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Tweak says, "Wanna make a dollar?"

John Connor (johnbaum) wrote in omega_reality,
@ 2011-10-21 14:55:00

Entry tags:

*complete, *email, 2011 10, character: alexis castle, character: john connor, character: nell jones, character: savannah monroe, character: sean hanna, character: tim riggins, dead: jenna hanna, dead: penny hall

Email: John to "The Kids"
Who: John Connor, Nell Jones, Sean Hanna, Jenna Hanna, Savannah Monroe, Tim Riggins, Alexis Castle, Penny Hall
Where: ICIS private network
When: Friday, October 21, 2011 -- just after lunch
Summary: John and Nell decide the younger set needs some time just for themselves.

From: Baum, John <j.baum@icis.org>
To: Hanna, Sean <z.hanna@icis.org>; Hanna, Jenna <j.hanna@icis.org>; Monroe, Savannah <s.monroe@icis.org>; Riggins, Tim <t.riggins@icis.org>; Castle, Alexis <a.castle@icis.org>; Hall, Penny <p.hall@icis.org>
Cc: Jones, Nell <n.jones@icis.org>
Subject: Impromptu Birthday Celebration

Hey guys,

Nell and I have been tossing ideas around and we know it's short notice, so we'll understand if people can't make it. But, someone once told me that when there are things to be celebrated, they should be celebrated. And, with everything that's been going on recently, we missed one such celebration.

So, we've decided, Nell and I, that we're taking Sean out for his birthday a week late.

This Sunday we're going to Smoke, dinner and Jazz for our Jazz Maestro. First set's at 7pm, no cover charge with dinner. Dress code is upscale (or whatever the right word is, I'm sure one of the ladies will be able to enlighten me). Ditch the jeans and fatigues.

If we get five or more people going we need to reserve with a card now. So, we need a headcount ASAP. Nell's running transportation through Hetty. Once I know how many are going I'll get back to you with security protocols.

There is one unalterable rule: No one 25+ is allowed. That includes boyfriends, girlfriends, partners, spouses, whatever. If their birth year is before 1986, they're not on the guest list.

Yes, before anyone says anything, I realize this rule is going to send a few of the "grown-ups" into a fit. They can deal. Just this once, we're going to make happy the few who are trying to encourage us to take what moments we have as "kids" and enjoy them. We can be safe and still have one night of fun to celebrate our friend. We need it.

So, if you're in, let us know before dinner tonight so we can get reservations in. Sean, you're not buying a thing. Anyone else who wants to chip in is welcome to, although Nell and I figure we can cover everyone if we need to seeing as we don't really spend much ourselves.

John

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johnbaum
2011-10-21 11:15 pm UTC (link)

From: Baum, John <j.baum@icis.org>
To: Monroe, Savannah <s.monroe@icis.org>
Subject: Impromptu Birthday Celebration

Savannah,

Think of it as more team-building, but specialized. It's kind of like what you've always done with welcoming new arrivals.

But, let's face it, no matter how much we get along with the adults, there's still an invisible line between us and them. Very few are like Sam and willing to give us any credit for taking care of ourselves. And even fewer are willing to let us go out and be young while we can, no matter how much they say they regret that we're here.

Sean needs time away from the stress of his dad's condition.

Alexis needs the support of those of us who know how badly it sucks to be 'kids' and stuck in this situation.

And because the older generation might care and we all have people in that age group we're close to, but they don't really get us the way the rest of us in our age group do. They'll try to help, but it's not the same. And they'll be more concerned with protecting us. Later on, while they're all out there trying to protect us, we're going to have to rely on each other. But, we don't really do much together because nothing on this base takes age into account or really allows for 'kids to be kids'.

I don't know, maybe Brian's starting to rub off on me after all.

