TWITRIV
Prologue
This Twitterive is a multi-genre/multi-modal project about a place close to my heart: the Lake Spot. I live in the woods, so there are a lot of lakes around. The Lake Spot is at Mirror Lake, the biggest one in town. It’s humungous. There’s even a little beach. The Lake Spot is a private, modest niche, where people probably used to board canoes. Or maybe they always just hung out there, like we did.
This exquisite slice of nature is significant to me for many different reasons. For starters, it's mother nature in all her glory. You sit facing southeast, so the sun isn’t blinding you in the morning, there’s shade in the afternoon, and the sun doesn’t set in your eyes. There’s also a large hunk of sky, so it’s prime if you dig clouds. I've seen sunsets that looked like angels painted them. It's moving. Especially if you go there just to think and draw like I did. It’s inspiring.
Secondly, it was like a home for lost kids. Whenever my best friends and I were driving around looking for something to do, the Lake Spot would always come up as an option. We live at least an hour from anything, so we stayed local a lot. Coming here became a sort of tradition for us. We could escape our houses, our parents, etc. We being Amanda, Sarah, and I. Those were my best friends at the time, and that was by far the funnest time of my life. We were all always together like the three musketeers.
Which leads to thirdly. Those best friends and I aren't best friends any more. One friendship, which felt like a Greek play/soap opera, ended not so delicately. The other, well we’re still friends, but we’re estranged. It’s been a year of two since it happened, but even now, when I think about how we’re not close anymore, it’s shocking to me. Besides my sister, I don’t have a girl best friend and I’m still trying to adjust.
The Lake Spot reminds me of my old friends. Not only of them, but that time in my life. It’s not like I hate my life or something. It’s just nice to go there and feel connected to the past.
This Twitterive is a story about a girl, me, who has gone back and visited a place she hasn‘t been in a while. As she reflects on her past, she’s reconciling the fact she lost her best friends. It’s presented almost in the form of how I format my journals. It should read sort of like a scrapbook. There are journal entries, haikus, pictures, random memories, poems, doodles. Most of it is authentic, but I changed things here and there.
This Twitterive is a multi-genre/multi-modal project about a place close to my heart: the Lake Spot. I live in the woods, so there are a lot of lakes around. The Lake Spot is at Mirror Lake, the biggest one in town. It’s humungous. There’s even a little beach. The Lake Spot is a private, modest niche, where people probably used to board canoes. Or maybe they always just hung out there, like we did.
This exquisite slice of nature is significant to me for many different reasons. For starters, it's mother nature in all her glory. You sit facing southeast, so the sun isn’t blinding you in the morning, there’s shade in the afternoon, and the sun doesn’t set in your eyes. There’s also a large hunk of sky, so it’s prime if you dig clouds. I've seen sunsets that looked like angels painted them. It's moving. Especially if you go there just to think and draw like I did. It’s inspiring.
Secondly, it was like a home for lost kids. Whenever my best friends and I were driving around looking for something to do, the Lake Spot would always come up as an option. We live at least an hour from anything, so we stayed local a lot. Coming here became a sort of tradition for us. We could escape our houses, our parents, etc. We being Amanda, Sarah, and I. Those were my best friends at the time, and that was by far the funnest time of my life. We were all always together like the three musketeers.
Which leads to thirdly. Those best friends and I aren't best friends any more. One friendship, which felt like a Greek play/soap opera, ended not so delicately. The other, well we’re still friends, but we’re estranged. It’s been a year of two since it happened, but even now, when I think about how we’re not close anymore, it’s shocking to me. Besides my sister, I don’t have a girl best friend and I’m still trying to adjust.
The Lake Spot reminds me of my old friends. Not only of them, but that time in my life. It’s not like I hate my life or something. It’s just nice to go there and feel connected to the past.
This Twitterive is a story about a girl, me, who has gone back and visited a place she hasn‘t been in a while. As she reflects on her past, she’s reconciling the fact she lost her best friends. It’s presented almost in the form of how I format my journals. It should read sort of like a scrapbook. There are journal entries, haikus, pictures, random memories, poems, doodles. Most of it is authentic, but I changed things here and there.
Ripples in the lake
Bigger and Bigger
Soon, there's nothing left
~
Bigger and Bigger
Soon, there's nothing left
~
Welcome!
Come on down.
Stay a while.
...The Way It Was...
March 2007
Dear Journal,
When we got to the lake spot, the sun was setting. Pine needles were all over the place. I shuffled around excessively in them, inadvertently kicking sand at Amanda.
"Hey!" She seethed.
"What? I can't control dust storms?" I said.
"Can you control your feet?"
"Fair enough."
For a moment we stood at the summit of the hill and looked out over the lake. The trees’ silhouette was stark against the pink and purple sky. It was quiet. Amanda walked down first, and we followed in her footsteps. If you were careless enough you could fall straight into the lake. That actually happened to Matt once, poor kid slipped. He deserved it for going down so low.
