The Dark Duplex - map 3, october 2006

Over a year after Map 2 was completed, ample time had passed for Atom to begin a third map afresh.  Off I went to his work, asked him when his break was, and over the usual bashful comments (I'll never remember anything!") he incised his first corner of the world onto an 8" x 11' sheet of paper.

When finished, I revealed the first two maps for comparison (see them altogether by clicking image at left.)  Strangely enough, altho he recalled making Map 1 in 2004, he had forgotten he created a second one in 2005.

Similar to Map 1., Map 3 was laden with anecdotes and stories.  The Lefrois house tells of a son who painted the shadows of his walls black and bought rocks that Atom got from his driveway.  Homer is re-mentioned for the frightening halloween experience (i got the details about a scary alligator mask.) The Grimes house, which gave him so much consternation in Map 2., is back and the tale of two weird, seldomly seen ladies who left their house immaculate, is now clear in his mind.  The unpleasant experience of Atom crashing his bike has returned after an intermission from Map 2.  He even reveals the path to this fateful conclusion with a dotted line from his house to the end of the block where an X marks the spot.  All of these vignettes are hand picked specimens from his spontaneously threading web of memories.

Inconsistencies:  There were several (of course!).  The house where he crashed his bike has changed from Jones to Dark Duplex to now simply unmarked; 43rd Street has changed to 42nd.  And for a second time in a row, Atom was miffed that he had mistaked the Anderson house for the incorrect Johnson's.  Even false memories can be stubborn.

Next>>: my first excursion on my own to Linden Hills...