John

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savannah_monroe
2011-10-21 11:50 pm UTC (link)

From: Savannah
To: John
Subject: Impromptu Birthday Celebration

John,

The point that we are not kids. We are married women, we are pregnant women, we're people who are responsible for the lives of our partners in the field. There is no dividing line, no us versus them. People treat you as a kid if you think of yourself as one, and I've fought very hard so I wouldn't be treated like a kid, but as an equal, and be given the responsibility of one. Creating such a divide can only be counterproductive and it will backfire in the long run.

If you want to have a party for Sean's birthday, great, but to imply that he needs to be away from his family to deal with Sam's condition feels wrong.

I also feel that the 'older generation', in which you seem to include my husband and certainly all the people I care about, understands us better than you think, and if they were protecting us, we wouldn't be out there doing the job we do. If anything, from the start, G has made sure that we could protect each other.

Or maybe G's starting to rub off on me after all.

xoxo,
Savannah

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johnbaum
2011-10-22 12:16 am UTC (link)

From: John
To: Savannah
Subject: Impromptu Birthday Celebration

Savannah,

I'm not trying to draw more lines. I'm only trying to bring a few more people together. You've been lucky. You have Callen and Sam and Deeks. I've been lucky. I have Brian. Not everyone has that.

I'm not saying we create an us versus them situation. But, I am saying there are things they won't get because they've already lived through so much more. In a way, so have I. But unlike some, I get what it's like to be sixteen and trained to kill or seventeen and watching the people you care about die in front of you.

I'm not saying Sean needs to be away from his family to deal with it, either. I'm saying he needs a break from dealing with it, a break from having it right there in front of him all the time. He's trying so hard to keep it together and he's going to crack soon. He needs a break from thinking about it. That's all.

I'm sorry if you think I'm being divisive with this. But ]ou've also been luckier than some. You're not the only one who's been fighting to be seen as more than a kid. You've just had more success at it.

And, maybe Brian's right, too. You grow up too fast, you forget to take time out for fun and being young while you can, and before you know it, it's too late. That's what this is really about. Taking what chances we can before they're gone.

John

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savannah_monroe
2011-10-22 12:23 am UTC (link)

From: Savannah
To: John
Subject: Impromptu Birthday Celebration

John,

Except that it's exactly what you're doing, because now I have to choose between a man that has become an adopted brother of sorts and my husband, and no matter what I choose, I'm being disrespectful to one or the other. You're asking Jenna to pick between her brother and the father of her child. No matter how you justify it, you are creating a divide.

I can also have plenty of fun with Marty, a lot more than I'd have without him, and not just because we're married, but because he's a fun person to have around.

Picking a random year of birth to break up families doesn't sound like the way to have enjoy our youth, but since you're the one organizing this, it's your prerogative to pick the rules you like.

Savannah

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johnbaum
2011-10-22 01:34 am UTC (link)

From: Baum, John <j.baum@icis.org>
To: Monroe, Savannah <s.monroe@icis.org>
Subject: Impromptu Birthday Celebration

Savannah,

You're making this into a much bigger deal than I think it is. It's one night. Are you never going to go out for a Girls' Night Out if it means choosing Jenna over Deeks? I'm not saying you can't have fun with Deeks. But, it's a different kind of fun.

I really didn't mean to upset you. My mom was my entire world for most of my life. I get how important family is. But, I don't see where one night out is breaking up families. Maybe that's my problem. Maybe I'm missing something here? I'm willing to listen if you'll explain it to me. I honestly just don't understand the problem with spending one night out just the "youth", giving us a chance to bond in a different way than we bond with the "adults". How is it wrong to have different groups of people you do different things with for different reasons?

John

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savannah_monroe
2011-10-22 01:51 am UTC (link)

From: Savannah
To: John
Subject: Impromptu Birthday Celebration

John,

It's not a Girls' Night Out. It's a group with men, men who aren't my husband. It makes things very different, but since I've already been told that I don't understand the plight of people raised by single parents, let's just leave it here. Besides it doesn't matter. You don't want Marty there, Sean doesn't want me there. This works out perfectly. Or maybe that was the plan from the start, in which case, you could have simply not sent the invitation. Anyway, have fun.

