Three great texts:

1) From my one (light-skinned black) friend from Arkansas, on Valentine's Day:

Be my valentine?  Haha - hope youre doin well wherever you are,[my name]!!!

2) From my one professor friend who studies modern Czech literature, in a crack about her being able to be a human shield for me:

I, as you know, am large so I will cover your front and back.

3)  Another from my one professor friend who studies modern Czech literature, in response to my asking her perspective on freshpersons not knowing the novels "The Education of Henry Adams" or "Seven Years Before the Mast":

Well, I'm wondering what they know in place of this.  Or do they have just empty spaces.

. . .