Ever do a search for your own name to see what and who is out there?  It’s almost like there are alternate universes with different versions of you in each one.  They lead completely different lives from you, have different friends, and live in different parts of the world. How would your life be similar to their’s if you grew up in their home town, and you were presented with similar problems?  How would you have handled the situations presented to them and thus, how and when would your life’s path diverge from their’s?

I looked up Brian Broderick on Google and here are what my alternate selves are up to:

One is a rookie for the SL Cardinals.  He’s a pitcher, which is something that I’ve never been good at although I fancied myself decent at 2nd base. One is a scientist researching how traffic emissions affect air quality in Dublin Ireland.  Another alternate self is a guitar player in Texas, while another plays soccer at the University of Maine.  There’s a real estate agent in Alaska, a lawyer in Massachusetts, and another works for the Metropolitan District Commission in Boston, MA.  There’s entrepreneurial spirit in one that owns a bakery in Detroit, while another is a sales manager in Australia.  Another Brian Broderick was extremely lucky fishing in Florida and caught a large fish with his bare hands.  Another, in Oregon, is probably the closest version of me.  He’s a graphics artist and web designer.  Of course, not all of the Brian Brodericks have made good choices.  One of them was sent to jail in Alabama for some sort of white collar crime.

I can see myself in most of these guys. I’ve been athletic, although not so much any more.  I fancy the quick dollar that entices most real estate agents to choose that profession, while realizing that everything is harder than it seems on the surface.  I could be happy researching something that could affect other people’s heath.  I’ve always wanted to play the guitar - perhaps there’s a gene hidden somewhere that was closer to the surface in the Texan universe.  Lawyers have to be logical, and I’m very much so, and I definitely have the entrepreneurial bug. 

For me, I’m a Web Programmer.  I love art and photography, the free and untainted wilderness, a great book, the occasional dip in a hot tub, and life in general. 

For the rest of the Brian Brodericks in the world… I salute you.  Live long and prosper.  Perhaps one day we’ll meet (although that might cause a rift in the universe and destroy us all).

1. s-, July 25, 2007:

   That’s really funny.

   When I google my “real” name, I only get myself, scattered about the internet on some of my various web projects. When I google my “screen” name, that is when I get all sorts of interesting returns. There’s a French Vampire, a Galaxy on an RPG community, an Italian Resort, a brand of tanning beds, an operating system, etc…

   I once saw a photographer that had a really, really common name — that many others had, so he posted links to all of their companies, or web projects on his front page with a disclaimer, “If you’re not looking for ______ the photographer, then please check the following links below.” It was very creative, tongue in cheek and quite funny.

You must be logged in to post a comment.