January Frost

From : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

To : rich1990@gmail.com

Jan. 8, 20--

Isn’t the English language weird?

Hey Richard,

How’s it going? Hope you’re good.

I was thinking about you last night while I was out walking. These cold nights are something else – the squeak of your footsteps, how the snow glitters all around you. You look up at the stars and it’s seriously like you can hear the chill. Anyway . . . I missed you.

I was thinking today, in class. We were doing Introductions, Body, and Conclusions, and something struck me. Have you noticed how often language comes in threes like that? This is an advanced course, but when you teach beginners, you teach them stuff like “Please – Thank you – You’re welcome.” Those aren’t just words, they’re a little script. A socially sanctioned process. When someone says “Please,” you don’t navel-gaze about whether the person is being reasonable, you just cooperate.

And it dawned on me – we have language for “Sorry” and “Apology accepted” but aren’t we missing the first step? The part where we ask for an apology? English literally has no socially sanctioned expressions for this.

It struck me as weird.

Love, Krissy

From : rich1990@gmail.com

To : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

Re: Isn’t the English language weird?

Jan. 9, 20--

Hi Krissy,

Yeah, I’ve missed you too. I got a fire going in the fireplace just last night and it wasn’t right that you weren’t there to help me toast marshmallows.

I wouldn’t say the language is missing expressions though. There’s always “I’ve got a bone to pick with you,” or “I’m gonna level with you.”

Yours, Rich

From : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

To : rich1990@gmail.com

Re: Isn’t the English language weird?

Jan. 9, 20--

Rich:

You make an interesting point. I hadn’t thought of that. Still, I can’t help finding those phrases so confrontational. Like I was saying, “please” produces an instant reaction. We’re programmed from childhood to go ahead and pass the salt, whatever. When you hear those other expressions, do they make you feel like the person saying them is being reasonable, or do they get your back up?

K.

From : rich1990@gmail.com

To : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

Re: Isn’t the English language weird?

Jan. 10, 20--

Dudes aren’t mind readers. You spell it out for us, we put on our big boy shorts.

From : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

To : rich1990@gmail.com

Re: Isn’t the English language weird?

Jan. 10, 20--

"You spell it out for us, we put on our big boy shorts."

Not in my experience.

From : rich1990@gmail.com

To : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

Re: Isn’t the English language weird?

Jan. 11, 20--

What would you suggest? Which word is English missing. In your professional opinion, of course. I mean, it’s got over a million words, you think it needs another?

From : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

To : rich1990@gmail.com

Re: Isn’t the English language weird?

Jan. 12, 20--

I’ll put my mind to it and get back to you.

K.

From : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

To : rich1990@gmail.com

Supper this weekend?

Jan. 20, 20--

Hey Richard,

Thanks for calling, it was good to hear your voice. I was hoping you might come over on Saturday night for supper. I haven’t made you meatball Parm in a long time!

Love, Krissy

From : rich1990@gmail.com

To : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

Re: Supper this weekend?

Jan. 21, 20--

Hi Beautiful, I’m long overdue for some meatball Parm! I’ll be there with a sixpack. You wanna do something after?

Can’t wait to see you. Among other things . . .

Yours, Rich

From : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

To : rich1990@gmail.com

About the escape room

Jan. 23, 20--

Dear Richard,

I want to apologize for the escape room fiasco. It’s just that I always wanted to try one, and I didn’t think it would be that hard. Maybe I should have chosen the beginner difficulty, but I mean, I didn’t mean to make you feel stupid or anything. If anything, I was the one who felt stupid, I’m a college professor, I should have been able to hold my own! Anyway, I hope you’re not mad at me. Let me make it up to you.

Love, Krissy.

From : rich1990@gmail.com

To : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

Re: About the escape room

Jan. 24, 20--

Hi Krissy, you don’t have to make it up to me. I’m not mad, just pissed off. I’ll see you tonight. Same place?

From : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

To : rich1990@gmail.com

Re: About the escape room

Jan. 24, 20--

                Yeah, I’ll be in our booth by the window.

From : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

To : rich1990@gmail.com

Chinook?

Feb. 1, 20--

How are you coping with this insane weather? I shouldn’t complain - we’ve all been dying for a break from the polar vortex – but these sudden ups and downs are the worst. I can take it when it’s -20, because at least you can bundle up for it, but this hovering around zero? Soaking wet boots by day, skating rink the next morning, no thank you. I don’t know if February is too early for the chinook, but maybe it’s a-blowing.

I really enjoyed the restaurant, it was like old times.

I saw something today in that daily email update the College sends me. The drama students are hosting an improv night. The professor matches you with a student and they help you do the sketch. That sound like fun?

From : rich1990@gmail.com

To : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

Re: Chinook?

Feb. 2, 20—

Hi Beautiful, we actually don’t get a chinook this far East. Just global warming. But I feel you, freezing rain is the pits. Next apartment I get’s gotta have an indoor garage so I never have to scrape ice off the truck again. Besides, it ruins the paint.

When is the improv thing? Not that I don’t want to, but since the escape room was a bust, maybe we should just stick to cuddling by the fire. I never get tired of that.

Yours, Rich.

From : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

To : rich1990@gmail.com

Improv last weekend

Feb. 7, 20--

Hey Richard,

Thanks so much for coming with me to improv. I know it was a slow start for you, but once we got going, I had a blast. I thought it looked like you were having fun too, by the end. Anyway, it really means a lot to me that you persevered.

I keep thinking how the professor went on and on about “Yes, and.” When you stop and think about it, that’s like a whole life paradigm, wouldn’t you say? I love the idea that you work with whatever your partner sends you, no resistance. That the most beautiful stories come out of just embracing whatever happens next. It’s a kind of a paradox, right? When you stop trying to control the outcome, you actually get the best outcome. Anyway, it got me thinking. I thought it was cool.

What do you think?

Love, Krissy

From : rich1990@gmail.com

To : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

Re: Improv last weekend

Feb. 8, 20--

Hi Krissy, what do I think of the improv last weekend, or what do I think of your analysis?

Rich

From : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

To : rich1990@gmail.com

Re: Improv last weekend

Feb. 8, 20--

Both . . .

From : rich1990@gmail.com

To : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

Re: Improv last weekend

Feb. 9, 20--

Yeah, sure. You’re right. You always are. 😊

From : rich1990@gmail.com

To : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

Re: Improv last weekend

Feb. 13, 20--

Hi, I phoned you twice yesterday but you haven’t returned yet. Everything okay?

Yours, Rich.

From : rich1990@gmail.com

To : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

Please Beautiful

Feb. 15, 20--

Krissy come on, don’t do your hyper-sensitive thing again. Pick up your stupid phone.

From : rich1990@gmail.com

To : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

Please Beautiful

Feb. 16, 20--

Dear Krissy:

Look, I know I’m not perfect, but I’m doing my best here. The silent treatment isn’t going to solve anything. Let me take you for coffee and we can figure this out. I’m trying, okay? Just tell me what I need to do.

Love, Rich 

From : rich1990@gmail.com

To : Krissy_esl@collegemail.com

Please Beautiful

Feb. 17, 20--

For crying out loud, just tell me what I did wrong!