War and Peace: "The Things They Carried" Primary and Secondary Blogs (3 total)

2/6/2015

Prompt: Think about the items that you carry in your bag (backpack, purse, fanny-pack, man-bag, etc.). Choose two items and explain why you have chosen to "hump" these items wherever you go. What is the tangible and intangible element of each item and why? Then think and write about what these items say about you.

Primary Blog Post: 2 Full Paragraphs (200-250 words - use at least one MLA cited quote from the short story to compare with your own experience).
Secondary Blog Post: 1 Full Paragraph (100-150 words) X 2 (one each for two classmates).

*please note: you must use your assigned "pen name" for this assignment (both primary blog entry and secondary blog entries). If you forget, you may use a word of your own choosing (appropriate!), but you MUST contact me to let me know who you are so that I may give you credit. Anonymity is important to this process.

-Primary Blog Post: Only those posted by the end of the day (Friday 2-6-2015 at 11:59 pm) will be scored.
-Secondary Blog Post: Only those posted by the end of the weekend (Sunday 2-8-2015 at 11:59 pm) will be scored.

2/6/2015 04:18:39 am

I tend to carry an abundance of things with me everywhere I go honestly. But the two most important items that I carry are my taxi driver’s card, and my phone. Now I know the phone sounds like a typical teenage thing to carry, but having this item on me reminds me that I’m never really alone. Anyone I need is simply a call or text away, long story short, It helps alleviate my anxieties of being alone. Call me crazy but it’s the truth, I hate thinking that I am completely and utterly alone, carrying this small weight in my pocket is so much better than adding loneliness onto the already unbearable weight of my anxieties.
As for my taxi drivers card, it gives me a feeling of freedom. Carrying it with me makes me feel as if I can just call him, have him pick me up, and drive away. As if I can escape the stressful realities of everyday life. I could have him drive me to another house I’m familiar with, or maybe another town, maybe even a new state to start my entire life over. In a strange way, thinking of running away from reality, living in this little fantasy world believing that leaving my current situation would be as simple as that, is actually comforting. Almost like how Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried the stress and guilt from the war and the loss of his men, and used the visions of being at the sea shore with Martha as an outlet subconsciously. “…he carried the pebble in his mouth, turning it with his tongue, tasting sea salts and moisture. His mind wandered.” which turned into, “.. but then he would slip away into daydreams, just pretending, walking barefoot along the Jersey Shore, with Martha, carrying nothing.” (O’Brien 3). This little fantasy world he slips into is similar to my fantasy world, I hold the card in my hand and twist it through my fingers, I feel the hard paper brush the skin on my fingers and imagine myself dialing the number once more, reminding him of my address, and driving away from the things I cannot control, also, carrying nothing but myself and the air I breath.

2/6/2015 06:59:21 am

You are never alone, God is always with you.

2/8/2015 12:47:49 pm

I am quite impressed with your comparison of your taxi driver’s card to that of Jimmy Cross. It makes sense that at all times the card makes you feel like you can escape to any place that you want. Everyone, once in a while, needs a way to take away stresses of their daily lives and entire a fantasy that is actually real. Of course maybe your fantasy could be even better if you had your own car instead of calling some taxi cab that will not really allow you freedom. However, as long as this gives your personal satisfaction there is nothing to complain about.

2/8/2015 02:21:43 pm

The cell phone one is a pretty good reason because with the cell phone you can always stay connected with the people around you so that when you need someone to talk to, they would just be a call or text away.

2/8/2015 02:31:26 pm

wow! I actually never imagined somebody to carry a taxi drivers card around for that reason. thats so intrusting that you would think like that. and also I feel the same way with my phone because when your feeling lonely you can just pick it up and just call somebody or text somebody.

2/8/2015 03:41:11 pm

I can relate to feeling alone it hurts and its scary. No one to talk to I'm lucky because i have my little brothers and sister but imagine someone who doesn't have that. And the Card is something ive never heard but really want to hear more about it. Does the driver know you on a personal level or no ? does he know hes sorta like your safe haven i want to know more i have.more questions

2/6/2015 04:20:54 am

I always carry sharpies or some type of ball. I always carry a ball and sharpies because they’re my focus objects. My intangibles are my uncle, nephew and grandmother. They are what keeps me positive and want to do better in life. My grandmother and my uncle always helped me keep my head held high. I carry thoughts of my nephew because he looks up to me and I want to set the best example I can for him since his brother and mother can’t.
The ball that I carry represents my nephew. If you give him a ball he calms down and becomes happy and we share that in common. The sharpies represent my uncle and my grandmother because they always told me to doodle when I was mad or in my feelings. Like Lieutenant Jimmy Cross I day dream about them and get distracted like when Ted lavender got shot and he was day dreaming about Martha on the beach at the Jersey shore.

