E-Mails and IM's - The Technology That Binds Us

Note:
The following e-mails and AIM conversations took place between my youngest daughter and I while she attended college some three thousand miles away from home.

An Anniversary Care Package
From Our Daughter

Hello you lovely anniversary couple!

Before you start thinking “Oh god, she’s gone crazy” you must let me explain the contents of your gift box. This is actually a very practical anniversary gift box. I thought about getting you flowers for a long time, but I think forty-one years is a very special time in a young couple’s life, and hence calls for a very special gift. Below you will find an explanation of the contents.

1. Kitchen Witch – This wee little kitchen witch will ensure that mom never has to make dinner alone and will watch over dad when he makes his magical concoctions. She’s a witch, so she won’t be afraid of dad’s ummm…creativity in the kitchen. Also,
she won’t flinch when she hears mom talking violently to the food.
2. Love Coupons – I don’t know how much explanation these need, just don’t tell me when you use them.
3. Halls Defense Vitamin C Drops – You old fogies were both sick when I was home on Break. You’ve got too much high-paced living to do to be concerned with down time due to colds. These are yummy and good for you, so enjoy and be healthy!
4. Milk Chocolate Truffles – Even more yummy, but not at all healthy. Dad, make sure you let mom have some too.
5. Small Memo Pad – I figure this can have two uses. First of all, you two have been going too long having ‘communication problems’ resulting in arguments. Pretty soon, neither of you will be able to remember why you were arguing in the first place. I figure you can just start writing down your conversations and realize that you both say some crazy shit sometimes. Also, dad can write the things that he’s going to ‘remember that he forgot.’ This will ensure that he never forgets to remember the things he forgot…like turning off the pool water. There are some pens included to help facilitate the efficient use of this wonderful invention.
6. Eyeglass Repair Kit – I’m sure there are a few of these laying around the house, but you can always use more. Dad, by my tally, 45 X $1.00 (cost of each pair of 99 cent store glasses that I’ve found laying around the house) plus 10 X $1.00 (you’ve probably bought at least ten repair kits so far) is getting close to $55 dollars. I think they should make you an honorary board member of the 99 cents store. I tried to buy you some of their stock, but it was surprisingly not .99 cents.
7. College Mouse – This mouse will help remind you of the real College mouse that’s missing you guys in New York!

I love you both and hope you have a wonderful anniversary. I won’t make fun of you if you eat cup of noodles…but I think you should go out for a nice date and drinks and dad should finally get into mom’s pants. He would look so cute in them

Love,

Gem!

An E-Mail to Her Father:

Hey Dad,

Thanks so much for your wonderful message! I wish I could dump more though…haha. Just kidding. I’m starting to sleep less. I need to fix that, go back to my eight hours a night (yes, so much better than high school, right? I used to sleep like five hours a night, so I’m still doing better with my 7). I hope you guys are doing alright without me….take advantage of it hehehe! Is it weird for you guys to finally being alone again after having kids for thirty years? I hope not, and I hope you guys are having a good time. Remember to take breaks from working, you should go and spend a weekend in Santa Barbara or something (well I know it’s getting cold now though, so maybe somewhere else). And make sure you take mom up to see Cole too when you guys get the chance (Sofitel, dad….she’ll melt). I hope you saw the pictures that I sent to mom. The boyfriend says “hello”. You guys will have to come out sometime this year.
It’s getting so cold here. I thought it wouldn’t make that big a difference, but 22 feels very different from say, 35. The cold just cuts down to your bones! But I’m well outfitted thanks to you guys, so I’ll be fine. I’m holding off on wearing my down coat until it snows, otherwise these east coasters will laugh at me and my California coldness. But they all did admit that it was cold these last few days. Anyway, I’m trying to cut down on my outside time now! Especially at night but its so weird here because in California it would be like in the high fifties during the day and then really cool down at night, but here its just cold all day (thirties during the day and then twenties at night). The have tunnels at other schools up north in New York and Maine for really cold places. Up there it gets so cold they (the powers that be) needed to build tunnels for the students to walk from their dorms to their classes, so, I guess it’s not really so bad here.
Okay, I’m off to some more homework! I have to get a lot done because I’m going to New York City for the weekend with friends. Don’t worry, I’ll be safe and I have an ingenious way of carrying my money and credit cards.

Much Love,

Gem


Note: We were never told what “ingenious way” she found to safely carry her money and credit cards while in the City. We have adjusted to the fact that there are some things we will never know about her college experience.