07.18.08
Letter-format, and pointless letters
Dear Victoria,
Do you remember how this letter-format thing got started? We never really wrote each others letters now did we, it was mostly just conversations over messenger. Except there were those pointless letters you kept leaving me, folded into that beautiful ribbon shape.
I remember being so pleasantly surprised, each time I found that you had slip another one into my jacket or book. They never said much, but at the same time they meant so very very much. I would find a quiet chance and grab a moment, to read and reread each and every word, savouring each fold in the paper, each little waggytailheart you drew.
And best of all was the not-so-pointless letter, it actually did contain a point! Gosh that totally caught me by surprise. That’s just like you, always keeping me on my toes. ♥
But was that how our letter formats started? Maybe….
I no longer really remember how we started using letter-formats in our online conversations. It was sometime during Spring Break, but beyond that it’s all a blur. Yet it was such a charming thing to do. Starting each block of text with a “dear victoria”, and ending them with a “love, eric”. In that way we went back and forth, each having a turn to say whatever it was on our mind.
I loved it. Within that rigid structure there was a freedom of expression, that space in the middle was almost sacred. Each ‘letter’ contained a thought, an idea, a question, and neither of us would interrupt or say anything until the end. Alternating in this way between listening and expressing, there were fewer broken thoughts and misunderstandings.
And that’s always a good thing. Hmm? 
Huggles, cuddles, and kisses,
Eric
06.17.08
Flashback: The First Point
Eric and Victoria have this contest, where everyday and everything presents opportunities for matching wits and thereby winning points. At the end of the day the person with more points… wins.
- – -
February 9th, 2008
Eric:
what can i say
i’m a sick old man
Victoria:
HAHAHA
damn eric
i’m afraid i cant talk to you anymore
Eric:
oh noes 
i’ll be sad
-cry-
Victoria:
AWW -patpat-
finefine
i’ll talk to you for the rest of today =O
Eric:
hahaha
but it’s ok
people do tend to get tired of me.
i guess i get too clingy
don’t worry about me
stop if you want to
i understand
Victoria:
nooo
i was just kidding
haha
Eric:
i win
Victoria:
…
OMG
EVERY GUY DOES THAT.
T___________T
Eric:
i’m good
say i’m good
Victoria:
no
i suck
i so suck.
Eric:
no wait you win actually
Victoria:
.. i do?
Eric:
yeah, that was a great last shot
Victoria:
how?
Eric:
“EVERY GUY DOES THAT.”
automatic win for you
Victoria:
HAHAHAHA
Eric:
cause it reduces me to just every guy
good job
Victoria:
LOOOL
AHAHAHHAAH
omg
i’m dying
Eric:
oh no
Victoria:
and coughing
hahaha
omg
that was the hardest laugh ive had today
Eric:
hmm… that’s good i think
laughter is the best medicine
Victoria:
you’re the first guy who would EVER go back
and say “no wait..you win” after just having said “i win”
Eric:
but have you ever used that last shot before?
cause you know. it really does inflate the ego
bleh deflate
my engrish more powderful every dai
Victoria:
hahahaha
aww
i’m sorry
Eric:
hmm?
Victoria:
i didn’t mean to deflate your ego lol
Eric:
yeah i hate losing
but you’re a friend so i forgive you
this time
- – -
As you can see, the first point went to her….
06.06.08
Flashback: The Great Pounce!
Scene: Fayerweather, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT.
Time: February 9th, 2008
Her side of the story:
Having been more or less down in the dumps that week, I didn’t know if I really wanted to go to the Lunar New Year celebration. My friends who were in the skits had asked me to go, but I never gave them a definite yes. That very day, as I sat in front of my laptop talking to Eric, I decided I’d go, hoping I would cheer up in the presence of friends. As I walked into Beckham Hall, Eric gave me a hug, and I took a seat, waiting for more of my closer friends to come so I could finally forget all my troubles.
but they never came.
I was rather disappointed and grew even sadder. Feeling lonely, I stared at my phone, hoping for a text or a call from those who said they would come but never showed up. Eric would come by once in a while and console me, but other gloomy-feeling friends of his needed his company as well. When the celebration finally came to a close, I felt bitter for having wasted so much time just sitting there when I could’ve utilized that time studying for an upcoming bio exam. I stood outside the hall, waiting for my cousin and a few others. They were all going their own separate ways, so I went downstairs to leave, hoping to bump into Eric so I could have an understanding friend to be with.