2/6/2015 12:58:56 pm

This is very touching. You trying to be a perfect image to your nephew shows that you are caring towards him,wanting the absolute best. I am sure he will look up to you and follow your footsteps as a positive role model. Its cool how you connected Lieutenant Cross to your daydreaming, I thought it was a perfect connection.

2/8/2015 01:07:37 pm

Wow such a great insight, I enjoy the part where you discussed about being a role model to your nephew. Individuals like you are great for the society because I see lots of young people constantly heading in the wrong direction at times in life, so having people like you will help set the right example for individuals lacking guidance. Your grandparents should be proud to have a great grand son/daughter like you. I find the idea whereby you use sharpies to doodle whenever you are mad, very intriguing. Personally, I just listen to music whenever I am upset because it help diffuse all the tension, but i like your idea of the sharpies much better.

2/8/2015 03:31:00 pm

I can relate to having to be a role model for a child it is very hard. Always having to make sure they are ok at all times and that includes being happy.Also you talking about your uncle and grandmother they set you up for greatness i was always told people who draw to keep focous are very smart. Keep your head up and being the best you can be.

2/6/2015 04:21:23 am

The intangible stress I carry is not being good enough for my brothers and sister. My parents are never home and they look up to me as there role model and I feel like they think i can never do anything wrong. I didn’t choose to be in this spot but I can’t let them down my big brother raised me and now I feel as if we have to raise my younger siblings. Yes my parents work hard but they seem to forget that the quality time they spend with us is better than anything else my siblings are my world and I cannot stand the thought of me letting them down. When I have the chance to go out and have fun I don’t because spending time with them is all the fun I need, seeing them smile is enough for me so im scared of not being good enough for the most wonderful little kids in the world

The tangible thing I carry is pictures of my family. Even though we are not always together the picture shows us at our happiest moment my siblings all have this picture and it explains our crazy family. And it kills me when my siblings look at that picture and say I wish they were with us all the time I can’t deal with it. But as the years pass by they understand that that is the way they are putting a roof over our heads’’ They found jokes to tell ‘’ (O’Brian 8) so they can cope with it all and they started to laugh instead of cry that’s why these kids are the best things I can have in my life.

2/6/2015 06:57:25 am

You are an amazing sister!!!!!!

2/8/2015 02:08:39 pm

You are an amazing sibling. Anyone that can take on the role of a parent while being a child themself is a truely brilliant. I think that your siblings would understand that being a teen you aren't always going to be perfect but they will love you either way. Keep being a positive influence in their life.

2/6/2015 04:22:04 am

Two items that I carry in my bag is my wallet, my necklace. These items go wherever I go because they're very important to me. keeping my wallet me is the most Important because my identity and personal important identification's are kept in my wallet. without an i.d you cant do a lot of things when you travel.
My necklace that was given to me as a gift is something that I carry with me everywhere I go as well. This necklace was given to me from someone as a gift. This gift keeps me smiling, just knowing that I have it on. It somehow provides me comfort as if the person is there with me no matter what. "The things they carried were largely determined by necessity." (Tim O'Brien 1) These items that I carry in my bag are necessities as well, they say a lot about me and I like to be very well organized which is why I always keep my wallet with me, and I like to feel special and comfort, that's why the necklace is something that always keep.

2/7/2015 03:19:59 pm

I have never thought about the wallet being a part of and identification. Thinking about what you have written makes me reconsider something that I would always bring to me. If you don't have an identification you really don't have anything.. in a way.

2/8/2015 12:36:58 pm

I can relate to both of these things. My best friend who was like a sister to me, gave me a necklace for my 16th birthday and now I rarely speak to her any more. She was like an older sister to me who I could tell anything to and she would be there. The necklace she gave me will always remind me of her. As for a wallet, I do not carry one with me nor do I carry my i.d with me but it reminds me of a song called Wallet by Regina Spektor. That particular song ties me to a memory of one of my dance recitals that I will always carry with me.

