My friend Kari (who I’ve known since the 4th grade) likes to send me “chain e-mails”. These are emails that go something like this: “You’ve been selected to have good luck for 10 years, just send this email to 11 more friends (including the one who sent it to you) and receive good luck!” Or, “You’re one of my most beautiful friends, send this email to all you’re beautiful friends including the one who sent it to you.” (which would be Kari.) This last one I just received in my gmail inbox not two seconds ago. Now, out of pure guilt I usually just send her a little “Hi, Kari hope you’re doing well,”as a reply and be done with it. And that’s exactly what I did two seconds ago.

Now, to understand my relationship with Kari, you must realize that we never see each other in person or speak to each other. We’ve grown apart over time. Think about the best friends you had in Junior High, do you still speak to them? Basically our relationship is rooted in once upon a time we were “silly kids” together who called each other every afternoon and did homework together. And, since Kari is still kind of a “silly kid” minus the homework aspect, she likes to email me silly chain emails. Hence, my inbox is full of these guilt-ridden annoyances.

Kari has also turned into a very religious conservative, and likewise sends me many emails pertaining to support our troops, sign this petition to stop any and all immigrants from coming into our country, and my personal favorites: support school prayer petition, and GOD bless America emails with soaring eagles and babies praying. Basically I’m the complete opposite of all those things I just mentioned. So, I shake my head at these emails, feel guilty if I don’t respond, and basically reply with a “Hi Kari, I hope your life is going well in Tehachapi…”.