It’s French

I’ve been playing a lot of chess recently. 

Before you resort to name calling, sweet reader, know that I am at this time between jobs, and semesters. I have an interview next week, and my life is decidedly NOT in shambles. 

So yes, I can be cool and also play a lot of chess. In fact, I find these things to correlate. 

Anyway. I’ve been playing a lot of chess, and thinking a lot about en passant. It’s a silly French chess move where you snag a horizontal pawn. 

I’ve been walking a lot, too. For hours. And I’ve been thinking about public privacy–being just someone in passing.

Somehow, I’ve realized this is the trick of it all–to move through and be on my way like it’s a novelty to be a stranger. Because it kinda is. It kinda has to be.

Public privacy is a beautiful thing, which is the conclusion I think I settled on. The acceptance of nearly universal anonymity is a weird gift.

I’ll explain why before I’m all the way off the rails into poetic nonsense. 

Going to the grocery store without needing to small-talk with each, solitary stranger, is excellent. We accept the privacy of strangers to such a degree that it almost doesn’t matter that they’re there. Or that we are. 

Public privacy, man. It’s necessary and weird and can get depressing if you’re not very careful—hence my decision to call it a gift or whatever.

Something is happening right now, though–public privacy is dissolving. We are so ready to not be anonymous to each other–so ready, right? To be publicly together. 

It’s “horny summer vibes xd” and I’m annoyed as I always am with everyone involved in that marketing. Probably I’m bitter though; I miss someone specifically far and will wear a mask in grocery stores forever.

For your sad, beautifully formed writer,  it is “chess and contemplative walks xd” right now and honestly, not so bad. 

To be someone in passing is not so bad, either. Catch me walking by looking cool and anonymous.

I’ll look out for you to be doing the same. 

I love you, dear reader.

See ya round.