2/8/2015 01:25:47 pm

I totally agree with you on the part wallet part because if your identity is stolen, you literally cannot do anything especially in this country.The short story about the necklace is very touching, I don't know if the person who gave you the necklace is alive or not but the fact that you wear it all the time definitely says alot about you in a positive way and also a great friend that you are.

2/8/2015 02:16:14 pm

I feel the same about the necklace because it was given to you as a gift from the person that let's you feel more comfortable and let's you know that they will be with you and helps you keep on smiling throughout the day

2/6/2015 04:26:50 am

I tend to always have a ton of things with me but the two most important things that I will always carry with me is my phone and my wallet. I will always carry these two things because my phone is my life and in my wallet I have everything that I need. My phone has to always be on me because if there is ever an emergency I know I can always make a phone call to someone so they can rescue me. Also I am always on my phone. I always have someone to talk to. To make sure things are okay or just to talk. My phone is very valuable to me and my life.
My wallet is important to me because I always carry my credit card, my social card, and other things. Everywhere I go I take my wallet because if I ever need something I always have it with me. Also I never know if something was to happen I will always have it and they can always find out who I am. In The short story Norman Bowker carried his diary. A Diary can be a good thing to carry because if you have a problem or need to remember something you will have somewhere to write it at.

2/6/2015 06:55:33 am

I totally agree with you also, my phone is very important and a must! And also carrying your wallet which not also contains all your cards, but also money(cash). Very important valuables!

3/2/2015 05:51:55 am

I agree with you 100% with both the wallet and the phone. Both objects are must haves because if your ever in an emergency you have your phone with you. Also if you need to buy or pay for something you have your wallet with cash and/or credit card with you.

2/6/2015 04:45:18 am

One thing that I always “hump” with me is my “#cutcakenotwrists” bracelet. I have many many bracelets that I wear but this particular one is one that I will never remove from my right wrist. I got this bracelet from an online site and it was shipped from the UK. The bracelet idea was created by a guy named Bribry. Bribry is an Irish singer, song writer and youtuber. He is very inspiring and created a charity called Cut Cake Not Wrists. Any money that Bribry makes from his youtube channel goes towards this charity whose purpose is to help people who may self-harm. This bracelet is very important to me because of the message that it sends and because the saying has helped lots of people to recover from self-harm. The way that this saying can help others is by writing one letter on your arm each day that you don’t harm. I do not need to do this but there are lots of people out there who find this charity, bracelet and message to be very helpful with recovery and staying clean.
Another thing that I cannot leave the house without is my phone. If I misplace my phone I will freak out. That is not because of how much it would be to replace it but it is because my phone has many secrets about me within its memory. My phone is important for obvious reasons including keeping contacts and help being a phone call away if needed. But I think that for everyone who has a phone, there is so much more to it than a device that gives portable entertainment. My phone is important to me so I can keep up with my international friends through skype. When you have friends that live in multiple different time zones, it can be hard to stay up to date with each other. I have friends who live all over including England, Scotland, Ireland, Bulgaria, Canada, The Netherlands, and even Australia. Having my phone with me all the time helps me to keep up with their sleep schedules so we can find time to hang out through skype. Having my phone with me is similar to how Lieutenant Jimmy Cross kept the letters with him because my phone is a way of communication and so are the letters from Martha. “He kept them folded up in plastic at the bottom of his rucksack” (O’Brian, pg. 1). I always keep my phone with me and in a case to keep it safe. I keep my phone in my pocket or in my hands if pockets are not available. I do not know what I would do without my phone because it has become a part of me.

2/6/2015 06:53:24 am

That is such an amazing thing that you are doing as you are supporting that charity. It says a lot about you as a caring person. And also it's very cool how you have friends from basically all over the place!

2/7/2015 03:25:39 pm

I didn't even know that there was even such thing as this! It's amazing that you're taking part of something important that not much people know about. We all know of someone who has or still does cut them self.

