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From: Fern ([email protected])
To: Carl Fredricksen ([email protected])
Date: July 1, 2009
Subject: Sorry about that
Hey Carl,
I told you I'd pay you back, sorry it took so long. I still think it was your fault for parking your house there, but I'm sorry for hitting it with my van.
Anyway, we should be squared now, right? Thanks for not being so pushy.
Goodbye,
Fern.
From: Carl Fredricksen ([email protected])
To: Fern ([email protected])
Date: July2, 2009
Re: Sorry about that
Esteemed Ms.,
I'm writing this electronic correspondence to let you know the money has been safely deposited into my account. With this, I believe there will be no more need for us to interact.
Respectfully,
Carl Fredricksen.
From: Carl Fredricksen ([email protected])
To: Fern ([email protected])
Date: July18, 2009
Subject: SEND THIS TO 10 PEOPLE BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Esteemed Ms.,
I received this message. It says I must send it to at least 10 different people or suffer some vague consequences. I do not want to disturb you, but I you are one of the few contacts I have. I recommend you send this to 10 more people (but DO NOT send it back to me).
You will find the electronic hex attached to the end of my correspondence. Sorry.
Respectfully,
Carl Fredricksen.
From: Fern ([email protected])
To: Carl Fredricksen ([email protected])
Date: July22, 2009
Re: SEND THIS TO 10 PEOPLE BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Carl!
What the hell did I ever do to you? Why would you curse me like that? I thought it was a dumb email chain, so I didn't send it. Someone stole my van. I'm ruined, Carl, and it's all because of you.
I hope you can sleep soundly tonight in your floating house while I sleep in a ditch on the side of the road.
Thanks for everything,
Fern.
From: Carl Fredricksen ([email protected])
To: Fern ([email protected])
Date: July 22, 2009
Re: SEND THIS TO 10 PEOPLE BEFORE MIDNIGHT
I AM SORRY! I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING! WHY IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT LEGAL?
IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP? PLEASE, LET ME KNOW. I AM FLOATING AROUND UTHA, IF YOU NEED A PLACE TO STAY.
I MUST CONTACT THE OTHER 9.
EXTREMELY SORRY,
CARL FREDRICKSEN.
From: Fern ([email protected])
To: Carl Fredricksen ([email protected])
Date: July 23, 2009
Re: SEND THIS TO 10 PEOPLE BEFORE MIDNIGHT
I'm busting your balls, Carl! It's a dumb email chain. You'll get a lot more overtime, just ignore them. Most of the time, there's no secret curse in them, so don't worry.
It's nice to see that you care. I guess someone finally removed the stick you had up your ass.
See ya when I see ya,
Fern.
From Carl ([email protected])
To Fern ([email protected])
Date: August 25, 2009
Subject: It was agreeable running into you
Esteemed Fern,
I did not expect to see you in Montana last week. I am still new to all this flying and navigation business, and sometimes the wind takes me places I never intended to go. I do not like it.
Still, it was a pleasant surprise seeing you there. You have come a long way into your nomadic lifestyle, and you seem much more knowledgeable about your vehicle and how to repair it. It was nice to see the change, and it came in handy when I needed some help with the plumbing in my floating house.
It's been decades since I last spent a night camping under the stars. I mean proper camping, not what I do with my house. You know quite a few tricks about camping, and I am glad you decided to share them with me.
Respectfully yours,
Carl.
From: Fern ([email protected])
To: Carl ([email protected])
Date: August 25, 2009
Re: It was nice agreeable running into you
Hey Carl,
Yeah, it was fun seeing you out there. You seem more relaxed than before. You're right, I think I'm getting the hang of this now: how to build a fire, change a tire, know where to sleep when I get tired... you like that? Almost rhymes.
I gotta ask, is flying around like that cost efficient? Because I know exactly how far I can go with, say, $100. But how do you plan where you're going? Because you don't strike me as the kinda guy who likes improvising. Also, do you need permits for that?
