My friend, Dan, one of the most exuberant and creative people I know, has just celebrated his 40th birthday. To mark this milestone, he launched a new project: 40x365.
Every day for the next year, he will publish 40 words about someone that he knows. “But not just anyone, it’s got to be someone I’ve actually met in person, someone whose name I still remember, and someone who was interesting.” He suggests that we all try to list 365 people from our own lives. Good idea.
My list came pouring out up to about 100 people, then I faltered, flailing like I do when I am in a bookstore (“What was the name of that author? There was that book, I read that review…”), but promised I’d pick it back up in a day or two, and haven’t yet. I still have a few months before my own 40th birthday, so there’s time. I won’t wait too long. 365 is a lot of people, even when you travel and live in a place where interesting people come and go all the time.
The handful of Dan’s vingettes that are already online are little gems. I particularly like this one:
Betsy said, the day we met, she hated the fact that every boy she introduced to her roommate ended up falling for her roommate. I was so swept away by Betsy I promised I’d be the exception. I was wrong.
Brilliant.
Posted by kuri at January 27, 2006 06:58 PMI do hope you decide to play along—I’d love to read yours. The hard part is making the list; after that the writing is not just easy, but, a very helpful kind of exercise in saying as much that’s individual as you can in that small space. And, in the end, you realize how many really great people are in your life. It’s a blast!
Posted by: Dan Waber on January 28, 2006 02:06 AMThat little vignette is brilliant. It could be the opening to a novel. I wonder how many people a shut-in like me can come up with?
Posted by: Keith Fox on January 29, 2006 01:43 AMWow, that is such a great opening line. Could we hear the rest of the story, please?
Posted by: Susan on February 19, 2006 12:08 AM