The Perks Project

So…

I PROMISE I will be posting soon. It’s killing me that it’s already March. But yes. Thank you for sticking with me. This semester has been ridiculously challenging. 

I have not forgotten you!

Just connecting myself with the semester schedule. I’ll be posting very soon. :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Love always,

J

So, here’s the thing.

I’m back home, and both of my copies of Perks are at school. There are probably going to be 3 or 4 entires that will be late…so please stay with me. I’m going to rummage around my house because I believe there’s a third copy somewhere. That’s how much I love this book. For now, 

Love always,

J

December 11th.

Dear friend,

Patrick loved the tape! I think he knows that I’m his Secret Santa, though, because I think he knows that only I would do a tape like that. He also knows that my handwriting looks like. I don’t know why I think of these things until it’s too late. I really should have saved it for my last present.

Incidentally, I have thought of my second gift for Patrick. It is magnetic poetry. Have you heard of this? In case you haven’t, I will explain. Some guy or girl put a whole bunch of words on a sheet of magnet and then cut the words into separate pieces. You put them on your refrigerator, and then you write poems while you make a sandwich. It’s very fun. 

The gift from my Secret Santa wasn’t anything special. That makes me sad. I bet you anything that Mary Elizabeth is my Secret Santa because only she would give me socks. 

Love always,

J

December 7th. One Winter.

Have you ever heard of a thing called “Secret Santa?”   <—- LOL

The first present is going to be a mix tape. I just know that it should. I already have the songs picked and a theme. It’s called “One Winter.”

1. Asleep by the Smiths
2. Vapour Trail by Ride
3. Scarborough Fair by Simon and Garfunkel
4. A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum
5. Time of No Reply by Nick Drake
6. Dear Prudence by the Beatles
7. Gypsy by Suzanne Vega
8. Nights in White Satin by the Moody Blues
9. Daydream by Smashing Pumpkins
10. Dusk by Genesis (before Phil Collins was even in the band!) 
11. MLK by U2
12. Blackbird by the Beatles
13. Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
14. Asleep by the Smiths 

I spent all night working on it. I had an amazing feeling when I finally held the tape in my hand. I just thought to myself that in the palm of my hand, there was this one tape that had all of these memories and feelings and great joy and sadness. Right there in the palm of my hand. And I thought about how many people have loved those songs. And how many people got through a lot of bad times because of those songs. And how many people enjoyed good times with those songs. And how much those songs really mean. I think it would be great to have written one of those songs. I bet if I wrote one of them, I would be very proud. I hope the people who wrote those songs are happy. I hope that they feel it’s enough. I really do because they made me happy. And I’m only one person.

Love always,

J

November 23rd.

First, I am very interested and fascinated by how everyone loves each other, but no one really likes each other. 

My dad is not a big drinker at all, but when he has to spend time with my mom’s family, he gets “loaded,” as my cousin Tommy says. 

But in that moment when my brother took the field, all that washed away, and everyone was proud.

I don’t know if it’s better to have your kids be happy and not go to college. I don’t know if it’s better to be close with your daughter or make sure that she has a better life than you do. I just don’t know.

It’s always whispered that there comes a point in your life when you learn who your parents/family members/siblings really are. I’m sad to say that, over the past two or so years, I’ve gotten to that point…and as much as it’s FASCINATING to know all the family drama…I just miss being a little kid. 

Love always,

J