Here's something you might be interested in.
“Matt Loves Angela Forever 9-25-1991”. Deeply etched into the sidewalk just north of the Lake Murray Blvd. and Navajo Rd. intersection on the west side of the street, I mull over these words as I walk pass them on my way to Grossmont College for my twice weekly Japanese class. Time better spent memorizing Japanese vocabulary perhaps but, nevertheless, words that linger in my imagination. Maybe it’s the definitiveness of the statement. Each time I pass by the inscription more questions come to mind:
What time of day was it when Matt (or Angela or both of them) stooped down to engrave these words into the recently-poured cement?
Was Matt alone, or was Angela at his side, as love struck as he was?
Did Angela even know that Matt adored her? Or, was Matt simply stating HIS truth? That is, he would loves her forever whether she loved him back or not?
Is it possible that Angela was the author? A wish more than a message? Perhaps she hoped that as her words hardened in the fresh cement, so would Matt’s love for her.
How old were they? Children? Teens? Young adults? Or, older adults having a little naughty fun?
Were these words fueled by liquid courage, or were they sober, heartfelt?
Was the message written in defiance of someone or something --- parents who didn’t approve, or an impending move to another city or state?
And, most of all I wonder, “Does Matt still love Angela?”
Feeling a bit voyeuristic, I search the Internet on the off-chance I can find out if they are still together. Sheepishly, I enter,”Matt and Angela” and “San Carlos”. I’m looking for a Matt and Angela homepage complete with pictures of Matt and Angela and their kids. I’m not sure how I’d recognize them, but I try anyway. I find nothing. Then, I search, “Matt and Angela” and “San Diego”. It’s quite likely they moved out of San Carlos, I reason. I get some hits, but, there’s no way to know if any of the “San Diego Matts and Angelas” are MY Matt and Angela. Hell, they could be living in an ashram in India for all I know. So, I’m left with my musings. Here’s where they lead me:
Matt writes the message. The script doesn’t have a hint of femininity. It’s angular, no curves. Matt, I’m pretty sure, is in his teens. Let’s say 16 or 17. The printed letters are too precise to be those of a child and the sentiments too pure, too unself-conscious to be those of an adult. Matt crafts his message late at night, I would guess around midnight. It’s a busy intersection and the sidewalk is exposed to the street, nothing to shield young lovers from disapproving eyes. By that time, the traffic has diminished . Matt’s walking hand and hand with Angela . They’ve spent most of the evening gazing into each other eyes, losing themselves in the wonder of first love. When he approaches the still-damp cement and the yellow tape protecting it , he doesn’t hesitate. He pulls a key from his pocket and begins to etch his feelings into the sidewalk. Angela teases, “You moron. Whaddaya doin? You’re defacing public property.” But, inside Angela’s thrilled by Matt’s words. Matt looks up at Angela, winks, and says, “I may be a moron for loving you, but I want everyone to know what a moron I am!” It’s clear that Matt‘s sincere. His words are deeply set in the cement, not at all tentative. I analyze the syntax. It’s not a prediction. Matt doesn't write, “I WILL love Angela forever”. His love is timeless. It’s the use of the present tense to describe a condition that’s always true. It’s like saying water freezes at 32 degrees. The relative neatness of the writing and the clarity of the message make me think that Matt’s sober. If he’s high, he’s high on love. I imagine Matt and Angela as childhood sweethearts whose love has matured. Wanting to stay together, they both go to Grossmont College and then San Diego State. Shortly after graduating from college, they marry and have two kids, one boy and one girl. Matt becomes a city planner and Angela a nurse. And each year, if in town on their wedding anniversary, they make a pilgrimage to the site where Matt spilled his heart out on the sidewalk. They gaze at the message, smile, and share a sweet, knowing kiss. “Yes,” Matt still loves Angela and Angela loves Matt, and they always will --- forever.
Matt? Angela? Are you out there? Do I have it right?