We took our designated seats on the roots that cascaded down the hill. For maybe an hour, the three of us hung out like a couple of kids on a stoop, gabbing and laughing. Amanda brought ones of those magic eight balls that you ask unrealistic questions. We sat there like little kids asking it stupid questions like, "Will I drop the ball in the lake?" For a few minutes we actually joked about someone dropping it in the lake. Of course, it was inevitably me.
Dear Journal,
We were cloud gazing today. Fun! I seriously think we did that for like 2 hours hahah. The clouds were perfect and plenty. As the sun was setting, I swore I saw this one cloud that looked like the kool-aid guy. I tried to show Sarah, but she didn't see it. So I took a picture with my camera. After it developed I showed her and she saw it! Later on I couldn't see it anymore.
Earlier a moth flew in front of us, then fell into the lake and died. It felt like a movie. Like it was that moths time to go and we witnessed it. It was a little freaky, but intriguing. We got to see a private side of nature.
Dear Journal,
We pulled up to the lake spot to find it was already occupied. I recognized my cousins car, so I knew it was safe.
“Marissa!” I exclaimed.
She was hanging out with Miguel. He was drinking a beer. I made a mental note to observe what he did with his empty can.
“I didn’t know you knew about the lake spot?” I said to her.
“I didn’t until Miguel showed me. It’s really great here.”
I knew other people went here, as was evident by the trash they left. Not to mention we found out about this spot from Amanda’s older brother and his friends. It had been a smoking spot for them, too.
There was enough room for all five of us to fit comfortably. Miguel had to stand, but I think he liked standing anyway. The view today was prime. The clouds were abundant and fluffy. The sky was a sharp baby blue.
Amanda pulled out the highlighter bowl. ( A truly ingenious apparatus. A highlighter to the untrained eye, but to those who knew better, there was a hidden bowl at the end. It actually highlighted, too. That bowl would be passed on, and eventually lost. No doubt passed on to another person who took advantage of the device.)
Although the weather was beautiful, I was wearing a sweater, which would end up being a bad idea. When it was my turn in the cypher, the flame caught hold of my sweater, and flew up my arm and to my back. I must have used too much hairspray earlier as I was now flammable. In fact I was more than flammable, I was on fire.
Sarah rushed to put out the flames, and no one was hurt. (Except my ego a little bit.)
We laughed until our sides split. Did that really just happen? Hilarious.
Dear Journal,
I'm @ the lake spot right now. Seriously, spring has to be my favorite season. AND there are no bugs right now, hallelujah! Yesterday was a riot. Amanda, Sarah, and me made a trip down to Seaside. The moment we pulled into a parking spot I asked Amanda if she was going to win me a stuffed animal or what. Of course she refused. We made a scene on the boardwalk. @ first I pleaded endlessly, and she stubbornly said no, harmless stuff. But then we started to argue and people thought we were serious and were going to fight or something. We joked around like this all the time. Incidentilly enough, I ended up finding a stuffed animal pig on the boardwalk. I was thoroughly excited and named him Piggy. I then attempted to jump the fence on the boardwalk, but stopped right before following through. I thought it was the coolest thing that I could jump a fence if I wanted to. We capped off the night here @ the lake spot. We got back just in time to see the sunset.
The Way It Is.....
Barenaked Trees
i know a naked tree
all too well. it's winter and blue
and no one notices you. you're one of
many in the flood of trees. the harsh wind bites
and scrapes your self. but look how
tall you stand, tree. Still living,
Still growing You'll have
your flesh
back soon
J u s t as
s o o n as
t h e c o l d
d i e s o f f
Dear Journal,
I'm at the Lake Spot right now. Finally made it back. It’s been what, months? Years? I hope not years. This season is doing this place no justice. It’s still beautiful in it’s own right. Right now, there’s a light breeze and perfect shade. It’s only noon, so the sun hasn’t circled over just yet. No lie, perfect weather. The sound of the breeze could put me right to sleep.
There are no leaves on the trees or bushes yet, so everything is exposed and brown. My car cd player is broken, so I’ve been listening to the radio for way to long. I still had my cds in the car, though, so I grabbed an oldie to listen to. “Sing! Sing! Sing!” I named it. It really does make you want to sing.
Funny, being here is just like listening to this old mix right now. It’s like when you hear a song you forget existed, and you remember how much you love it. You hear it and it takes you back in time. You time travel to possibly even the first time you heard it. The same feelings hit you like a tsunami. Maybe you were driving fast in your best friend’s car and the music is blasting. Windows down, the cool night air swirling your hair around. There’s excitement not only because you’re on your way to a party, but because of the song playing. You look over at your best friend and she’s dancing, too. Completely immersed in the moment.
Yes, that’s exactly how the Lake Spot is making me feel right now. Nostalgic. A good nostalgia. It’s sad, but nice. It’s nice being here, but it’s nothing like it was. It’s so strange how no matter how much everything changes, things will always be the same. Take the Lake Spot, for instance. I haven’t been her in forever, but the plants still grow, the pine needles still fall, the trees still recede down the lake. Life goes on. The Lake Spot will always be here no matter how much I forget to remember it. Just knowing it existed once is enough for me.