2/6/2015 04:52:11 am

Being anywhere at any time in the entire world I would only carry two things with me. Two tangible things that I would always carry with me are a silver bracelet and an EOS lip balm. I would “hump” these items wherever I go because these items are something that I need with me wherever I go.
I would carry a specific silver bracelet because this bracelet was given to me by my mother. My mother got the bracelet from the country where she was born and the bracelet was personalized and made specifically for my wrist. Not only is the bracelet is sentimental to me, but the bracelet is also really cute and stylish! However, I can agree with the statement, “Lieutenant Jimmy Cross received a good-luck charm from Martha. It was a simple pebble. (…) it seemed weightless, and then to send it through the mail, by air, as a token of her truest feelings” (O’Brien 3). I can relate to this because the bracelet is also exactly as he describes the pebble, about how it is weightless and simple. Also, he says he thinks of the pebble as a token of her feelings towards him, and I feel as if my mother has put a lot of feelings and thought into this gift she gave to me as well.
However, I would also carry an EOS lip balm with me wherever I go because I absolutely hate dry lips! But, the product really works well for me, but as a bonus it’s in a cute round egg shape and also smells nice.

2/8/2015 04:37:36 am

I have like 4 of those EOS balms and they really do work. I like how the bracelet was customized that's cool. I have some of my mother's and grandmother's bracelets, its something that has value.

2/8/2015 02:16:01 pm

I also carry a specific bracelet with me. The quote and you explanation fit perfectly with why I always take the bracelet with me. It's makes me feel like the person who gave it to me is still apart of my life even if we aren't together any more. It's so weird how a simple piece of metal can be so sentimental and important to our lives.

2/6/2015 06:42:35 am

16
One of the things that I carry in my life as intangible is both my parents. The most would be my mom, because she has done so much for me and I would love to repay her one day or everything that she has done. My mom has never given up on me and she has done everything she could in her power to raise me as the lady I am today. Even in the bad times and she feels like giving up, she doesn't….no matter how many times her body tells her to. She's strong and a hard worker, and I wish to be as strong as she is when I have a family of my own! My parents make me feel safe and I just love them so much for always taking care of me and raising me as a child who is responsible for her actions and appreciate whatever that is given to me so that is an emotional item that I always carry with me. Also all the hard work they've done to give me as much as they could absolutely payed off because I am proud of who I've become! The tangible item that I carry of them is a photo of each of them in my wallet, which represent the love and affection I have for them that I will always have.”They were afraid of dying but they were even more afraid to show it.”
The second item that I carry is Toby, because I love my dog so much and he just means a lot to me. Even though he spends most of his time sleeping, he is the best dog and such a sweetheart. He makes me so happy. The tangible item that I carry of Toby is his fur on my clothes! These items/belongings say that I am family time of person. I am always at home with my parents, and I enjoy our quality time together, except when we argue. I'm a family oriented type of person, and I like it very much because family is forever, and friends come and go so you can't depend on certain people. My parents and my pet mean everything to me, I’d do anything for them.

2/6/2015 01:22:33 pm

I can really relate to the mother situation. Having a strong mother that is there for you is a real important aspect. It is truly amazing all the hard work they put in in raising us. I am also proud of what I became with them guiding me. I think we highly appreciate our parents to a point where they don't even understand,

2/6/2015 06:55:23 am

The two things I would carry with me is my wristlet and my phone. I would carry both these things because my phone is everything to me and I honestly wouldn’t know what I would do without my phone. The tangible thing about my phone is that it could help me get out of dangerous situations and can navigate my way around. My phone is intangible because I like to write notes and reminders in my phone. So I can remember what I have to do that day or what is due. The other thing I would bring with me is my wristlet because I have important things that it carries. I have my money in there which is important to have anywhere I go because you never know when you need your money, even if you think you won’t buy anything. The intangible thing about my wristlet is that it makes me feel that I have independence with my money and freedom. However I can relate with Kiowa and him carrying his grandfather’s old hunting hatchet. “Necessity dictated.” (Kiowa 3) I can relate because my phone and my wristlet are a necessity that I need whenever I go out. His necessity was the hatchet because he was in the Vietnam War.

2/8/2015 12:41:40 pm

To me, having my phone with me all the time is very important because I think that everyone who has a phone or smart phone knows that it is more than a communication device but also a part of them. If we lose out phone, a part of us goes missing and some people, like me, tend to freak out if they can't find it. There is so much more to a phone than a piece of expensive technology.