But it looks cool. Way cooler than my Vanguard or any other shitty van I see on the road. I don't know much about building houses or anything, but yours seems like a sturdy one. You just gotta work on the repairs.
I'll be in Nebraska next month, around the 13th. If you're up there too, we can chat.
If I don't see you, have fun,
Fern.
P.S. You made a real impression on Linda, by the way. She's the lady with the tiny cactus garden in her van, remember? She said, “That guy looks like he’s never slept outside a day in his life, but he’s trying.” Thought you’d like that.
From: Fern ([email protected])
To: Carl ([email protected])
Date: October 2, 2009
Subject: This reminded me of you
Hi Carl,
Here's a link that reminded me of you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Sorry it took so long to write back! Since Nebraska, I've been driving up and down like crazy, just trying to find a job wherever I can. I honestly want to know how you do it man, you live life almost like a cartoon character.
I've been thinking about something since we last saw each other. It's just about the way you're attached to the house itself. It's sweet, Carl, but it also seems like you're trapped in it. I know what it means to you, and how it reminds you of Ellie. The only reason I'm out on the road is because I get to remember my Beau in my own terms, so I get it.
But what I want to say is, that reminds me of something my dad used to say: What's remembered, lives.
But Carl, the thing is, I may have spent too much of my life just remembering. I don't want you to do that.
Sorry for the rambling, I couldn't sleep.
Your friend,
Fern.
From: Carl ([email protected])
To: Fern ([email protected])
Date: October 2, 2009
Re: This reminded me of you
Hello Fern,
What is a link?
It's nice hearing from you.
All I can do is remember. Even when I don't want to. But I also don't want to forget. It's a weird little nook I got myself into
Anyway, it's nice talking to you about it.
Looks like the wind is picking up, and the weather man says it's blowing North. With a bit of luck, I might end up near Montana. Would you like to meet there next week?
Your friend as well,
Carl.
From: Carl ([email protected])
To: Fern ([email protected])
Date: October 12, 2009
Subject: Found it!
Hey Fern,
I finally found the scrapbook I was telling you about. Every time I fly things get moved around, so it's painfully hard to find them later.
I'll send you a picture just to prove that I'm not lying, but I will show it to you next time we meet. Speaking of, I had a great time last week.
Sorry if I did or said anything embarrassing, it's been a few years (decades, most likely) since I last smoked the love weed. It was the most fun I've had in ages. It was nice not feeling so old for once, I had forgotten the feeling.
Thanks.
Anyway, we're still seeing each other on November 1st, right? Believe it or not, I've never been to Nevada. Can't wait for you to show me around.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Carl Fredricksen Captain (Ret.), House Airship No. 1
PS
Keep working on your balloon animals. Start with a snake, then move up to caterpillars. When you're ready, graduate to a butterfly. I know a guy who can get me some cheap balloons, so don't worry.
Attachment 1
From: Fern ([email protected])
To: Carl ([email protected])
Date: October 23, 2009
Re: Found it!
Hi Carl,
It was great seeing you too. Sorry it took me so long, I've been busy around here.
See you down there in a couple weeks.
Fren.
From: Carl ([email protected])
To: Fern ([email protected])
Date: November 3, 2009
Subject: Missed you
Fern, are you ok? I waited for a week but you never came. Your friend Linda told me you just decided to keep driving all the way to the coast, for some reason.
I'm sorry if I was being pushy or something. Still, I am disappointed that we didn't get to see each other. Now that winter's coming, I don't think it's a good idea to be flying the house around (it gets incredibly cold up here, you see, and I feel it in my bones).
But I still want to keep in touch with you. Write me an email, tell me where you are.
There are many things in you that remind me of myself, both good and bad. You talk too much... I like that.
Yours,
Carl.
From: Carl ([email protected])
To: Fern ([email protected])
Date: December 15, 2009
Subject: Arizona?
The weatherman says the blizzard will clear by tomorrow, and it looks good enough to fly again. Let's go somewhere sunny. I hear Arizona is nice this time of year.
