By Sarah Jost
If you haven’t taken the time to peruse the Missed Connections section of Craigslist, you’re missing out. In Missed Connections, people post little love letters to strangers they saw on a train, passed at a library, or shared a brief moment with in a McDonald’s PlayPlace. They’re brilliant. Here’s a selection of gems from the Vermont Missed Connections page.
Some are simple and sweet…
you ordered fries – m4w – 22 (essex)
you came into my work tonight. thought you were wicked cute, your name was marissa. hope you see this
Some are sweepingly poetic right in the title…
drum & tears in a blizzard – m4w – 40 (you know)
Some are…well…this:
Manchester McDonalds – m4w – 36 (Manchester)
You were working the drive through. You are very friendly and have the nicest ass I have seen in a while.
If that doesn’t make you want to go on a date, I don’t know what will.
Just when I thought Missed Connections couldn’t possibly get any better, I heard about Brooklyn-based illustrator Sophie Blackall’s illustrations of her favourite Missed Connections in Chinese inks and watercolours. Missed Connections have always possessed a dreamy quality to me; all the possibilities of a chance meeting or passing boiled down to one brave moment of outreach. Blackall’s ethereal illustrations perfectly capture this fantastical sense of romance.
Here are some of my favourites:
Do You Believe in Love at First Sight?
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
-m4w (L train to Manhattan)
You were reading Catch-22 on the subway this morning. I have never seen such a beautiful profile. I wanted to say hi, but then you’d turn towards me and I wouldn’t be able to look at your profile anymore. You were so into your book, I don’t think you noticed me falling in love with you. But I thought I’d ask, just in case.
Are you scared of birds or something?
Thursday, May 14, 2009
- m4w – 20 (Williamsburg)
Well, whatever the case, it was cute. Do you live on N7th too? We could hang out.
Long Curly Brown Hair on the Q
Sunday, February 28, 2010
- m4w – 36 (Brooklyn)
You had pink fingernails and got on the Q train at Atlantic (if not Dekalb). I felt an irrational desire to invite you out to dinner. I found you stunningly beautiful, but you’ll probably never know. I think you changed trains at Times Square and I watched as you stepped between closing doors and disappeared. If for some reason you check this, It’d be nice to hear from you. Either way, I hope you’re well.
Cursive
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
- m4w (exiting to the street)
cursive, on leaving, stepped on my foot
wish i could have stricken up a conversation
Tattoed Girl
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
-m4w (Danbury gas station)
So you came in out of the rain to do your paperwork and could only show me a few tats… I saw the scissors and would love to see the rest.Wednesday came and went. I am still waiting.
We Passed Each Other When the Sky Was Pink
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
-m4w – 29
I saw you for maybe a second or two.
I’ve read missed-connections before and wondered why people just didn’t say something then and there. Now I understand… perhaps it’s because the moment is extraordinary; containing a fullness of its own… and the thought that this person across from me is not a part of my everyday life, and at any second will disappear, didn’t even occur to me… it seemed that we were in whatever it was together, and that sort of connection rarely, if ever, happens between strangers, so my mind was a little slow on registering that there would be no “some other time” if neither of us asked for the others phone or email.
Now, hours later, the ripples created by those few tender seconds still gently rock something within me…and I become a missed-connections poster.
Would you be interested in having tea or going on a ride?
You can check out more of Blackall’s Missed Connections illustrations here, or purchase a print here.
I sometimes read the missed connection on Craiglist NY too… I guess it’s appeal lies also in the fact that someone could actually be looking for you. Or maybe it’s just the idea that love at first sight exists.. or that there are still men out there who are just as romantic as us girls sometimes…
romantic men aren’t as rare as you imagine
oooohhhhh….(pitter patter…be still my heart.)
and yet another technological portal that feeds the expansion of human love consciousness
)
I love reading the “Missed Connections” on Craigslist and Gumtree. Sadly, nobody really writes them here, so I tap into the bigger cities. There is something really quite enchanting about it. I sometimes read and think “could it be me?” but then I slap myself. The illustrations are beautiful, so I’ll be checking them out. Thank you for sharing!
