Number Crunch
Your number is both the easiest and hardest to call. Such is the conundrum of “just good friends.”Release the Tense
It’s not what we were—that was awful. It’s what we could have been that I miss.Scattered
I seem to find pieces of you in all of these notes.It's Simple
I wish I could stop telling my friends, “It’s complicated.”Honey, I'm
Make me your home, please.Reading Material
I sold on Amazon the books I gave to you that you gave back to me. Turns out we were worth about $17.50.Balancing the Equation
We were in love for two of our three years together. Now I think we’re friends only to make the third mean something.Take It
You didn’t take my breath away the last time I saw you. I kinda wish you did.7/02/09
Advertising! Commerce and color. I asked myself: What Would Don Draper Do?The Delfonics 101
I thought we’d at least have enough time for you to teach me something about jazz. We didn’t even make it through 70s Philly Soul.So I'll Tell You Now
For the sake of your future conquests, I wish I’d told you how much work you needed to do in bed.The Nows Have It
Who you are now would never love who I am now. And that’s okay.Don't Let's Start
We haven’t even kissed yet and I’m already composing future Dear Old Loves about you in my head.Weight for Me
I am so much prettier than your new girlfriend, even if I am fifty pounds heavier.About this
"Dear Old Love" is short notes to people we've loved (or at least liked). Requited or unrequited.
The ex-husband in Grace Paley's short story "Wants" says to his ex-wife, "I attribute the dissolution of our marriage to the fact that you never invited the Bertrams to dinner." If you're bitter, that's the way to express it here.
Please email pithy, specific "Dear Old Love" notes to dearoldlove(at)gmail.com. Posted submissions will be anonymous, and all submissions will be held in confidence. I would never sell or give away your email. (I wouldn't even know how.) If privacy is a concern, use an account with a pseudonym.
By emailing me, you're granting a permanent, royalty-free license to edit and use your "Dear Old Love" note in any way, but your note will remain anonymous. I'll admit: it has long been a dream of mine to do a Point of Purchase novelty book. My name is Andy Selsberg. Thanks. Enjoy.
