January 29, 2005

Public/private

Everyone has seen the photos of stricken Americans at sorryeverybody.com (and there is a book out), as well as the responses at apologiesaccepted.com (my favourite is "It's okay. We're sorry for Arnold. — Austria"). Here is something more therapeutic, more anonymous: people draw or write their secrets on a postcard as part of a group art project originally mounted in a gallery, now online. Some of these are very affecting, in a cryptic, jesus-I-hope-they-don't-mean-what-I-think-they-do sort of way: "I love one of my children." "I liked myself better as a boy" (link from Liliputian Lilith, who links to me in the same post. Just so you know). It seems that the project is ongoing, so get out those 4×6 cards.

This reminds me of an episode of Northern Exposure, possibly the only one I ever saw, in which one of the characters writes down her regrets, past actions she can't let go of, etc. etc., makes them into little boats, and sets them adrift on a river. It has stuck in my memory. Though I always wondered whether or not anyone found the papers while they were out fishing.

If you try this, use soluable ink.

Writing has often been cathartic for me. Which is why I should do it more, I suppose. Though it is also a wee bit cathartic to read other people's secrets, and not just the ones that hit close to home.