3/4/2015 03:45:01 am

I can relate to this because carrying a phone is very important. Without a phone you're not able to get in contact in case of an emergency. What if you were in the middle of no where and stuck and lost. what would you do without your phone for communication and help?

2/6/2015 09:52:08 am

For much of my high school career I have kept several things with me during school career as a result of my personal feelings. Every day I go to high school I always have my watch on and in my book bag, every school ID that I have received since middle school. In every one’s mind this is almost SOP when going to school, especially in East Hartford High School. Since it is standard, I carry my school ID for getting lunch, checking out books, and mostly, so I am not reprimanded by You-Know –Who. I wear a watch in order to easily access what time it is to keep track of when class will end and to organize myself. Over the years these tangible objects have come to mean much more to me.
Nowadays I wear a watch with a different reasoning other than to keep track of time. To me the watch has come to represent the fact that I am not in control. That every second is passing without me able to resist it in any way. The watch shows that time is always going by and that you should spent every second, minute, and hour of your life being the best person that you could be. This is evident when Jimmy Cross felt regret for the life of Ted Lavender. He realized that he should have spent time being the leader that he was supposed to be. My school IDs is meant to show the change in me that I cannot control. To show the characteristics I had then and what personalities I have now.

2/8/2015 04:24:33 am

I agree what you said about time, every second of your life should be spent with value and not waste it.

2/11/2015 12:50:17 am

I would agree with you about time. Time is everything. Every second, minute, hour count!

2/6/2015 10:25:55 am

Looking back at the past, there has been two items that I have carried with me all throughout my life which are a gold necklace and a picture. For the gold necklace, it is tangible because I had received the necklace from my grandparents when I was little. With the necklace, the reason to why it is intangible for me is because it allows me to remember the good times that I had with my grandparents and it leaves a message that says to always do your best no matter what the obstacle I had to face.

The second item that I carry with me is a photo. For the photo, it is tangible for me because it was a picture taken a long time ago during a family vacation to visit some relatives in another country. This photo that I have is intangible for me because it reminds me of the good times I was able to spend with family members that I rarely get to see or visit. The photo also allows me to remember the new people that I have met during that vacation and it represents that no matter how far we are, we will always be friends.

2/11/2015 12:52:56 am

Still shows that there are good people out there that you can met and become good friends with.

3/4/2015 03:47:19 am

Having a picture with you can make you feel safe and with the person that you're missing as well. I agree with your statement because having a picture of family from far away that you keep with you can bring back memories, and happiness which is all that matters.

2/6/2015 12:42:09 pm

The things that I carry are very valuable to me. Everything I have has a special meaning that symbolizes who I am. The tangible item that I carry is my gold necklace with my mother inside of the heart. I carry this because my mother is the most important person in my life and she is the only one that has my back no matter what happens in my life. The intangible part of this is that usually children have both mother and father in their necklace but I never really got the chance to know my father. Opening up my heart necklace and seeing my mother’s smiling face gives me the motivation to succeed and do everything to make her happy. “Lieutenant Cross carried his good-luck pebble” (Tim O’Brien, 3). My necklace is similar to the Lieutenants good luck pebble because looking at it and having gets me a little farther in life every time.
The second tangible item I carry is this special perfume. I don’t carry it around but I put it on every morning. This perfume has a distinct smell; it is very unique and outdated. I wear it because it reminds me of the 90s for some reason and it was passed down to me. The intangible part of this is that I emotionally feel connected to the smell as if I smelled it before as a baby and always remembered it. The smell really pleases me because it’s unique and I have a liking to older items. The two things that I carry show what are special to me. They reveal what I don’t usually tell people

3/2/2015 07:23:59 am

I like how you carry a necklace with a picture of your mother inside it. If I ever had a necklace like that I would of definitely worn it everywhere I go because my mom is very important to me just like yours is to you. I also like how you have a specific perfume you wear every day , I have one too but mines smells like coconut . I wear my perfume everyday before I go to school .

