The Georgia Straight's I Saw You "classifieds", for lifetime or long time Vancouver residents, are our public but deeply confessional journal entries to one another. While often an attempt by one party seeking to extend a brief moment into more moments, any close reader discovers the I Saw Yous tell a story of the shared experience we all live together in this city. The messages are be romantic, erotic, lonely, longing, complaining, vitriolic, vulnerable, witty, artistic and frequently tender.

This is among the most poignant and touching I've read. It encapsulates the reason why so many find their way to Vancouver and the thing that drives just as many away.

Dear Vancouver (an open love letter),
https://www.straight.com/isawyou/2603/dear-vancouver-an-open-love-letter#

Dear previous resident, we miss you deeply and are overjoyed to see you again. We hope your partner is well and recovers quickly.

#Vancouver #writing #classifieds #isawyou #GeorgiaStraight #loveletter

Lovesick in Germany (2 photos)

https://streetartutopia.com/2013/02/22/street-art-by-domke-in-germany/

"To the Divine Cleomira.

If the most adorable Cleomira wanted any Proof of the Dominion of her Charms, besides the just Title they have to reign over the Souls of all Mankind, this had come to convince her of a Truth, which Yesterday she seem'd so cruelly to doubt. But you are too Divine to be ignorant of your Attributes; and, if there is any Thing in you, which is not of a Piece with Heaven, it is that you are not sufficiently stor'd with Mercy to look favourably on a Man who has no other Merit than his Zeal. It is with an inconceivable Terror I look back on that Declaration, which the Force of the most violent Passion that ever was, oblig'd me to make, in so unpolite and unprepar'd a Manner; and tremble when I consider how much Reason you have to condemn the Presumption of this. But, if as many Years of humble faithful Services as Fate has allotted for my Life, may purchase a Pardon for the Sin of my Temerity, I devote [Page 20 ] them entirely to you:----Henceforth rule my every Word and Action,---I had almost said my every Wish: But, Oh! that is not in your Power, vast as it is! for shou'd you command me to cease burning with impatient Desires to obtain the Blessing of pleasing you, I freely own, I cou'd not,----nay, I wou'd not, in that, obey you:----In spite, even of yourself I must for ever Love,----for ever Worship you! ----Permit me then to owe to your Bounty, what else my own Obstinacy will give me, the Title of, the

Most excellent Cleomira's
Truest and Everlasting Votary,
Lysander."

-- -- #ElizaHaywood, The British Recluse

#quote #book #loveletter #18thcentury

The lost art of writing love letters.

Dear Ines,
You were not someone I had planned for, but instead, were the person my story sorely needed.
https://medium.com/prismnpen/no-more-conversion-therapy-im-a-lesbian-an-apology-to-my-first-love-bbac5fbd0d41

#LGBTQ #Lesbian #ConversionTherapy #FirstLove #LoveLetter