Curiosity or Stalking?

When does simple curiosity cross the line and become borderline stalking? Recently I looked up an old friend on the web and began reading her blog. After a while I sent her an email and waited.

Eventually (okay, I'm slow on the uptake sometimes) it became clear she was not going to reply. Why, I have no idea. More to the point it became clear that my attempts were in fact upsetting her. Again, I have no idea why but it's enough that it did. Somehow I had crossed the line. Looking back I can see how the whole thing might appear quite different from her point of view. Oops! Didn't really mean to intrude on her or cause distress. Lesson learned--if someone does not reply to your first email, give up. And if the aforementioned lady reads this, I am indeed sorry. Any further contact will be strictly up to you.

You see a long time ago in a different life, she and I were very close friends and I guess I let my memories cloud my judgement. The years can do that. You see we all edit our memories and only remember the good parts. All the BS we went through and the mistakes that were made get glossed over. And if I could climb aboard a time machine and go back, what would I change? Nothing. Not a single butterfly. I like where I am and who I am. Every zig or zag taken that got me here was a necessary one. I may regret the unintentional pain my blundering about caused to others along the way but it's not like they knew what they were doing either.

I used to wonder why everyone else seemed to have their act together and I did not. Then one day I realized they're just better actors than me. Truth is, none of us have the answers or even most of the questions.

Recently I watched the leaders of twenty of the most powerful nations on earth (G20) gather to discuss what to do about the economy. Guess what? They didn't have a clue! Oh they all made nice speeches but when you looked into their eyes you saw fear, raw naked fear. All of them were in over their heads and they knew it. As clear a case of the Peter Principle as this planet has ever seen. All of these leaders had risen well beyond their respective levels of competency. Do I have the answers? Hell no but then, I never pretended to either.

Oh and in case anyone's wondering, the real answer is four...