CHANGES HAVE OCCURRED Woosh sparkle sparkle

there is a new home of the Illinois Letter Writing Project
please mail your responses to
3205 N Clark
Chicago, IL 60657

and with new addresses comes a new letter. Another one strangely received via text message.
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Dear Patty,
im writing you because i havent in a long while. im living in cupertino currently. its fascinating place. during our grandparents era i hear it was mostly farmland. but now its mostly asian, vietnamese actaully, Theyre a pushy and aggressive culture, but not directly to your face, its more passive and indirect. me and ----- ------- buy 40s and ride our fixed gears in the street up and down as fast as we can, wobbling drunk off our asses with the stale taste of steel reserve and vaporized e cigarette nicotine still in our mouths. sometimes we go to the parks and relive our childhood memories. other times we ride to donut wheel and shit in the grimy old booths bullshitting and talking way too loud for a donut shp at 4:23 in the am. the asian students pouring over their text books stare at us like were aliens. we stare right back. ----- talks to me about people that have genuine character or personality, or one of his trips. i talk to him about andre 3000. you know that rhyme in the art of story telling? " so im watchin her fine ass walk to my bedroom thought to myself thats the shape of things to come, she said why in the club you dont make it precipitate? you know make it rain im like why? the world needs sun, the HOOD NEEDS FUN." its true you know.

best wishes
------ -------- -----

hand turkeys...haha.. nah, for some reason I just felt like drawing one.

this was a happy letter. The smilie faces were in their correct vertical form, I found it necessary to put them in any way that I could. Seriously, the sender of this letter made me quite chipper. I have never talked to this person, but I believe I would have a nice conversation.
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Hi Patrick,

I decided that yes, I guess it is about time I actually write a letter and send it your way. So... here it is- ha:)


You wanted to hear about how people live their lives, and how they get by from day to day. I don't really have any huge insight or moving/ inspirational words to share about what it is that keeps me going. I guess I just do because I chose to...you know? I mean, I'm a pretty happy person, and I think I just try to stay happy- as lame or as simple as may sound. But that's the truth really.
So maybe then the things that make me happy are the reasons I'm able to make it through each day? Maybe so, I guess. Sooo, I'll share a few of them with you :)

{second page. Not going to lie, this is what makes this letter spectacular to me}




{third page}

my family- my friends-acting-painting-music-movies-talking to people-cookies (stupid, but true)-spending time with my little cousins-kids in general- really good smelling things-board games... freaking love them-the movie "Clue" (so funny it hurts)- good food- my bed/bedroom- pictures in frames- g-chat- candles-dogs (I miss mine :( )- movie theaters- china buffet- my car- "To Kill a Mockingbird"- trees- decorating cakes and cupcakes- good tv- my secret garden :)- facebook - my church- sushi- romantic comedies- getting mail- seeing shows- the Art Institute- Mr. Sub- recording myself singing (haha)- singing in general - lamplight- "domestic shopping"- driving- tap dancing/any kind of dancing - dressing up- swimming pools- flowers- soulful music, especially with piano- thinking about love (which probably stems from all the romantic comedies)- driving to rehearsals with my friend- good food and or dessert- stars- art that makes me feel something- candy- connecting with people- color- being at home- walking across a bridge downtown when it's evening and the lights reflect on the water- mocumentaries- and a lot of other things, I guess

......................................................................................................................................
Anyways , that's kind of a longish, simple list, but I think it's those types of things that make it all good, you know? Oh, well feeling loved and cared for, which I'm lucky, because I do. So that just makes life sort of ride along on an underlying current of joy- which is about all you can ask for, I think. Right? Ha, I don't know. Well, out of room! Hope you are well!

Sincerly,
---- :)




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the last part of the third page was what made this feel like a friendly conversation.
I love that, friendly conversations with strangers; they are alway nice.

"The complete visceral good I see in what I do for those people brightens my day more than any music or any accomplishment I've yet to experience."

