Message in a Bottle

Scott Hardie | May 3, 2004
It is our nature to hope for something no matter the odds, and so we throw messages in bottles out to the sea. AP reports that a Florida 7-year-old got a reply from Germany, but the explanation is sadly less than remarkable.

It reminds me of a class project in grade school. Each of us put our contact information on a 3x5 card with a message inviting the recepient to contact us, then we punched a hole in the card and tied it to a balloon string. In the afternoon we went out to the schoolyard and released the balloons all at once, watching them disappear into the sky over the treetops. I never got an answer and I don't recall hearing of anyone else getting one. I kind of always pictured a neighbor down the street winding up with all those dead balloons, scattered about her yard and tree branches, having to clean it up and cursing the school the whole time.

Anna Gregoline | May 3, 2004
We did the same thing, and a few lucky kids got answers. Nowadays this happens very rarely because of environmental concerns.

Jackie Mason | May 3, 2004
[hidden by request]

Melissa Erin | May 6, 2004
[hidden by request]

Anna Gregoline | May 6, 2004
I remember that - my letter made me cry, because I told myself to be happy and be myself and I received it when I was feeling the lowest I'd ever felt in my life. It was hard to remember happier times, but good in a way too.

Scott Hardie | May 8, 2004
I got one of those self-written letters too, after five years had passed. I was underwhelmed. The only surprise, besides how much better my handwriting used to be back in middle school, was that, at the time, I had been entertaining a massive crush on this nerdy girl in my class, and five years later I had completely forgotten it, even though we still saw each other every day in high school.