[ryanricard]

The first time the map pops up I was dismissive. "Eh, so they mashed up a google maps thing with the video. Big deal. You can even see the google (r) watermarks. lame."

Once it started in with the street-level images, swirling around, it started to hit me though. That was my friend's house! I remember when they put in that stone landscaping in front. A whole lot of memories came rushing back, of feeling the dry desert heat, of playing basketball in my driveway with my friends, of rollerblading down that hill, of being a kid.

Along with the excitement though, a sense of longing. I can't help but notice that someone else's car is parked in front of "my" house now. I remember my dad packing up his stuff and leaving. I remember all those fights and tears as we moved out of that house and across the country. I keep up with friends from that time a little, but it's a little message here and there, I hardly see them anymore.

When the window popped up to write a message to my younger self, it felt like there was far too much to say. I settled on "It will be OK. Really."

This was unexpectedly beautiful and touching. Bravo.

[alabut]

"A whole lot of memories came rushing back"

Me too, and it was made even more powerful because coincidentally, the running character reminded me of when I used to be on my high school cross country team and would go for runs around the neighborhood at odd hours.