See you there?
From: Carl ([email protected])
To: Fern ([email protected])
Date: December 24, 2009
Subject: Are you ok?
Is everything ok? You didn't answer my last email. I went down to Arizona, asked around, apparently no one has seen you.
Are you safe, Fern? Please, just let me know.
Merry Christmas,
Carl.
From: Carl ([email protected])
To: Fern ([email protected])
Date: January 2, 2010
Subject: START THE NEW YEAR RIGHT
Send this to 15 people to start the year with money in your bank account and love in your heart. I started this one, so don't worry about it, I guarantee it's not cursed.
How have you been? I hope your travels bring you around sometime.
Another thing! I know you're always driving, which means you spend hours upon hours sitting down. We're getting old, Fern.
So, here's a link for some hemorrhoid cream. I finally found out what that means.
I mean the link, not the hemorrhoid. That I know, sadly. What I don't know is how to make them shorter.
Yours,
Carl.
From: Carl ([email protected])
To: Fern ([email protected])
Date: January 17, 2010
Subject: Thanks
I do not have enough time to sit around and wait for you to write back. Right before I lost Ellie, she told me something that I think I'm finally grasping.
"Imagine all the wonderful things that will never happen if you do not let them."
I think it applies to both of us. You didn't let something wonderful happen with us. But I'm also getting in my own way, just waiting here by the computer.
You made me feel some kind of way that I hadn't felt in a while, over the clouds (ha). So thanks for that, even if you destroyed it. I get it.
With gratitude,
Carl Fredricksen.
From: Carl ([email protected])
To: Fern ([email protected])
Date: April 4, 2010
Subject: I made it!
Sorry. I was going through my old emails and I read the last thing I sent you back in January. It was a bit mean, but at least it was short.
I've been traveling far and wide. You're not gonna believe this, but I finally made it to Paradise Falls. This is straight out of a movie. There's some big, dumb bird following me around. I might be going crazy, because there's a dog here and I think he speaks English. We're in South America, shouldn't it be Spanish, or something else? I finally made it, I wish Ellie was here to see it.
I also I hope you come here with me. Well, an old man only has a little hope and a lot of memories. You trade one for the other, you see. I ran out of hope, but I do cherish the memories.
Speaking of memories, I was flipping through my old scrapbook, and I found something Ellie wrote for me:
"Thanks for the adventure. Now go have a new one!" I think I did.
Thanks Fern, I really do hope you're ok.
Yours truly,
Carl.
From: Linda ([email protected])
To: Fern ([email protected])
Date: April 16, 2010
Subject: Ran into your friend
Hey Fern,
Saw your balloon guy today. It's Carl, right? I came all the way down to Paradise Falls in South America (sorry, don't know the name of the actual country. I wanna say Mexico?).
He says he's doing some “soul repairs.” Didn’t ask.
He told me about his wife Ellie. About you. Didn’t say much else, but you should know... he looked lighter. Not happy, but more like open.
Thought you might want to know.
Also, he lives, like, thousands of miles away from other humans. He might be going crazy. Still, he's thinking about you. Isn't that sweet?
See ya around,
Linda.
From: Fern ([email protected])
To: Carl ([email protected])
Date: April 30, 2010
Subject: Paradise Falls?
Carl,
I'm sorry I never got back to you. For a while there, I couldn't stop thinking about him all day, every day. And I love that, don't get me wrong. But after spending so much time with you, the memories of Beau started to feel guilty.
I think I told you about what my dad used to say, "What's remembered, lives". I know Beau lives, in a way, through me. But, it's hard going back to that feeling of being anchored. I like it, but it suffocates me, in a way. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.
I recently talked to a friend of mine, he's kinda like the godfather of us nomads. He said that one of the things he loves most about this life is that there’s no final goodbye. You can always just say, "I'll see you down the road" and you will.
If you're still interested, tell me how to get down to Paradise Falls, maybe I'll take a look around. Is the waterfall as nice as they say?
I'll see you down the road,
Fern.
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