There's some pain there.

But for who? Fred probably. But you never quite know, do you?

Posted by: Dean Esmay at June 14, 2003 06:31 AM

Hi, This is the first blog I have actually ever read. Heard about them on Screensavers on Tech TV.
I mean in a general sense. I found your blog via Google.

Was this a real letter? The only doubt is the line about "This antidote will work this time."

Just Wondered.

Darrin

Posted by: Darrin Dowty at June 14, 2003 07:24 AM

Oh, it's "real" all right-- you just have to look at it. It looks, feels authentic.

The backstory is harder to pin down. Was it ever sent? Received? Who folded it and (presumably) carried it around and unfolded and refolded it over and over? Fred? Or Khryssie? Or was it... someone else?

The antidote line is weird, I agree. It makes it sound more like a talisman than a letter meant to be read.

Posted by: Dr. Frank at June 14, 2003 07:55 AM

Is the antidote line in Khryssie's handwriting or Fred's? Also, I have blog envy.

Posted by: Joe at June 14, 2003 11:52 AM

I know you've written about items from your found collection before. Maybe worth mentioning is http://www.foundmagazine.com/

Posted by: Ben at June 14, 2003 04:49 PM

Considering where you found it (I know that Andronicos and surrounding area well), it could indeed have been a new age talisman.

Posted by: Jane Finch at June 15, 2003 03:23 PM

Great site, Ben. Open Letters was another great one. You used to be able to download those old zines as pdf files, but the on-line Open Letters site seems to have disappeared.

And Joe, the antidote line is in Khryssie's handwriting.

Posted by: Dr. Frank at June 16, 2003 01:22 AM

It's in *her* handwriting? Now that's creepy.

Posted by: David Strain at June 17, 2003 07:24 AM

with us variable. the.

Posted by: mother fucking son at May 18, 2004 08:51 PM