A Year in Pictures of Working

Sarah and I met while working (Job #15: Promotional Work). The job involved having our faces painted blue and walking around in crowds pretending to talk on cell phones. We were supposed to come up with random funny things to say ("He was obviously lying to you. Unicorns aren't real."). This is hard to do for hours at a time, so we eventually just started calling each other on the work-provided cell phones. We would wander around public places, talking on the phone, often walking side by side. That's how we got to know each other.

Now that Sarah has moved to Boston, our relationship is 90% cell phone.

Sarah also has a photoblog similar to mine. It's nice to have another way to feel connected to her. After a flag football game this weekend, she reached into her bag to get her camera (the one she'd bought for herself just before moving, as a way of easing the anxiety of leaving Chicago) and when she pulled it out, the screen was shattered. There was a footprint on her bag. Someone had stepped on her bag and destroyed her camera.

When she told me this story, over the phone, I felt sad and very far away. I know she can't afford another camera.

Cell phones. Digital Cameras. iPods. I remember a time when they seemed ridiculous to me. Then, slowly, they start to seem less ridiculous. You save up, and when you finally let yourself buy one you're both excited and horrified by how much money you spent on something so small and fragile. Money you worked hard to earn, grinding out the hours at strange jobs.

Yesterday was our one year anniversary. I offered to buy her a new camera as a combined anniversary/Christmas/birthday present. She said no, it would be too much.

Me: What if I throw Valentines Day in there too?
Sarah: No. Don't make me cry.

# posted by Arnie : 2:09 PM