text ❖ living in an era with gps takes all the fun out of it

[doitrockapella]

Carmen Sandiego shared a photo. 7/15 near *̸̗͈͔̺̙̥͐̏͐͊̅̀̇͊͌͞/̴̛̼̦͍̟̑̀̆͋͜*̵̠̣͍̓̏̋̌̑̌̐͜͜͝ͅ|̸̻̪̰͔̇͗̊̃͋͊͢͝͠*̸̢̧͓̦̫̞͖͌̈́́̎̇͞͡͝|̘̤̩͙͇̯̱͊̔͐̚̚*̡̧̜̹̗̆̿̂̄̃̀͠͠͠ͅ\̴̨͉̱̼̜̭̀͑̇̇͆̔͜͠*̢͓̯͕̩̙̬̏̽͂̃̅̃̂͡

The structure above was built in the 7th century BCE by two legendary architects, Trophonios and Agamedes. Is it: A. The Palace of Knossos on Crete B. The Temple of Apollo at Delphi C. The Pillars of Hercules D. The Colosseum of Rome Trivia aside, color me curious: what's the most unusual place or thing you've seen thus far in your "hallucinomemories"? That you're willing to tell someone about, of course — I'm not seeking to pressure anyone into revealing secrets they wouldn't be willing to share with the class. (Or, I suppose, if you're playing along with those bingo cards we were given and need to share something with a stranger, responding to something like this would certainly qualify, wouldn't it?)

Comments

private;

[doitrockapella]

With the alternative being...what? A parallel universe?

private;

[originallutece]

Well, yes. That's what I imagine all these other lives are, frankly. Parallel universes makes the most sense.

I more meant it would be easier for emotional reasons.

private;

[doitrockapella]

A clearer division between the then and the now, I gather.

private;

[originallutece]

Precisely. No chance of my going to that location and mooning over it. And, further: little chance of my running into any of the people I've remembered, because the chances of them existing are minor.

private;

[doitrockapella]

Is that a technical term for the phenomenon, my dear Dr. Lutece? "Mooning"?

private;

[originallutece]

It's the term when you're being soppy about it.

[A beat, and then:]

I simply don't want an opportunity to get emotional over a place that doesn't exist, over people that don't exist, in the false hope that I somehow fit in better there.

[Which . . . says more about how she feels in this universe than she'd meant to, than she usually ever tells anyone, and Rosalind scowls.]

private;

[doitrockapella]

...

That puts me in mind of a particular quotation I've always been fond of, if you don't mind entertaining a brief foray into philosophy on my part.

private;

[originallutece]

Go on.

private;

[doitrockapella]

In the words of a wise and ancient philosopher:

Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

private;

[originallutece]

Hah. I can hardly deny that.

Which philosopher is this, precisely?

[Is it you, Carmen . . . no, it's not, but like hell a Dr. Seuss book has ever gotten near Lutece Manor.]

private;

[doitrockapella]

The incomparable Theodor Geisel.

Otherwise known as Dr. Seuss.

private;

[originallutece]

You just quoted a children's book at me.

private;

[doitrockapella]

Does that make the wisdom of the sentiment any less valid?

private;

[originallutece]

It leaves me feeling as though I'm six years old again, but no, I suppose not.

private;

[doitrockapella]

I'm sure you were as exceptional as a six-year-old as you are several decades later.

private;

[originallutece]

Flattering as always, Carmen.

Tell me, do you look these quotes up beforehand, or do you simply have them memorized?

private;

[doitrockapella]

Looking them up in advance seems a bit like cheating, doesn't it?