2/6/2015 02:46:43 pm

I carry an array of items on me at all times but the two items I can never forget to carry are a rose gold bracelet and my phone. The bracelet was given to me as a gift for my two year anniversary with a boy who I loved dearly. Over the course of the relationship I’ve received plenty of gifts from him. He had a bad habit of throwing money at his problems. This gift however is the only one I actually treasured. Every time I slip the thin, smooth bracelet onto my wrist I get chills. It reminds me of all the memories we shared together. Our trips to his family’s beach house in the summer, the first time he met my mom, up until we said our goodbyes when he left for college. “More than anything, he wanted Martha to love him as he loved her.” (O’Brien 1) This shows no matter how hard you try you can’t make someone do or be something they don’t want to. Even though you've spent all this time together and feel so in love and attached to a person they may not feel the same or they realize they’ve had the same feelings after you’ve moved on.
My phone is another item I always carry with me. I feel lost without it. Not because I need to check social networks from sunrise to sunset but because I need to connect with my family. I don’t see my family very often aside from the people I live with. Having my phone allows me to give my half-sister relationship advice when she calls at 2 am because her boyfriend broke up with her again. It allows me to Facetime with my grandmother who lives in Puerto Rico who I’ve seen twice in my entire life. It makes them seem closer to me than they are.

2/8/2015 01:20:22 am

Wow that is really touching. Keep on calling your grandmother. No matter what, keep that relationship between you two strong.

860

2/6/2015 02:50:46 pm

I usually carry around many things throughout my life. Some tangible, many others are intangible. One intangible thing I carry around would be the very high expectations my parents have of me in the form of my nice watch. By high expectations I mean the actual grade and attitude towards school, the usual straight A's and happy go lucky mood about school but only half of that is actually true about me. I really dislike school but that doesn't mean I don't try my best and actually achieve good grades but still, I strongly believe my attitude towards school will never change now this is all depicted though my watch because it is a gift that they gave to me for having these grades but it means more then just time. As for tangible items, well this can include a whole bunch of different things from my wallet or my phone or my watch to tell time or even my own id. If I had to decide my biggest intangible object would be my headphones. I carry my big bulky metal headphones everywhere. "The things they carried were determined to some extent by superstition." this very quote can apply to my headphone situation basically saying how I bring my headphones with me as good luck for many occasions, and i believe they help me focus but I mainly bring them because they isolate me from the outside world, they give me an inner piece where its just me and my thoughts and the music. This gives me time to asses my decisions, think about the way I think and evaluate myself like a check to see if I live up to my own expectations I have for myself. Mainly like jimmy cross I get lost in my own thoughts, caught in a day dream, constantly involved with someone in your mind, its just that in my case, its me. Not saying that im selfish or self centered or anything, I just mean it in a way as I like to fully understand myself because it still feels like I don't even understand myself at times even as time goes by. With lieutenant cross, you can see how he describes his love for Martha by the way he daydreams about her and by how in depth they are really deep images of how he believes things should be.

2/8/2015 02:38:47 pm

thats good that your parents expect so high of you, and even though you dont like school you still should keep your grades goof like you say you are and i feel the same way about my headphones, feel as if im in my own world when i have them on.

2/6/2015 02:52:31 pm

The two items that I "hump" around with me wherever I go is my phone, and a Christmas card. Both of these items have a significant meaning to me, My phone is for keeping in contact with friends and family, for my joy and amusement, but it's also for me to keep in contact with the world around me. My phone was the last gift my dad brought me before we stopped talking. It's a constant reminder of how I've changed as a person from then and now and how much time has passed that I wish I can get back. The Christmas card I received was from my Best Friend, it reminds me of our friendship and all the memories we have made and will make, its the closest thing I have when they're not around. Like Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, " Humped his love for Martha up the hills and through the swamps" ( O'Brien 1)

These things that I carry say a few things about me. It's shows that I am a very sentimental person who shows value in the the little things that people do for me and cherish those things until I can't anymore, it shows that I take refuge in what brings me joy, and that I am caring of what people give me.

2/6/2015 03:44:30 pm

its nice to see that even though you and your father have stopped talking, you keep something that he gave you as a cherishable moment. :)

2/8/2015 01:07:24 pm

I adore that fact that you carry around the last gift that your father gave to you. Do you find it ironic that he gave you a phone yet you do not talk to him? If this was the last gift he gave you, you should try to use it for his own good. Perhaps call him to see how he is doing. Both of you cannot sit idle and expect one or the other to call. If he gave you a phone, I think the reason it means so much to you is because it’s resonating to you the fact that you should communicate with your father.

