On Monday morning I found this message in my email:

Ingersoll, I know you’re busy, but aren’t you responding to email?

It’s been over a decade since we’ve talked…

Yeah…I know…I haven’t signed this. I’m not playing with you. Just thought it would be kind of fun for you to try and figure out who I am…

Well, thinks I, if this is spam it’s a little more clever and complicated than the usual nonsense I get. So I replied:

Hello Mysterious Person –

Given the volume of spam that I get, a lot of odd emails get missed.

So, you’re someone I knew ten years ago? I’ll need more clues than your address if you want me to guess who you are.

Curious,

David

Monday afternoon I got this back:

Oh the spam thing…that didn’t even dawn on me…sorry. I guess you would get a lot of junk mail.

So that you know I’m not some freak just messing with you, I guess I should tell you something that only someone who knew you would know:

In a moment of introspection and clarity, you once saw the entire world in crystalline form.

Maybe that’s too vague…maybe you’ve blogged that. If it’s too weak, I will try to come up with something else.

I know you’re at a disadvantage. However, this is as much for your amusement as mine. Consider it an experiment. Can you determine the identity of someone just by their words?

Factors working in the favor of mystery:

a. You knew a LOT of people ten to fifteen years ago.

b. I have been worn by the years — changed profoundly.

Factors working in the favor of discovery:

a. Well…anything explained here would give it away.

Clues would be too easy. Let us consider this an extension of your blog. Give me your thought for the day and I will elaborate on it.

Are you game?

(Oh, and if you can’t figure out who I am, I will eventually tell you. You have my word. My word is good, but you’ll just have to take my word on that.)

I didn’t get a chance to reply yesterday. And for the life of me, that clue doesn’t help. I saw the world in crystalline form? Which time? Which drug? Or could that reference be to The Forum? Or perhaps the occasional epiphany, unasked for but so appreciated? Or perhaps this is reference to some odd conversation we had that I no longer remember.

He/she/it is right. Ten to fifteen years ago I did know a lot of people. I usually do. I like people. One of the things that I miss about working in retail is the interaction with strangers on a daily basis.

Well, I’m game. My thought for the day to be expanded upon –

Granite.