Dear Journal,
I came to the Lake Spot, again. I didn't want to alone, but I did anyway. I've been listening to Landslide by Fleetwood Mac on repeat. I can't get over the lyrics. They're so vulnerable and beautiful. I'm crazy relating to them, right now. Geez.. I feel like this song is about me. It eerily mirrors how our friendship ended. We we're such good friends, but we were bad influences on each other. When I step back and look at the bigger picture, it was for the better. That doesn't change the fact that I miss them.
i know a naked tree
all too well. it's winter and blue
and no one notices you. you're one of
many in the flood of trees. the harsh wind bites
and scrapes your self. but look how
tall you stand, tree. Still living,
Still growing You'll have
your flesh
back soon
J u s t as
s o o n as
t h e c o l d
d i e s o f f
Dear Journal,
I'm at the Lake Spot right now. Finally made it back. It’s been what, months? Years? I hope not years. This season is doing this place no justice. It’s still beautiful in it’s own right. Right now, there’s a light breeze and perfect shade. It’s only noon, so the sun hasn’t circled over just yet. No lie, perfect weather. The sound of the breeze could put me right to sleep.
There are no leaves on the trees or bushes yet, so everything is exposed and brown. My car cd player is broken, so I’ve been listening to the radio for way to long. I still had my cds in the car, though, so I grabbed an oldie to listen to. “Sing! Sing! Sing!” I named it. It really does make you want to sing.
Funny, being here is just like listening to this old mix right now. It’s like when you hear a song you forget existed, and you remember how much you love it. You hear it and it takes you back in time. You time travel to possibly even the first time you heard it. The same feelings hit you like a tsunami. Maybe you were driving fast in your best friend’s car and the music is blasting. Windows down, the cool night air swirling your hair around. There’s excitement not only because you’re on your way to a party, but because of the song playing. You look over at your best friend and she’s dancing, too. Completely immersed in the moment.
Yes, that’s exactly how the Lake Spot is making me feel right now. Nostalgic. A good nostalgia. It’s sad, but nice. It’s nice being here, but it’s nothing like it was. It’s so strange how no matter how much everything changes, things will always be the same. Take the Lake Spot, for instance. I haven’t been her in forever, but the plants still grow, the pine needles still fall, the trees still recede down the lake. Life goes on. The Lake Spot will always be here no matter how much I forget to remember it. Just knowing it existed once is enough for me.
Dear Journal,
I came to the Lake Spot, again. I didn't want to alone, but I did anyway. I've been listening to Landslide by Fleetwood Mac on repeat. I can't get over the lyrics. They're so vulnerable and beautiful. I'm crazy relating to them, right now. Geez.. I feel like this song is about me. It eerily mirrors how our friendship ended. We we're such good friends, but we were bad influences on each other. When I step back and look at the bigger picture, it was for the better. That doesn't change the fact that I miss them.
LANDSLIDE by Fleetwood Mac
Took this love and I took it down
Climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
Till the landslide brought me down
Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
And can I sail through the changing ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
Oh oh I don't know, oh I don't know
Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older I'm getting older too
Yes I'm getting older too, so
I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I, I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older
I'm getting older too oh yes
I'm getting older too
So, take this love, take it down
Oh if you climb a mountain and you turn around
If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide will bring you down, down
And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well maybe the landslide will bring you down
Well well, the landslide will bring you down
Took this love and I took it down
Climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
Till the landslide brought me down
Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
And can I sail through the changing ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
Oh oh I don't know, oh I don't know
Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older I'm getting older too
Yes I'm getting older too, so
I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I, I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older
I'm getting older too oh yes
I'm getting older too
So, take this love, take it down
Oh if you climb a mountain and you turn around
If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide will bring you down, down
And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well maybe the landslide will bring you down
Well well, the landslide will bring you down
Dear Journal,
Really wish I had a girl best friend right now. Have no one to vent to about work, Michael (boyfriend), my parents fighting, my brother being sick. No one to exchange clothes with or dress up.
I get to see Amanda this weekend, I'm so excited. We were going to go out to a club and do something wild, but her babydaddy is a real jerk and won't watch their baby, Emma. I know she loves him, but he is no good for her. He never lets her go out anywhere. I still can't believe she even chose him. She never shuts up and he hardly ever even talks. I don't get it.
"What a loss to spend that much time with someone, only to find out they're a stranger"
-Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
three ducks in a lake
the last three ducks in the world
one duck flies away
two ducks in a lake
one duck says to the other
i'm leaving, good bye
one duck in a lake
feels like the last duck on earth
comforting silence.
the last three ducks in the world
one duck flies away
two ducks in a lake
one duck says to the other
i'm leaving, good bye
one duck in a lake
feels like the last duck on earth
comforting silence.
This project was inspired by the following tweets: "The sound of trees could put me to sleep", "Haiku: sun oh giving sun.peak through to our murky souls. Shake and stir fry us" "I see ducks!"