Luckily, I saw Eric on the ground floor, walking slowly and talking with a friend; he seemed a bit weary from having so many of his other friends being so down. Feeling bad for him, I ran up behind him, took a big leap, and POUNCED! onto him. It took him by surprise, and it ended up lifting both our spirits x] We then walked out of Fayerweather together, trudging along slowly behind everyone else. He convinced me to go to Chinese House so I could feel better; but as well as I had tried to hide it, I would’ve only gone if he went too. So we ended up going together, with me feeling so glad to have Eric right there by my side.
It was from that pounce on that we started hanging out more, and a week later, we finally got together
Short, simple, and sweet story, but I honestly could’ve never asked for a better boyfriend. <3
His side of the story:
When I first heard about the Lunar New Year celebration that the Asian societies were planning, I wasn’t all that interested. It seemed to me more like an event to help lessen any homesickness of the Freshman and Sophomore international students, but nothing can ever really replace celebrating the Lunar New Year with family huh? Don’t get me wrong, it is nice to celebrate it with friends, but it also makes you feel a little… sad. My last two Lunar New Years at Wes had shown me that.
So I wasn’t all that set on going to the event, then as I was talking to Victoria online I learned that she was thinking of attending. Knowing how troubled she had been lately, I jumped in with encouragement and told her I would be there too. She showed up as I was chatting with some friends, but I stole a quick moment to give her a hug. Victoria seemed to grow sadder and quieter as the evening wore on, and though I was seated next to her at the table I just couldn’t seem to find a chance to talk to her about it. There was always something going on or someone coming by, and there were others who seemed miserable too.
By the end of the celebration I was starting to feel a little pensive myself, having felt completely ineffectual at consoling any of my friends that night. As I left I turned to speak with Jonas about something or other, when suddenly I started hearing these hurried footsteps getting closer and closer, and before I knew it WHAM! A big, laughing mass of Zhong jumped on me from behind. I lurched forward before catching my balance, and turning to find Victoria with a million-dollar grin on her face.
That was totally unexpected, but it really gladdened my heart to see that she had decided to put aside her troubles and have a bit of light-hearted fun. We laughed about it, and ended up walking together ever so slowly as I tried to convince her to stop by Chinese House. Took awhile, but I finally managed it.
That Pounce was one of the defining moments in our relationship. It marks the point when I first started hanging around Victoria a lot, and from that, grew something beautiful. <3
06.05.08
All about… Butterflies
dear Victoria
rawr! so after hours and hours of working on that last waggytailheart, i have finally gotten real tired of hearts. and i think perhaps you might be too! haha, anyway, like i was saying earlier, our next project should totally be the butterfly from the pillow i gave you.
it really amazed me that day when i visited your room and saw that you had put up the very same pattern on your wall. it’s true that you had to point it out to me, (sorry, hadn’t been to your room very often then) but when i did notice it i was all like: awwwwwwwww….
all the effort that must have gone into cutting out and pasting all those small little pieces… sigh… that totally melted my heart. and it was like you did it all for me… in a way.
so yeah, we’ll have to figure out a way to draw out the same thing with our little ♥’s. looks like it’s going to be a monumental effort. i foresee lots of frustration and irritation on my part… then no doubt you’ll come in and save the day again. sigh. haha. i love you sooooo much! muah!!
you know… i don’t think about it often enough. i really don’t. but sometimes it just hits me, like a truck, how overwhelmingly lucky i am to have you. it happens when i’m reading your ‘pointless’ letters, looking at your photos, watching the videos you make for me for the 20th time… it happens when you pick me up for another piggyback ride, when you put your arm around me and pull me closer as we walk together, as i stare into your eyes as we lay down to sleep at night… you would do so much for me, so very much. and i wonder what i ever did to deserve you.
all i ever want is be close to you, to feel that nice sort of leaning into me that you do. i really love those moments. feeling the weight of your head just resting on my shoulders. it’s a simple sort of happiness, but i treasure it above everything else in the world.
wait for me darling… i’ll be back.
yours, muchly,
Eric
06.03.08
Flashback: Kissing can be habit-forming
Scene: Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT.
Time: March 6th, 2008
It was a fine, sunny day in the spring of ‘08, Victoria and I were walking up Church Street together. Step by merry step we trudged up the slope from Hi-Rise, my arm on her waist, hers on mine. Ah… what words to describe that joyful day, the skies were blue, the weather fine, our talk was song, and our walk, dance. We laughed and jumped and kissed and played, oh what a sight we must have made.
By the old Davenport campus center we passed an elderly gentleman, a fine-looking fellow strolling sprightly down the street. He smiled to see us, and with a tip of his hat, gave us fair-warning: “ah ah ah, be careful now… kissing can be habit-forming!”
=) mmhm, and such a delightful habit, don’t you think?
♥
