A couple of times I have heard old interviews with people who I do not know, but at least know of. For example, there are some interviews somewhere on the internet with Robert Pirsig, a couple of months (?) after ZAMM was released. Well, that particular interview was personally a little disappointing, and also sad. At some point in the next couple of years I would like to record a few interviews with my colleagues and perhaps other people at the university. (Pipe dream?) A lot is preserved by the voice, sometimes more than by the face. Or perhaps not a lot, but something else, something that is often more elusive than the visage.

But, as touching as these auditory reminders of the past may be, photo’s — and strangely enough bad photo’s — have a power of their own. In search of a photo for this post I hit upon the idea of scanning a couple of old pics. Got one of the “older” boxes out the garage, and started sifting. Not too badly affected, but still, there are silent smiles and small regrets. And some images for which the stone does not reach the bottom, so to speak.

Choosing just one is difficult, and I cannot make any kind of commitment to stagger them across the coming weeks. Doubtless I can try, but life goes on and there must be room for new photos.

My parents among some building rubble. Taken in the early 90′s but in my memory they are perpetually in the 60′s, and the picture somehow has that look.