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I like raves and rants. Some are really funny, some,well,it is craigslist after all.
Wonderful post, thank you for sharing!
I used to read the Craigslist Missed Connections – I was not sure if I was seeking some meaning in my long-distance and improbable relationship or if I just stumbled into it and couldn’t tear myself away. Either way, what I wanted was to see that some things are too important to let go and that there is always hope. And hope is always a beautiful thing to hold.
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loved this! I didn’t know about the craigslist Missed Connections or Sophie Blackall’s illustrations. Absolutely marvelous illustrations. I appreciate the pointer to her — and finding you all in the blogsphere.
These are not only clever and stunningly beautiful, but oddly touching as well. It is the longing in all of us I guess that makes these so poignant. This is my favorite blog post bt far for a long, long time.
Such talent – I love Sophie’s style. This makes me sorrier than ever that I didn’t inherit the artist gene in my family. Darn DNA.
Dearest Urchins,
May I please double-like this post?
Thank you.
I love reading Missed Connections! I can never figure out why people don’t just say what they’re thinking in the moment. I mean, what are the chances that they’ll ever see that person again? I don’t know.
Either way, it provides me with mild entertainment for a few minutes each day…
Love the illustrations, by the way.
Great post! I love reading MC on CL but I’ve never seen the beauty in them until now. Thank you:) -SG
Awesome!!! My favorite is Long Curly Brown Hair on the Q..
Lovely… I do illustrations (just staring as an artist mind you) and these are lovely. The whole idea behind an illustration is to find something common and simple and transform it into something extraordinary and beautiful while preserving its simplicity. I love the last one, it holds all sorts of fantasies I would dream of… sweet post!
I’ve seen these before and fell in love with them. They are so charming and fun!
Why are they all M4W?
I’ve looked at the Missed Connections occasionally and I find it so interesting. The idea that just for a moment there was a connection – very poetic.
Beautiful – I love how sincerity, intrigue, curiosity, art and desire become one… from a chance observation, to a desperate plea of near regret, to blossoming art. Passion and historical record as one.
I absolutely love reading the missed connections on craigslist. I’m from a small city in Canada, so there are only about one or two posted a month, so I often read the ones from bigger cities like New York. My favorite was a man asking out a woman who threw up in her hand at a bar. He wanted to take her out for drinks.
Also, those illustrations are amazing. I’m probably going to buy a print, but I’d much rather a book. I wonder if she’ll ever put one out. Thanks for this.
Ha! That would be quite something illustrated! And according to Blackall’s blog, she’s just completed a Missed Connections book and has sent it off to the printer…hurray! Although I still might need a print of that pigeon one…-Sarah
Beautiful!
Thank you so much for sharing. I had no idea that Missed Connections existed even though I check out Craigslist all the time for other things. Such romantic gestures in our often jaded world. That was very refreshing!
Beautiful!
Thank you for sharing. I had no idea Missed Connections was on Craigslist even though I often check the site for other things. These are such romantic gestures in our often jaded world. That was very refreshing!
I definitely have a great appreciation for this post. Specifically because I enjoy reading about small snapshots of a person’s day. It’s ‘Missed Connections’ of Boston that ended up inspiring a poem that I wrote about a connection I missed once. Thanks!
Great share, I think I found something to distract me from all of the things I’m supposed to be doing. Finally, I’ve sound something to replace murdering homeless people!
Funny, strange and pretty. All of the things I like most.
Very beautiful. I don’t spend much time on craigslist, so I can say I’ve never seen the missed connections part.
hi sarah, am i able to link & share a bit of your post on my wordpress? x
Hi! Yes, please do! -Sarah
wow, i can’t people do this , it’s so cute ! i wonder if ever the person they speak of ever notices this on craiglist and knows its them !