2/6/2015 02:58:38 pm

I always have my wallet and phone on me everywhere I go. The reason behind is that my identity and other valuable items such as debit card, savings card, are always safe at all times so that I will not become a victim of identity theft. Also I keep my wallet close with me everywhere I go because I can easily access it to take money out to pay for items or in case of an emergency situation I will be able to cover for it. My phone is very important to me because I can use it to call friends and family to check up on them anytime of the day, the same reason why Lieutenant Jimmy kept the letters from Martha very close. “Lieutenant was hoping, so he kept them folded in plastic at the bottom of his rucksack.”-(O’Brien pg.1) My family especially my mother calls me frequently to make sure that I am safe and that is the main reason why I keep my phone close because my mother tend to get very worried when she doesn’t hear from me each day. So my mom is basically the reason why I keep my phone close to me because she means the world to me and it is very duty to be there for her when she needs me just like she has being there for me since day one till this day. Two intangible things I will always carry in my life are my parents and deceased friend. My parents are the reason behind why I am the person I am today and becoming. I appreciate my parents more than anyone and I hope one day I can say “thank you” to them for teaching me everything that I needed to know. A family friend of mine died about 4 years ago in a burning building whereby he was trap inside in his room and couldn't find a way out so he died from smoke inhalation. I think about him everyday and I know that he is in a better place.

2/6/2015 03:48:17 pm

I hear you on that one. My mom, dad, sister, and brothers constantly call me, as I do them and its a good feeling knowing that everyone is okay even when we are not together.

2/6/2015 03:42:53 pm

Two items that I would carry in my bad would include my charger for my cell phone and my wallet. These are essential to me, especially in travel because now in the 21 first century technology is everything! So once my smart phone begins to die I have easy access to my charger to charge the battery and it be on full percent which grants me full opportunity to the world around me. With my cell phone I can contact anyone and anywhere that it allows me. For some carrying a wallet may not be as important to them as it is to me, but in my wallet i have my drivers license, which is my main form of identification, my social security card, cash, debit card, and a slot for where my phone fits. Being an older sister i always tend to check up on my younger brother and my family when I am not at home, so having my phone on me is the only way i feel comfortable and knowing that my family is safe while I am not near.
My mother has installed into me to never leave the house without your phone being completely charged. But as a teen who is constantly on their phone, that is rare for me. “In addition to the three standard weapons- the M-60, M-16 and M-79- they carried whatever presented itself, or whatever seemed appropriate as a means of killing or staying alive” (O’Brien 3). Even though i do not see myself in any real harm or danger when I do go out, my cell-phone charger and wallet are a means of survival at times. Numerous times I found myself stranded with a dead cell-phone which was no use to me and no cash on me. Without my wallet and charger there are times I felt myself at danger or harms way. But also, my wallet. despite having all those things in it in more, it is conveniently light and easy to carry, as well as my charger which I can easily roll up and put it in my wallet too!

2/8/2015 01:16:24 am

I do the exact same thing with my wallet. It's very important to me. I agree with your mom right there because what if something happens? She needs ito be charged so she can know if your ok.

3/2/2015 05:47:32 am

I agree completely with the cellphone charger. That's one of those cant live without objects. I also agree with you with the wallet. With your wallet it always needs to be with you 24/7.

2/8/2015 01:12:00 am

The things that I would carry is my photos of my family in my wallet and
my favorite book. I choose the photos and the book because it reminds me of my old life that I want to still live in. The tangible items are the photos of my brothers and sisters, my aunt with her braces at age 19 and Mrs. White’s daughter. These items are tangible because I can feel them and hug them if I need to. “In his wallet, Lieutenant Cross carried two photographs of Martha.”(O’Brien, The Things They Carried) The intangible is my sadness of not being with them.

The second thing that I carry is my favorite book. Why, because it reminds me of why I love to read all the time. Who made me sit on the floor and read until dark. The tangible is the book itself. The intangible is the the way the book makes me feel when I open it up and read it alone at night, when I’m bored, when I’m sad or when I have my free time.