This letter has a kind of embarrassing preface for me, I am blushing just thinking about it. But the entirety of the letter makes me feel so wonderful, here it is for your enjoyment.

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Preface

Well, I found your letter May 28th on the Belmont bus. I have to say, I thought you were very attractive and thought I saw you looking back a good bit, but being reserved and shy around the type, I just locked into my gameboy. Also, Patrick is a name that I fell in love with once on the CTA alread, so the old memories flooded back quite heavily afterwards (a story for another time). We got off at the same stop (Belmont/Damen), and I saw you had left a letter. When I read it, I certainly can appreciate the intent and what a unique way of getting into people's heads. So to you Patrick James Gill I write:

How do I survive? I've survived up to this point of my life by constantly changing. The luxury of youth has allowed me to make lots of mistakes, explore new interests, and most of all mold into a multifaceted individual. 12 years of my life devoted to music now helps me get through my greatest stresses with beautiful and tumultuous tones, and appreciate the intricate nuances within. 3 years of leading a pride movement in one of the most fundamentally religious states prepared me for how to deal with bigotry and living as a second class citizen. Today, I can sympathize with the most downtrodden of people and appreciate their struggles. I've begun a career as a nurse and work in the emergency department. I watch people die, people dying, and people reborn. The complete visceral good I see in what I do for those people brightens my day more than any music or any accomplishment I've yet to experience.

The example that will forever stand out to me: a man came in because his musician daughter had forced him to. His chest had felt "heavy" for twenty four hours. I began the usual actions for this and I saw immediately that he was having a heart attack. The next forty minutes of my time in that patients life was spent hurriedly preparing him for a life-saving procedure. The entire time, his daughter stood by the bed and I asked her to hold his hand and talk to him as I explained everything going on around him. Then, I took him to have a cardiac catheterization. Four hours later, I went to the intensive care unit to see how it had gone. His daughter was by the bed, holding her father's hand, and he opened his eyes and smiled.

The synestheisa of everything that's happened to me, all of experiences, at least somewhat prepare me somewhat for whatever happens when I walk out of this apartment every day. These twenty-three years of family, music, gay rights, medicine, and athletics will come to play as I become a flight nurse in the United States Air Force. The chapter to begin will take me all over the world as I see soldiers fighting everyday to survive.

(this section had a signature of the contributor and their address)


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As a bit of an explanation for the preface, I have been dropping notes that explain the project and ask for readers and contributions. They mainly are placed on the CTA.

"I just dont know what it's leading up to. I get the feeling that is the point."

This letter is very important to me, it is the restarting of a correspondence. After restarting the project I immediately had to respond to the last letter sent by this person (I actually dug up a letter that a started for them and sent that as well as a new appologetic letter). As a warning, I am a mediocre correspondence, but if you would like to communicate through letters, I can see what I can do.
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5/26/09
My Dearest Friend Patrick Gill,


Your letter came to me at precisely the best time I could have received it. You see, last night I was in one of my restless moods. There was only one person I felt I could talk to at that moment, but since he didn't respond to my text, (it was the middle of the night, his phone was on silent), I went for a mid-night walk. Well, my discontent didn't really ever leave and it flooded over to this morning where I went to my statistics class (I'm really not fond of math) feeling already like shit. After class I checked my mail and lo and behold I got your letter(s) and postcard. Now I am writing to you on the bus on my way to work.
Needless to say, the past 2 months I've spent high off of relationships. In this time I have made some really good friends. Ones that for once in my life share a lot of similarities with me- the deepest inner core of myself. It's so great, it's almost like a dream of sorts. I guess that for the past 2 months that is how I've been getting by in life- by building really good friendships. At least that has been my focus. But last night I was coming down from that high- well, more like crashing. It was inevitable, but it still hurt. One of my good friends that I've made as of late actually shares the same name as you. It seems that, in my experience, Patrick's are really good people.
I haven't been doing any art lately. I really want to, but I don't have the time. What I have been doing, though, when I'm not hanging around with friends, is listening to a lot of Elliot Smith. Well him and Bob Dylan. It's funny how music that seems to fit my mood the best comes in waves of sorts. I've been writing a lot more. I have a blog now. You should check it out, the url is on my Facebook page. Do you ever feel like your life is just leading up to one moment? I feel like that sometimes. Actually, increasingly so, I just don't know what it's leading up to. I get the feeling that is the point.
Anyways, my dear friend, I hope you are well. I hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for the money for India! I'll be sure to tell you all about it!

