leaving for the army on tuesday!
dangeringravity
Posts: 99
Hello Everyone:)
I just wanted to take a moment to address everyone here before I leave for Fort Leonard Wood on Tuesday. I've only been a member of the Ten Club for less than a year, but have frequented the message boards and the old pit for far longer. More recently I began to post every-so-often, but am usually not too much for words. Anyway, I wanted to say a few things to all of you before I leave for the bootcamp very shortly. This may mean nothing to any of you and I don't expect everyone to read all of it, but I would feel better having said what I need to. Here goes nothing...
For a 22 year old girl who had always made sure to stay on track, I sure did a terrific job of derailing myself. I will not go into every detail, but the last 2 years that I have spent living on my own have been a rollercoaster ride. My best qualities shined when the opportunities arose, but my worst attributes sparkled even brighter behind closed doors, and unfortunately no one knew what was happening.
Generally, there are many people who lose themselves in music when things aren't going their way. It also seems that we veer towards songs and lyrics that we can relate to, which is exactly what I did. I've always been a Pearl Jam fan, but became even more intrigued with the band as I began an intense introspection and self-evaluation. I felt the frustration in Ed's lyrics, which also perspired with a will to move forward and evolve in more ways than one. The capacity to which I could relate to the music was over-whelming. Like any fan, I wanted to discover more.
Enter the PJ Message Boards and the Ten Club Members.
After years of lurking around the boards, I finally signed myself up. I didn't expect myself to make many posts, and I didn't. In all honesty, I didn't expect anything, aside from having the freedom to give my two cents once in a blue moon. To my suprise, I got so much more. I feel that I've become part of a community, and better yet, a community that shares at least one common, positive interest. You all have provided me not only with information and updates on my favorite band, but a little perspective on people in everyday life. I have thoroughly enjoyed everyone's posts whether they be generous contributions to "Pictures Where Ed Looks Hot" (haha), bickering over the best live version of "Alive", or debating whether "Vedder" is a flattering child's name. You could say that I should have better things to do, but at least I'm not watching an empty TV show on the E! Channel, looking up different ways to tie my shoelaces, or doings every drug in the book. Reading all of the posts from different personalities has been a fun, social entertainment, and never have I felt that anyone here was ill willed. You have all provided me with an escape from a negative world that I was plunging into at an alarming rate. This message board has been a much needed distraction to a life that I had been walking through, in quite a robotic, numb fashion. All of you members have inspired hope in me, that no matter how I was feeling and how hard of a time I was having being alone, that people can get along. People can come together, and all it takes is a similar liking for an early 90's rock band. Now, if only we could get the rest of the world to get in on this!
I'm not well-known, if known at all on these boards, but I wanted you all to know, that while you might think you're just clicking through posts, winding down from your day, your interaction on this board is a force to be reckoned with. Everyone knows a band is nothing without their fans, and that a fan, can't be a fan without a band, haha, but what we would all be if we did not communicate with eachother? What impact would we have and who would listen? That's why it's important for us to listen to eachother, and I'm happy to have gotten the opportunity to be a part of such a great fan base.
I will not be on the boards for at least 2 months, possibly 7. While I am enduring my Army training, I hope that you all make plenty of posts of the PJ happenings during the spring and summer, as I will surely be reading up on what I missed. May the coming months be generous to you all, and do me a favor, as you all have done me a huge one, and enjoy the Super Delux Edition of Ten that I won't be able to get until I come back in October, haha.
Thank you to anyone who read all of that, my shoulders feel great now that those words have been lifted from them:)
-Leighann
PS- If any of you were wondering, PJ had a great part in building my confidence behind the decision to move on with my life in the fashion that I saw fit. Thanks to the band, I feel strong, I feel like myself, and I feel like I can travel the road ahead with the greatest desire for life that I have ever experienced. Not everyone has agreed with me joining the Army Reserve, but I've realized that all that matters is my agreement with myself. If I can go to sleep at night with my decisions, then I can wake up in the morning and follow through with them as well. Come what may:) Cheers, PJ and Jammers, you're in a league of your own.
I just wanted to take a moment to address everyone here before I leave for Fort Leonard Wood on Tuesday. I've only been a member of the Ten Club for less than a year, but have frequented the message boards and the old pit for far longer. More recently I began to post every-so-often, but am usually not too much for words. Anyway, I wanted to say a few things to all of you before I leave for the bootcamp very shortly. This may mean nothing to any of you and I don't expect everyone to read all of it, but I would feel better having said what I need to. Here goes nothing...
For a 22 year old girl who had always made sure to stay on track, I sure did a terrific job of derailing myself. I will not go into every detail, but the last 2 years that I have spent living on my own have been a rollercoaster ride. My best qualities shined when the opportunities arose, but my worst attributes sparkled even brighter behind closed doors, and unfortunately no one knew what was happening.
Generally, there are many people who lose themselves in music when things aren't going their way. It also seems that we veer towards songs and lyrics that we can relate to, which is exactly what I did. I've always been a Pearl Jam fan, but became even more intrigued with the band as I began an intense introspection and self-evaluation. I felt the frustration in Ed's lyrics, which also perspired with a will to move forward and evolve in more ways than one. The capacity to which I could relate to the music was over-whelming. Like any fan, I wanted to discover more.
