StaySafe, Extra Safe
Prologue
The tweets used to inspire this project are listed below:
My idea for this project came quite suddenly when I tweeted on February 10th, 2011. The tweet reads, "it's scary when you realize you start to miss someone you didn't think you'd miss #twitterive." It was at this time I realized my inspiration for my twitterive would be my friend Mike from home, a Marine stationed in Japan. I decided to fictionalize the story because there was not enough happening in my friendship with him to create a full story and to be perfectly honest, I did not feel the need to share my entire life story with my class or anyone stumbling upon my weebly (sorry!). My "place" was not a physical one, but a completely mental one. I found myself getting lost in thought about Mike's life on the other side of the world along with a jumble of other feelings.
The following project incorporates several different genres to follow a girl, Christine, and her blossoming friendship. The story starts in 2010, when she is 20 years old.
The following project incorporates several different genres to follow a girl, Christine, and her blossoming friendship. The story starts in 2010, when she is 20 years old.
July 29, 2010 - iChat conversation
Kevin: nah, i'm headed to the fire dept. to see oliver
Christine: what are you guys doing? cart run to the city for food lol
Kevin: he only has a week left, so im gonna go hang out wit him
Christine: a week left? for what?
Kevin: you didn't hear? he's joinin the marines
Kevin: he leaves for boot camp in 8 days
Christine: oh, no i didn't know! i'll have to wish him luck
Kevin: yeah def do!
Kevin: alright i'm on my way out
Kevin: later
Kevin: nah, i'm headed to the fire dept. to see oliver
Christine: what are you guys doing? cart run to the city for food lol
Kevin: he only has a week left, so im gonna go hang out wit him
Christine: a week left? for what?
Kevin: you didn't hear? he's joinin the marines
Kevin: he leaves for boot camp in 8 days
Christine: oh, no i didn't know! i'll have to wish him luck
Kevin: yeah def do!
Kevin: alright i'm on my way out
Kevin: later
August 5, 2010 - Phone Call
Mike: Hello?
Christine: Hey! How are you?
Mike: Good, what’s up?
Christine: Just wanted to catch you before you left for boot camp. I talked to Kevin the other day; he told me you’re leaving.
Mike: Yeah, tomorrow.
Christine: Good luck! Stay safe! Glad I caught you before you left.
Mike: Thanks for calling.
Christine: Of course. Text me when you’re home.
Mike: Alright. Talk to you in thirteen weeks.
Christine: Take care.
Mike: You too.
Mike came home from boot camp in September and took this picture of me and my brother in Wildwood. We were there for a few days & I got to spend a few days with him before he left for artillery training in Oklahoma and then his placement in Japan.
* * *
* * *
January 20, 2010 - First Letter from Christine
Mike,
Hope Japan is awesome, I want to hear all about it. Please tell me you'll be able to set up your wireless soon, this letters thing is a little too old fashioned for me.
You haven't been gone long, but I hope you're loving it already. Tell me funny stories.
Stay safe,
Christine
Mike,
Hope Japan is awesome, I want to hear all about it. Please tell me you'll be able to set up your wireless soon, this letters thing is a little too old fashioned for me.
You haven't been gone long, but I hope you're loving it already. Tell me funny stories.
Stay safe,
Christine
February 4, 2011 - Letter
Christine,
Your letter was sick, thanks for sending! It's always nice to get mail. I've been holding down the fort here, Japan is awesome.
Met someone from the Yakuza (Japanese mob) last night - some cool shit.
Hope home is treating you well. I miss that place.
Mike
Christine,
Your letter was sick, thanks for sending! It's always nice to get mail. I've been holding down the fort here, Japan is awesome.
Met someone from the Yakuza (Japanese mob) last night - some cool shit.
Hope home is treating you well. I miss that place.
Mike
March 2, 2011 - Email from Mike
Just an ordinary day golfing in Okinawa!
Mike
Just an ordinary day golfing in Okinawa!
Mike
April 16, 2011- iChat Conversation
Mike: hey, on my way out for the night, just wanted to say good morning
Christine: aw thanks! yeah, i just got up - gotta run a bunch of errands today
Christine: where are you headed tonight?
Mike: just going to the bar we always go to
Mike: right down the road
Christine: have fun! find lots of cute japanese girls ;)
Mike: oh, i plan on it haha
Mike: kidding
Mike: wouldn't be able to find one
Christine: hah why?