These are fantastic. My local city subversive paper used to have a section similar to this called “Missing Persons”. I ate it up and waited for the paper’s release every Wednesday, back then. These drawings, animes, vignettes are beautiful and delicate and help to recapture a period of romanticism and intrigue that I was sure had been lost to our digital, “disconnected” world…. Yay for love at first site!!
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Very charming, but I bet they’re mostly written by desparate guys. Lovely illustrations.
Lovely pictures and please keep it up.
So glad to see these posts being immortalized into such brilliant illustrations! Some of the “missed connection” posts I enjoy laughing at and some I can truly relate to. Thanks for sharing this! Definitely worth the feature.
Morgan
I Made You A Mix Tape many comments up stole the words right out of my mouth.
What a great post! Thanks. It reminds me of the Paul Simon lyric, “Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance…” The illustrations are beautiful and dreamy.
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This was so very sweet and sensitive. And I had no clue about missed connections. Loved being here and enjoyed your post thoroughly.
loved Sophie Blackall’s illustrations. Absolutely marvelous illustrations. I haven’t read miss connections on Craig’s list, or anywhere else for that matter, but your post is inspiring and I think i will have a read.
thanks also for the Sophie Blackall’s illustrations.
wat a wonderful concept!!! thanks for sharing …its a gr8 post!!!
Love this post…the drawings are quirky and fun and the missed connections are such fun to read…like a romance novel or the memory of a space in time which lingers hopefully. Thanks for sharing.
Wow. That was just a simple, poignant, enjoyable read. Thanks. I really needed that.
Yes… was it a glance between eyes, does a heart really skip a beat, where is the person i long to laugh with, are thoughts and wishes invisible, do hopes and dreams come true….
I do that all the time
I think it’s a bit sad when it has become your habit
T_T
These are great illustrations.
Lovely illustrations! Thanks for sharing!
i like this
A very sweet and cute article…
I love missed connections. Been reading them for years. Half of me just loves to see people yearning for connection and the other half secretly hopes that I’ll find my description there
Le sigh
What a neat source of inspiration for illustrations. I’d never thought of Craigslist’s Missed Connections this way (actually haven’t visited the site in years). Thanks for sharing these sweet illustrations — neat and creative stuff.
You just got 4 stars which in my world is pretty amazing!
Although we have Craigs thingy in UK, we tend to offer tea whether silently or audibly. It has something to do with our culture.
Just another reason for us to love the UK! Who could resist an invitation to tea? Brave and charming. By the way, stopped by your site and very much enjoyed your poetry. Beautiful. -Sarah
Crumpets, or best of all scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Heaven was invented in direct competition to the existence of an English Cream Tea.
Very nice post!
love this…actually, a long time ago I wrote a flarf poem using mixed connections , so much fun! I keep thinking about doing so again. Your post, as well as the brilliant works, have me inspired to go visit the local Craigs!
That sounds great! If you’d like to send us either we’d love to post them! -Sarah
P.S. Just visited your site…great poetry! And if you ever open that vegan cafe, do let us know! Definitely sounds like somewhere the Urchins would love to pass some time. -Sarah
I don’t know if it’s totally uncool to plug myself, but you might enjoy my blog. Similar material…but completely different. http://www.advertisingforlove.com
Great post! I’ve seen those illustrations before; really enchanting.
I love your site! It provides the same voyeuristic intrigue as Missed Connections. Thanks for sharing! -Sarah
Thank you!
Love this! If these were set to music, the song would be “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt. I bet these same sorts of missed connections happen in every city in the world too…
Thank you for sharing this. I had no idea there was anything on Craigslist like this. So beautiful…. poetry from the people.
Drat! I commented on the wrong post! Sorry about that. Anyway. Am enjoying your blog – thought provoking, interesting AND fun…
Thank you! Pleased as punch to hear that
-Sarah
Just reading through the new comments and someone said “enchanting” to describe the paintings – that’s the exact right word for them!
