An “I Saw You” is a fleeting attempt at romance facilitated by the Internet, one that could have easily been sparked by suggestive glances during a morning commute on the Red Line. The Reader has been publishing I Saw Yous since August of 2004 (before that they were actually called Missed Connections), and the flirtations, crushes, and stalker-ism have inspired a gallery exhibit, theater improv, probably a marriage or two, maybe a divorce, and countless violations of privacy and good taste. Successes do happen—I recently witnessed a close friend reconnect with her partner from a CPR class, for instance—but most connections remain missed. So we decided to choose some of our favorite I Saw Yous from last year and pay them their due respect with what we believe to be appropriate responses. We also handpicked several more I Saw Yous that are ripe for a response—your response; go here to chime in. —Kevin Warwick
No. 2
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We were in the whitest room with the biggest windows. Everything was simple and plain and nothing was there. Everything was there. The floor, carpeted with papers and all sorts of dark colored drips and smeared hand- and footprints. Large papers dangling, stuck to the wall. We were both bare. My breasts exposed, covered in greasy black oil, you poked fun at my nipples, laughing. With command from your face, I could tell it was my hands you wanted to reach up. You approached with a sheet of paper, pressing it against my body, stamping it on. To Jonathan. When: Tuesday, March 22, 2011. Where: my dreams. You: Man. Me: Woman.
Our response: I’m not this dude, but I do have a motorcycle with a pretty roar. Any girl that wanders the streets of Chicago wasted and is willing to flag down a ride in the middle of the night from some mysterious stranger on a motorcycle sounds like she’s got her head on straight, that’s for sure. Let’s get together and prove that friend of yours wrong.
We were standing next to each other on a crowded Brown Line car after a day in the salt mines about a week ago (may have been a Tuesday). I was standing while my friends were sitting. You had blue hair and a great sense of humor to go with a very nice smile. We joked about hoping there was a bar on board, but it would just be more frustrating since we wouldn’t be able to get to the bar, either. How about a real drink? When: Tuesday, January 11, 2011. Where: Brown Line train from Loop. You: Woman. Me: Man.
2/19 Motorhead beer line
Our response: Dear Madam:
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