3/2/2015 05:44:50 am

I always carry my cellphone charger everywhere I go. I never leave the house without it. I don’t even care if I’m nowhere near an outlet. My charger is always with me. I choose to always have my charger because I never know when I might need it or not. I don’t like to be that person who forgets their charger and goes around to everybody asking if they have a charger or not. Another reason why I always have my charger is because if I do ask people for their charger, they either don’t have one, they don’t have the same charger, or they don’t have the same phone I have.
Another object I always carry is my headphones. I have a few pair of headphones at my house. One reason why I always have my headphones is because if I’m not listening to you or I choose not to listen to you, I’m always listening to music on my phone. And if I’m not listening to music on my phone I’m watching videos on YouTube. These are one of the two most things I carry with me everywhere I go because if I don’t have those I’m basically screwed.

3/4/2015 12:00:56 pm

I completely agree with you on the charger and headphones one. I don’t carry my charger around unless I know I'm going to be out the whole day but I do understand where you're coming from. There will be days at school where I use my phone during my free periods and my phone ends up at 20% all of a sudden and I don’t even understand why. As for the headphones, I used to always bring them, especially on school day because I would walk home and my walks would take 45 minutes, so you know I needed my headphones to get home. But now I don't bring them as much because I drive now.

WC: 114

3/2/2015 07:16:31 am

I agree with you , I actually always carry my headphones and charger every where I go too. I always carry my headphones because I love listening to music and I feel better when I know that I have music to distract me when I'm feeling upset. I like having my charger with me because I like to have my phone fully charged throughout the day for when I go to work after school.

3/3/2015 01:04:14 am

Yea I agree with you to because I need music when i feel upset or sad. Music can put me in a way better mood at any time.

3/2/2015 07:39:55 am

Two things that I carry with me on a daily basis would be my wallet and a necklace that my grandmother bought me. These two items are intangible to me because they both have a very significant importance to me. For example, I carry my wallet with me because it represents the fact that I’m independent and I have my own things. I work very hard for my money and the things that I have, so carrying my wallet with me makes me feel good about the fact that I am able to do things for myself. I also carry a necklace that my grandmother bought me and this is intangible to me because my grandmother is like a second mom to me and anything that she gets me is very special to me. It also makes me feel like she’s always with me because I’ve had it for a while and I wear it every day.

3/2/2015 10:00:18 am

Hmmmm... Just two things ?? ... Honestly thats hard to pick but i guess if i had to pick the two most important things i would carry with me is my cell phone and my chain. I pick my cell phone because i agree with that fact that it makes you feel connected with others and for me i want to have a way to be able to contact my family if i am ever in a situation where i think that i may not come out alive i would want them to be able to here my voice one last time. Also i picked my chain because i alway have it on, its like apart of me. Of course with being in the war i wouldnt wanna wear it because it can easily get pulled or fall somewhere. I think me choosing to bring these items shows that i care for those who care for me for the fact that i know they would want me to check on them when i can and me choosing my chain shows that i want something thats always been with me to be with me despite the outcome of the war

3/3/2015 01:02:38 am

The things I always carry in my bag is a key to get home, my phone charger, I always carry one extra T Shirt and a pair of socks. and I always have money to eat so I wont starve. I always carry lotion so my skin wont get dry and carry some Vaseline for my lips. I don't carry any weapons because I don't think I have anyone out to get me and I don't carry drugs. The two most important things is my cell phone for emergency and my key to get back home

3/4/2015 11:48:01 am

"What they carried was partly a function of rank, partly of field specialty." by Tim O' Brian in the novel, The Things They Carried. The author knew these men in the war are thinking about their death every day. The things they carry are the things that keep them living, it's special to them. It has greater value than another object, so they hold on tight to it and keep it close. Even though I'm not in the war, I can still relate to these men. When I go out anywhere, I always bring my wallet. That is the most valuable thing I have on me when I go out, because it has my license, my money, important cards, and some pictures I carry with me. Those are just things I need if I were ever in trouble or just going to the store. The second most important item I need wherever I go is my cell phone. It's the second because it's very useful and helpful. I say useful because whenever I go to a doctor's appointment or I'm randomly in Starbucks eating a bagel I like to go on my phone and check up on social media or play a game to keep me occupied. It's also helpful because if my car one day decided to not start then I can call AAA to spark up my car or if I know I'm running late someone where I can easily text the person and let them know. Those are my two most important items I carry with me everyday.

WC: 261

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