Mike: you're not in japan
Christine: don't make me blush lol
Christine: now go! have fun!
Mike: haha thanks
Mike: have a good day
Christine: thanks, i'll talk to you tomorrow
Mike: hey, on my way out for the night, just wanted to say good morning
Christine: aw thanks! yeah, i just got up - gotta run a bunch of errands today
Christine: where are you headed tonight?
Mike: just going to the bar we always go to
Mike: right down the road
Christine: have fun! find lots of cute japanese girls ;)
Mike: oh, i plan on it haha
Mike: kidding
Mike: wouldn't be able to find one
Christine: hah why?
Mike: you're not in japan
Christine: don't make me blush lol
Christine: now go! have fun!
Mike: haha thanks
Mike: have a good day
Christine: thanks, i'll talk to you tomorrow
April 16, 2011 - Drunk Email from Mike
jsut got back. greatt fcuking time, but miss yuouuuuu.
message me tomoprrowq!!@!!!
jsut got back. greatt fcuking time, but miss yuouuuuu.
message me tomoprrowq!!@!!!
Date - Second Letter from Christine
Mike,
Short letter this time. Just wanted you to get some good ol' fashioned mail. But I miss you. Lots.
xoxo,
Christine
Mike,
Short letter this time. Just wanted you to get some good ol' fashioned mail. But I miss you. Lots.
xoxo,
Christine
April 30, 2011 - Journal Entry
It's scary when you realize you start to miss someone you didn't think you'd miss. Mike's been gone for four months now. I didn't cry when he left. I wasn't overly excited when I got his first letter. But now, all of a sudden, everything's different. I find myself thinking about him when I'm not doing anything. I'm wondering if he's safe. If he's being careful.
But I can't feel this way, right? He's over 10,000 miles away. He's gone.
It's scary when you realize you start to miss someone you didn't think you'd miss. Mike's been gone for four months now. I didn't cry when he left. I wasn't overly excited when I got his first letter. But now, all of a sudden, everything's different. I find myself thinking about him when I'm not doing anything. I'm wondering if he's safe. If he's being careful.
But I can't feel this way, right? He's over 10,000 miles away. He's gone.
May 2, 2011 - iChat Conversation
Christine: hey you, i'm off to bed
Christine: get a working phone so i can text you
Christine: miss ya!
Mike: haha i'm working on it
Mike: promise
Mike: night
Christine: hey you, i'm off to bed
Christine: get a working phone so i can text you
Christine: miss ya!
Mike: haha i'm working on it
Mike: promise
Mike: night
Text message from Mike on June 21, 2011
February 5, 2012 - iChat Conversation
Mike: got your letter!
Christine: haha good!
Christine: it snowed here again last night, i can't handle this anymore
Mike: ugh
Mike: i miss the snow a little bit
Christine: what's the weather like there now?
Mike: it's like the end of march weather at home
Mike: so nice, its starting to get a lot warmer
Christine: UGH! sooooo jealous
Mike: back to work
Mike: i'll call you later babe
Christine: stay safe, extra safe
Mike: got your letter!
Christine: haha good!
Christine: it snowed here again last night, i can't handle this anymore
Mike: ugh
Mike: i miss the snow a little bit
Christine: what's the weather like there now?
Mike: it's like the end of march weather at home
Mike: so nice, its starting to get a lot warmer
Christine: UGH! sooooo jealous
Mike: back to work
Mike: i'll call you later babe
Christine: stay safe, extra safe
March 29, 2012 - Letter from Mike
Chris,
This is the first time I've had a chance to just sit down and write for awhile. Duty's been pretty easy so far, but the days are getting longer. I got the morning off today, but only because I need to work from 12:00 to 07:00 tomorrow. I swear, only in the Marines is it okay to have a 19 hour work day. It's just guard duty, and I got another guy to take shifts with me (the only reason I can write now), but still.
The plan for tomorrow was to go to the beach, but since my schedule got changed that might not happen. Tom's the one splitting tonight's shift so he'll hang back with me too, but depending on the weather I might just suck it up and nap on the beach.
I sent in my request for leave last week, they told me to expect an answer (hopefully an approval) within 2 weeks. Then I'll be buying a plane ticket and be on my way home. I requested two weeks, so I'll definitely be seeing you.
I miss you and can't wait to see you. I'm staying safe, extra safe.