Enter the PJ Message Boards and the Ten Club Members.
After years of lurking around the boards, I finally signed myself up. I didn't expect myself to make many posts, and I didn't. In all honesty, I didn't expect anything, aside from having the freedom to give my two cents once in a blue moon. To my suprise, I got so much more. I feel that I've become part of a community, and better yet, a community that shares at least one common, positive interest. You all have provided me not only with information and updates on my favorite band, but a little perspective on people in everyday life. I have thoroughly enjoyed everyone's posts whether they be generous contributions to "Pictures Where Ed Looks Hot" (haha), bickering over the best live version of "Alive", or debating whether "Vedder" is a flattering child's name. You could say that I should have better things to do, but at least I'm not watching an empty TV show on the E! Channel, looking up different ways to tie my shoelaces, or doings every drug in the book. Reading all of the posts from different personalities has been a fun, social entertainment, and never have I felt that anyone here was ill willed. You have all provided me with an escape from a negative world that I was plunging into at an alarming rate. This message board has been a much needed distraction to a life that I had been walking through, in quite a robotic, numb fashion. All of you members have inspired hope in me, that no matter how I was feeling and how hard of a time I was having being alone, that people can get along. People can come together, and all it takes is a similar liking for an early 90's rock band. Now, if only we could get the rest of the world to get in on this!
I'm not well-known, if known at all on these boards, but I wanted you all to know, that while you might think you're just clicking through posts, winding down from your day, your interaction on this board is a force to be reckoned with. Everyone knows a band is nothing without their fans, and that a fan, can't be a fan without a band, haha, but what we would all be if we did not communicate with eachother? What impact would we have and who would listen? That's why it's important for us to listen to eachother, and I'm happy to have gotten the opportunity to be a part of such a great fan base.
I will not be on the boards for at least 2 months, possibly 7. While I am enduring my Army training, I hope that you all make plenty of posts of the PJ happenings during the spring and summer, as I will surely be reading up on what I missed. May the coming months be generous to you all, and do me a favor, as you all have done me a huge one, and enjoy the Super Delux Edition of Ten that I won't be able to get until I come back in October, haha.
Thank you to anyone who read all of that, my shoulders feel great now that those words have been lifted from them:)
-Leighann
PS- If any of you were wondering, PJ had a great part in building my confidence behind the decision to move on with my life in the fashion that I saw fit. Thanks to the band, I feel strong, I feel like myself, and I feel like I can travel the road ahead with the greatest desire for life that I have ever experienced. Not everyone has agreed with me joining the Army Reserve, but I've realized that all that matters is my agreement with myself. If I can go to sleep at night with my decisions, then I can wake up in the morning and follow through with them as well. Come what may:) Cheers, PJ and Jammers, you're in a league of your own.
i've been in my mind, it's such a fine line...
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Comments
Awesome post, thanks for sharing.
I wish you the best over the next few months. You are very brave and I hope you continue to grow and enjoy life where it takes you.
With your great attitude you will be just fine.
Nate
Stay safe.
Stay safe.
Good luck and be safe.
EV- 08/09,10/2008.06/08,09/2009
Don't get married
Be proactive at work
Go to school, its free
Don't fall into the bitching crowd
And none of the dudes you work with want to be just "friends"
Good luck, and make the most of it. It can be the best or worst choice you made, but that all depends on what you get from it.
can i give you a bit of advice? if you have the time, be sure to post your mailing address when you get to your basic training. you are allowed to recieve mail during training, and from what my friends and brother have told me is that basic is probably one of the lonliest, stressful times in your career. getting mail helps in ways that us civilians probably can't fully understand. so be sure and let us know your address if you can, and i'm sure some of us will try to make the time to send you words of encouragement. i know i will!
best of luck!
All the best in all you do
Thank you for serving.
9/29/04 Boston, 6/28/08 Mansfield, 8/23/09 Chicago, 5/15/10 Hartford
5/17/10 Boston, 10/15/13 Worcester, 10/16/13 Worcester, 10/25/13 Hartford
8/5/16 Fenway, 8/7/16 Fenway
EV Solo: 6/16/11 Boston, 6/18/11 Hartford,
Leaving is for the answering machine.
I hope your brother and friend returned home safely! Unfortunately, I won't be able to access a computer to post my address. If someone is willing to PM me their address, then I could write to that person with my contact info and the info could be passed along.
Thank you all so much for your support! I can't believe it's only 3 days away!
jammergirl, i saw a ranger graduation/demo two weeks ago. your bro is a badass. i got to shoot that sniper weapon he used. what a bad ass weapon
yeah, when he graduated from benning they did the weapons demo, and i was just like oh holy shit. this is really happening. :( i couldn't be prouder of my bro though, and yes he is back safe..for now.
Be safe, I'll be thinking of you and sending good vibes your way.
www.cluthelee.com
www.cluthe.com
You are a brave girl in these times.
Stay safe.
want to be enlightened"