Mar. 16

3/16/2026 8:18 Correspondence 179

Back in the hot seat, baby, and I'm feeling pretty fine. 

You join me hot off the heels of spring break. How was it? Thanks for asking. I debate with myself whether I should make an independent post talking about my time over break, but I don't think I should. Instead, I will make a location for the photos and videos I took over spring break and break down my adventure a little here. 

Ready? Set. Go!

 Have you ever been stuck with a stranger for 6 to 7 hours? (Put those hands down. It was unintentional.) Well, I have been - down and back from Florida on a scuba-diving trip. If you ever get stuck in a situation, ask them about themselves. You might get told a little classified military information now and then. Early Sunday morning, I walk out of the honor dorms' side door, bags in hand. I look down the alley to see my ride fiddling with things in his trunk. Picture a young white man who goes to the gym daily and makes a protein smoothie at 4 o'clock each morning. That picture in your head is the fine man whom I was walking towards. I placed my bags gently next to his and stepped into the car. He was a nice fellow who had the next few years planned out. He was a senior who belonged to the military and, in May, was moving to California to get his master's in nuclear engineering at a naval base. Two facts about him need to be established to give context for that 6-hour drive: 1. His dad was a trucker, 2. He had already signed the government papers to work on a nuclear sub. A fine fellow indeed. In fact, he already had his military ID. A fact I learned when he asked if I, yes I, had one to visit a military base we were passing so he could get some supplies for his uniform. I had to regretfully inform him I did not have a government-issued military ID. 

But it was all fine and dandy. We drove and chatted, he shared stories and information about trucks and trucker life, he had learned from his day. He asked me what it was like being a journalism major, and I answered by explaining our current situation. He told me about what he has done to prepare for the Navy, and some classified information on atomic subs. Eventually, I gained the confidence to ask him the question that had been rattling in my mind. 

I asked, "Going into the Navy, does the situation and war in the Middle East scare you at all?" 

He awcered me truthfully in a way that made my stomach turn. 

"I honestly don't follow the news too well, so I'm not exactly sure what's going on. From what I do know, on one hand, it would make my job more exciting. If there is an active war, I wouldn't be sitting around all day. On the other hand, I don't really want to kill anyone. But if I got the order to, I definitely would follow it. You know?

" yeah," I said. But truthfully, I didn't know at all. 

We made it to Florida, and it was an indescribable experience, one better suited to be conveyed through pictures and videos. Click here

After the trip, I made a much longer, quieter return. Lots of silent moments broken by the occasional "Can you believe this traffic?" But I did make it home. Well, back to my dorm, where my mom picked me up. And then I spent the most wonderful, magical 3 days of my life. That's where my true spring break lay. Thank you for all the love and good vibes, family. It was special and refreshing. But alas, it came to an end, and I was rocketed back to my tiny shoe box dorm, working on paper after paper. And that's where you find me now. Back in the thick of it. Back in the hot seat. Back on that grind. And trying to make the most of it. 

Goodnight, friends,

 Calvin Landreth