When Your Search is Too Fruitful

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If your search turns up more than one candidate that might indeed be that old friend, how would you know which one is correct? In truth, it may be very hard to tell. For example, I know that the two listings for me are, indeed, both addresses that I have used. One of them, however, is an account that I frankly had forgotten that I had. I haven't checked mail on that particular system in oh, say, four or five years. Anyone who sent mail to me there would be highly unlikely to hear from me, even if she was an old friend I would dearly love to be in touch with again. One of those listings, under the Detail column, says United States�a pretty broad detail, that�and the other North Carolina, United States.

In fact, both of those accounts are in North Carolina; one is my business address and one was a personal account that I used for a while. You might choose to send e-mail to both addresses (or however many you find that might actually be that old friend you're looking for) with a brief note that gives some specific information about your old friend that will sufficiently identify you to him or her. By clicking on the address and sending a note that says something along the lines of "Hi, I'm looking for the Linda Brigman who went to college at Lenoir Rhyne. We were classmates and I'd love to be in touch if you are that same Linda Brigman. Thanks for your response. My apologies for the interruption if you are not she."

Note:

When e-mailing someone you think is the person you are looking for, but are not sure, keep in mind that you don't want to give out too much information about yourself to complete strangers. Simply identify yourself as closely as you are willing and see what develops. You might actually make a new friend in the process.

If you're completely unsure about taking a chance on the addresses you find or if you don't find any addresses, you don't have to give up. There are other Web sites that can be useful.