Blog #14: The Things I'd Carry

If I were in Lieutenant Jimmy Cross’s army I wouldn’t want to bring much since I know I would not want to carry much, but it’s difficult for me to say what I’d carry. I have often though about what few things I’d take from my house if it were burning down and I can never give a straight forward answer. However, if I had had to pick a few tangible items for this army situation I probably carry letters, pictures, gum, soap, knife, gun, lighter, nylon-covered flak jacket, ammunition, water container, chapstick, some form of a good luck charm, and an iPod or music device. I’d carry gum because it would help my breath and I chew gum when I am nervous. I’d carry soap because I am a very clean and hygienic person. I’d carry a knife, gun, and ammunition for protection as well as the flak jacket because O’Brien said everyone had to carry one of these due to booby-traps and mines. I’d carry a lighter to make a fire or light up a dark place. I’d carry a water container because everyone needs water to stay hydrated. As for the letters, pictures, and good luck charm it would be for sentimental reasons. I love pictures, they allow me escape the moment and remember back to when the picture took place and it fills me up with joy and hope. I also love reading old text messages and letters would be a form of a text that I could reminisce over, and it would allow me to feel like that person was with me. The good luck charm (whatever it may be) would also allow me to escape the world in which I was in and transport to the other world where I wanted to be with that person. Lastly, I’d carry and iPod or music device because music calms me, and has a way to help me cope with any situation I am in or whatever emotion I am dealing with at the time. However, along with these tangible items I’d carry some intangible things as well such as fear, terror, love, longing, my life, and other emotional baggage that O’Brien mentioned. The thought of fighting in a war fills me with terror beyond anything in this world, and I would constantly be afraid that something would happen to me. Then, like Lt. Cross I’d get distracted from the war by daydreaming and floating into limbo about the pictures, letters, and music I was carrying.