September 5, 2017

There was a news report about a renaissance painter who went by the name Bennet. His most well-known work, Two Venetians Holding Hands , was on display in a nearby museum. The oil painting featured two men in blue walking by a canal under the midday sun.

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Our college was holding an event aimed at alumni where people from the community got to share stories with someone they’ve never met before. There was a non-enforced rule that participants be ages 30 and up as well as a 5 dollar entry fee. Everyone who had joined before claimed that they always got to know someone on a more intimate level from events like these.

I sat on the couch, not really making eye-contact with anyone as people came through the door. Eventually an elderly man sat down in front of me and asked, “How’s your economy going?” I had no idea how or what to answer.

“Alright, you?” I said absentmindedly.

“Not great”, he began…