Sounds like Here’s Looking at You on Melbourne’s public transport newspaper, Mx.
The illustrations are amazing.
I’ve never read missed connections before, but now I think I have to! So poetic, and the artwork is amazing. Thanks for sharing!
Sophie Blackhall is such a talented illustrator. And very witty, as well. Just check out her blog… http://sophieblackall.blogspot.com/
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I’ve never heard of the Missed Connections (I am from México and maybe that explains why) before.. and today I’ve heard about them 3 times. Maybe is just a signal telling me that 1st sight love really exists…
Also thanks for sharing Sophie Blackhall’s illustrations, they are beautiful, sweet and romantic.
And also cangrats for being Freshly Pressed!
-Erika
It also reminds me of a poem of Leonardo Padrón: “Has llegado tan impuntualmente a mi vida/que he decidido corregir todos los relojes/hacia tu posibilidad”.
Thanks!
And what a beautiful poem. I wish so badly I could understand the original version without translation. I hadn’t heard of Leonardo Pardon…thank you for sharing! -Sarah
Lovely, a lot of tenderness in these drawings. Thanks for sharing.
I think I’ve posted a few of these. Sometimes its the best I can do when it comes to romance. Like the drawings.
I’m a hopeless romantic, and guilty of checking the Missed Connections from time to time. Love the illustrations – how very cool.
These are great! Until now, I only knew Sophie Blackall’s illustrations from the Ivy + Bean books that my 7 year old loves.
This is so fantastic. I always get a kick out of reading Missed Connections; this artwork is genius! What fun. Thanks for introducing me to Sophie Blackall!
This is wonderful! I’ll be looking for more. Thanks for sharing.
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This is awesome. I read the missed connections all the time. SO interesting and full of possibilities.
I can’t help liking these whimsical illustrations and their underlying message of how people like you and I with all our insecurities and fears are not abel to reach out to each other and just say “Hi – how are you – or I like the way you look etc” Sad how we are cocooned in our own worlds and despite living in densely populated urban environments we are alone!
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How divine this is, and that I should come across it today of all days!
brilliant sketches. So evocative….:-0
Simply brilliant!! Thanks for posting this!
Fabulous illustrations and a fun post – congrats on FP
This is a beautiful post; I loved it! Thank you for sharing and thank you Freshly Pressed for displaying such good taste!
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I’ve never heard of this but reading this had me gushing. I am touched and wonder how many moments as these would pass by us in our life time.
Thanks for this wonderful compilation.
Joy always,
Susan
Just learned about Missed Connections! Thank you for your post!!
This is way cool. I’ve always been fascinated by the missed connections section of Craigslist.
LOVE IT! Thank you for sharing. I too love to read missed connections I read the Chicago ones, no art work there thus far. The art work is wonderful. Thanks again for a pick me up in the afternoon.
Absolutely touching.
Congratulations.
Helê
I’ve enjoyed reading this post.
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These are beautiful! Thanks for sharing. I will definately keep reading. I just started a blog of my own and would love some input from you! Thanks
http://fluffyglutton.com
This are awesomely beautiful messages. From Strangers to Strangers. We often notice someone on train, by road, in restaurant but never get a chance to say our thoughts.
http://sankalplabs.wordpress.com
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how sweet^^
i’m afraid of birdie too and butterfly..lol
nice illustration 2 !
wow, i can’t people do this , it’s so cute ! i wonder if ever the person they speak of ever notices this on craiglist and knows its them !
Hi,
Great! Thanks for this post.
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Sounds like Here’s Looking at You on Melbourne’s public transport newspaper, Mx.
and yet another technological portal that feeds the expansion of human love consciousness
)
extraordinary moments, indeed. Here’s the sappiest response known to man on there this month:
http://www.peterjlu.com/2011/06/craigslist-missed-connection-nyc-my.html
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