“Matt Loves Angela Forever 9-25-1991”. Deeply etched into the sidewalk just north of the Lake Murray Blvd. and Navajo Rd. intersection on the west side of the street, I mull over these words as I walk pass them on my way to Grossmont College for my twice weekly Japanese class. Time better spent memorizing Japanese vocabulary perhaps but, nevertheless, words that linger in my imagination. Maybe it’s the definitiveness of the statement. Each time I pass by the inscription more questions come to mind:
What time of day was it when Matt (or Angela or both of them) stooped down to engrave these words into the recently-poured cement?
Was Matt alone, or was Angela at his side, as love struck as he was?
Did Angela even know that Matt adored her? Or, was Matt simply stating HIS truth? That is, he would loves her forever whether she loved him back or not?
Is it possible that Angela was the author? A wish more than a message? Perhaps she hoped that as her words hardened in the fresh cement, so would Matt’s love for her.
How old were they? Children? Teens? Young adults? Or, older adults having a little naughty fun?
Were these words fueled by liquid courage, or were they sober, heartfelt?
Was the message written in defiance of someone or something --- parents who didn’t approve, or an impending move to another city or state?
And, most of all I wonder, “Does Matt still love Angela?”
Feeling a bit voyeuristic, I search the Internet on the off-chance I can find out if they are still together. Sheepishly, I enter,”Matt and Angela” and “San Carlos”. I’m looking for a Matt and Angela homepage complete with pictures of Matt and Angela and their kids. I’m not sure how I’d recognize them, but I try anyway. I find nothing. Then, I search, “Matt and Angela” and “San Diego”. It’s quite likely they moved out of San Carlos, I reason. I get some hits, but, there’s no way to know if any of the “San Diego Matts and Angelas” are MY Matt and Angela. Hell, they could be living in an ashram in India for all I know. So, I’m left with my musings. Here’s where they lead me:
Matt writes the message. The script doesn’t have a hint of femininity. It’s angular, no curves. Matt, I’m pretty sure, is in his teens. Let’s say 16 or 17. The printed letters are too precise to be those of a child and the sentiments too pure, too unself-conscious to be those of an adult. Matt crafts his message late at night, I would guess around midnight. It’s a busy intersection and the sidewalk is exposed to the street, nothing to shield young lovers from disapproving eyes. By that time, the traffic has diminished . Matt’s walking hand and hand with Angela . They’ve spent most of the evening gazing into each other eyes, losing themselves in the wonder of first love. When he approaches the still-damp cement and the yellow tape protecting it , he doesn’t hesitate. He pulls a key from his pocket and begins to etch his feelings into the sidewalk. Angela teases, “You moron. Whaddaya doin? You’re defacing public property.” But, inside Angela’s thrilled by Matt’s words. Matt looks up at Angela, winks, and says, “I may be a moron for loving you, but I want everyone to know what a moron I am!” It’s clear that Matt‘s sincere. His words are deeply set in the cement, not at all tentative. I analyze the syntax. It’s not a prediction. Matt doesn't write, “I WILL love Angela forever”. His love is timeless. It’s the use of the present tense to describe a condition that’s always true. It’s like saying water freezes at 32 degrees. The relative neatness of the writing and the clarity of the message make me think that Matt’s sober. If he’s high, he’s high on love. I imagine Matt and Angela as childhood sweethearts whose love has matured. Wanting to stay together, they both go to Grossmont College and then San Diego State. Shortly after graduating from college, they marry and have two kids, one boy and one girl. Matt becomes a city planner and Angela a nurse. And each year, if in town on their wedding anniversary, they make a pilgrimage to the site where Matt spilled his heart out on the sidewalk. They gaze at the message, smile, and share a sweet, knowing kiss. “Yes,” Matt still loves Angela and Angela loves Matt, and they always will --- forever.
Matt? Angela? Are you out there? Do I have it right?