Love,
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"i did a sick, sick thing to my love."

Attention Attention! I have received my first letter via text message....
I would like to say that this is ok, but I want people to know one of the main reasons I started this project was to get people to write things out, to take time and what seems like more effort. I am a sucker for letters, and I feel there is a greater sense of introspection when someone writes me a letter and feels strong enough to mail it to me. All things considered, this person who texted me a letter will still have their voice be heard. I am open to multiple forms of receiving communication.
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dear wise old man,
this may be your first letter via text message. i hope it is. i ran into -------- ------ at a passion pit concert last night (or rather earlier this morning). we had a lengthy conversation outside after. id like you to respond before i send more so that i can be sure this letter is reaching you

[ME:]

more then? i was on aderall, which has similarities to ecstasy when used recreationally by those who are not a.d.d. the person i am now is not the person i was 3 years ago. she will always be the same person i think. she nearly cried while we were talking multiple times. i told her things that had happened to me after we broke up. the drugs, violence, dishonesty, theft, everything. its was harder telling those events to her then it was to my own dad.

[ME:]

she might still be living in the past. wishing that things hadnt changed. her pain is deep and she still hasnt forgiving me for actions that took place nearly a year ago. the little boy she loved and shared 2 years of her life with is gone, and he'll never be back.

i just hope she realizes this is for her own good eventually.


"i did a sick, sick thing to my love. i spread my misery and swallowed her up. and she got me high, and i hardly noticed there were tears in her eyes"

best wishes,

------ -------- -----



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"Once a toaster can ask "why?" Its not going to want to toast your bread."

This is the first letter I have received in a few months, and though it does not entirely answer the prompt, I must post it and let the world see it and think what they may.


May 1/ 2009

Dear Patrick,

So last night I couldn't sleep. So instead I accidentally came to a whole lot of revelations. Some were about, like, uh, I don't know The future and shit. And who I really am as a person. But I got bored and watched tv instead. There was this commercial for a blanket. It was a blanket, are you ready? With a brain! Cue the dramatic music. Why is it that people think you can add "with a brain" to anything and it makes it cooler. Because it doesn't. It just makes me a little paranoid. Like maybe the blankets with think of ways to communicate. And of course they'll be pissed. You can't just stick a brain in something and expect it to be all cool about it. Once a toaster can ask "why?" Its not going to want to toast your bread. Its going to want to like, I dunno, mope and shit. Maybe a little world domination here and there. If its and evil toaster. Or travel great distances with a vacuum, a radio, a lamp, and a blanket. A blanket with a brain.

Hmmm. I guess that wasn't really a letter so much as a rambling about a tv commercial I saw. This is why I shouldn't drink energy drinks. During my second rockstar I didn't even drink it out of the can. I just poured it all over myself. When it seeps in it gives you a high like being on meth. This it proven.

I should go. Otherwise I'll start babbling about my dogs foot fetish.

I hope this letter finds you well.

Sincerely
(and with a big hug)

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as a footnote: I wish the revelations this person came to were said, but all I can post to you is what's written. I can say that this is a cautionary letter on a few levels.

GET THE WORD OUT!!!

I would like to start receiving submissions again, so please send your letters to:

Patrick James Gill
1930 W School Street
Chicago IL, 60657

remember the prompt

How do you survive
tell it through art, story, observation, anything that can be mailed.

I love you all
Patrick