Mike
Chris,
This is the first time I've had a chance to just sit down and write for awhile. Duty's been pretty easy so far, but the days are getting longer. I got the morning off today, but only because I need to work from 12:00 to 07:00 tomorrow. I swear, only in the Marines is it okay to have a 19 hour work day. It's just guard duty, and I got another guy to take shifts with me (the only reason I can write now), but still.
The plan for tomorrow was to go to the beach, but since my schedule got changed that might not happen. Tom's the one splitting tonight's shift so he'll hang back with me too, but depending on the weather I might just suck it up and nap on the beach.
I sent in my request for leave last week, they told me to expect an answer (hopefully an approval) within 2 weeks. Then I'll be buying a plane ticket and be on my way home. I requested two weeks, so I'll definitely be seeing you.
I miss you and can't wait to see you. I'm staying safe, extra safe.
Mike
oh I wanna see you again
but I'm stuck in colder weather
when I close my eyes I see you
no matter where I am
it's a shame about the weather
but I know soon we'll be together
and I can't wait till then
i can't wait till then.
but I'm stuck in colder weather
when I close my eyes I see you
no matter where I am
it's a shame about the weather
but I know soon we'll be together
and I can't wait till then
i can't wait till then.
May 29, 2012 - Phone Call
Christine: Hello?
Mike: Hey you! What are you up to?
Christine: Just home. What's up?
Mike: Real quick. Can you do me a favor?
Christine: Sure, what's up?
Mike: I need you to check something outside for me.
Christine: Outside? Outside my house? Why?
...AHHHH!
Christine: Hello?
Mike: Hey you! What are you up to?
Christine: Just home. What's up?
Mike: Real quick. Can you do me a favor?
Christine: Sure, what's up?
Mike: I need you to check something outside for me.
Christine: Outside? Outside my house? Why?
...AHHHH!
Mike: I love you. I hope you know that.
Christine: I love you, too.
Christine: I love you, too.
December 18, 2012 - Journal Entry
Being away becomes a part of who you are. He's been gone for months again, I suppose I should just be thankful that he's still safe in Japan. He's expecting to be deported to Afghanistan within the next few months.
I try to live my life as normally as possible, but dread the phone call that comes when he tells me he really won't be coming home anytime soon.
I just hope he stays safe. Extra safe.
Being away becomes a part of who you are. He's been gone for months again, I suppose I should just be thankful that he's still safe in Japan. He's expecting to be deported to Afghanistan within the next few months.
I try to live my life as normally as possible, but dread the phone call that comes when he tells me he really won't be coming home anytime soon.
I just hope he stays safe. Extra safe.
* * *
* * *
March 5, 2013 - Letter
Chris,
Today's not a good day. Talked to my mom for the first time this week. I've been talking to her less and less because it just gets harder. When she asks me how I am, I have to tell her I'm fine. I can't tell her how miserable I am. And I'm sorry I'm telling you.
I want to come home. Two weeks of leave is not enough for me. I want to be home for good.
I should be able to take you out to dinner. I should be able to show up at your house and pick you up or bring you ice cream when you're sick. That's what I should be doing.
I love you.
Chris,
Today's not a good day. Talked to my mom for the first time this week. I've been talking to her less and less because it just gets harder. When she asks me how I am, I have to tell her I'm fine. I can't tell her how miserable I am. And I'm sorry I'm telling you.
I want to come home. Two weeks of leave is not enough for me. I want to be home for good.
I should be able to take you out to dinner. I should be able to show up at your house and pick you up or bring you ice cream when you're sick. That's what I should be doing.
I love you.
April 23, 2013 - Journal Entry
Mike was able to take a few minutes to video chat today. It was so nice to see him, but it would almost be easier not to because he's so miserable there. I'm so proud of him, but I want him home. He lost three of the guys from his unit last week from an IED, one of them was his best friend. Needless to say, he's a mess. And I'm a mess because this just doesn't get any easier. The time difference alone sucks; I stayed up until 4am to talk to him.
People ask me if I think we'll last. They say things like, "He's always gone. How could it last?" I'd be lying if I said I haven't thought about ending things because of that, but I can't. I'd rather struggle going through every day knowing that he's tens of thousands of miles away than have someone else only a few miles away. Loving someone sucks.
"What is the opposite of two? A lonely me, a lonely you." -Richard Wilbur
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