Savannah

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johnbaum
2011-10-22 02:22 am UTC (link)

From: Baum, John <j.baum@icis.org>
To: Monroe, Savannah <s.monroe@icis.org>
Subject: Impromptu Birthday Celebration

Savannah,

The plight of people raised by single parents? What does that even have to do with anything?

It's not that I don't want Deeks there. I just thought it would be fun to do something with just the younger set for a night.

What do you mean Sean doesn't want you there? I think I'm missing a piece of the puzzle here. If I thought Sean didn't want you there, I never would have put you on the guest list for his party. I'm not that cruel and I'm sorry that you think I'd do that to you.

I don't understand what's going on and I don't understand what I did that was so very wrong, but I am sorry you're hurt. That was never my intention.

John

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savannah_monroe
2011-10-22 02:33 am UTC (link)

From: Savannah
To: John
Subject: Impromptu Birthday Celebration

John,

Because you can't remember what's normal for couples because you were raised by a single parent, or so Sean claims, but you know what? It really doesn't matter since from his emails, it's obvious that Sean would rather that I not be there. Next time, you might want to ask your friend before inviting people. He would have told you that solidarity doesn't really mean me.

For future reference, it is incredibly rude to invite one spouse and not another unless as you said it's a Girls' Night out or Men's or a work thing.

Savannah

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	johnbaum 2011-10-22 02:44 am UTC (link)
	From: Baum, John <j.baum@icis.org> To: Monroe, Savannah <s.monroe@icis.org> Subject: Impromptu Birthday Celebration Savannah, I have no idea what Sean is talking about. But, at this point, I don't care. Clearly this was a bad idea all around. I'll try not to insult you with an invitation in the future. John (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	savannah_monroe 2011-10-22 02:52 am UTC (link)
	From: Savannah To: John Subject: Impromptu Birthday Celebration John, You asked what you did wrong, I explained. Sorry you didn't like the explanation, but if you didn't care, you shouldn't have asked. Savannah (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	johnbaum 2011-10-22 03:01 am UTC (link)
	From: Baum, John <j.baum@icis.org> To: Monroe, Savannah <s.monroe@icis.org> Subject: Impromptu Birthday Celebration Savannah, Wow. Misread things much? I never said I didn't care about the explanation. I'm still waiting on it. "It's rude" isn't an explanation. But, whatever. John (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

savannah_monroe
2011-10-22 03:03 am UTC (link)

From: Savannah
To: John
Subject: Impromptu Birthday Celebration

John,

Sorry, I'm not good with long explanations while I'm crying, but 'it's rude' is an explanation, because it's not done, it's not socially acceptable, because people consider that like you don't want them. Not sure how else to explain, and at this point, I'm probably making more of a mess, so if you want to talk, we can talk tomorrow. If you don't want to talk to me, then as you eloquently put it, whatever.

Goodnight,
Savannah

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johnbaum
2011-10-22 03:26 am UTC (link)

From: Baum, John <j.baum@icis.org>
To: Monroe, Savannah <s.monroe@icis.org>
Subject: Impromptu Birthday Celebration

Savannah,

I rather had the impression you didn't want to talk to me. I didn't want to make you cry. I guess I really just don't understand the reasoning behind the social convention. And, no, I don't think it has anything to do with Sean's reasoning. Even if my dad had been alive while I was growing up, I still wouldn't have learned it.

Look, we're both upset now and saying things more hurtfully than we might otherwise as a result. I don't hate you and I don't hate Deeks or not want him around. Can I come over tomorrow morning? We can talk and then you can kick me out if I'm just too dumb to get it?

John

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	savannah_monroe 2011-10-22 03:32 am UTC (link)
	From: Savannah To: G Subject: Sunday dinner John, I'm not upset with you, at least I wasn't until the 'don't care' part, but I'm not really upset with you, and I'm sorry if it sounded like I was. Of course you can come over. You can always come over, and I wouldn't kick you out. I'll see you in the morning. Night, Savannah (Reply to this) (Parent)

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