Time for a new screensaver. Gladly.

I've had the same tech background since December 2023. OT7; Jin & Hobi in the Army, with the rest heading in. It was the last time before they were all separated. Time for a new screensaver.

I’ve had this photo on my laptop and desktop Macs since Dec. 2023, as an act of defiance and moment of remembrance. No matter where I was in the world, or what I was doing, if I was looking at one of my tech screens - I recalled that BTS was really apart and serving in the military.

I wanted something to mark where we were in time. I had the Jin OT7 enlistment image, the one where they are all touching his short-shorn locks moments before he runs into line at the base, starting the military saga in Dec. 2022. I changed the background image for a bit, to the one where Hobi enlisted in March 2023, always drawn to Joon’s sad eyes.

I made the lasting background change to show the reality for OT7, my way of honoring the hard things they were doing in the name of their country. It was my anonymous way of spiritually letting them know I did not forget them, and I was not going to sugarcoat what they were going through - even if I knew little about the military. I’ve never served in any form of the military, and never will. My Dad was in the Army, in Vietnam no less, so I kind of feel my family has checked off that box.

I’m working on some form of computer every day, so this photo has been burned into my mind. I can tell you the most minute details of this image, steeped in how it has haunted me during my moments of writer’s block or zoning out.

What do I see?

JK’s pout, like he wants to smile but won’t because this isn’t the time or place. Jin’s smile, behind the mask, because of the shape of his eyes. Jimin, hiding from what is to come, by pulling his mask nearly up to his floppy hat. The guys going in are hanging on to each other in some way. The guys already in, on the ends, stand in a more structured stance. Tae and Joon’s steely stares, almost through the lens, to what was coming on the other side. Tae looks unwavering, while Joon’s stare is strength tinged with a side of shibal.

The detail breaks me is Yoongi. He looks so small, so gentle, hanging on to JK, and so sad in his eyes. You can read the resignation to this inevitable fate in his aura. They were going, he was staying, all serving in places and spaces because their government said so.

We’re so close to getting another background image, and yes, I am going to wait until Yoongi is back to change all my tech to the new reality. OT7 is the thing, even on my screens.

The funny part about having this photo for so long comes from the reactions it generated. Most of the people I work with know nothing about BTS. (We need Jin to come and ask them if they know BTS?!) Many of my students know BTS, some are ARMY, or tell me, gulp, that their moms are ARMY. So far, mommas thirsty for Tae. Ahem. When my background screen would briefly pop up before I did a presentation or something techie, I would get a question about who those people are. The uniforms were recognized, but not the men.

I would give them the one minute speech about BTS, why I love them, and where they are. Reaction every time? Oh wow, good luck to them. Yep. Respect. Because even if you don’t give a shit or understand BTS/K-pop, people respect the military for not being fun and games. This was not a very very special episode of RunBTS. This was the real deal.

After people got my spiel, they nodded and we got to business. Or if I student came to my office and saw it on my bigger desktop screen, I would get asked how they were doing or how I was doing. Odd, but true, ice breaker.

It was never about dwelling on what was missing, rather, it what about what was yet to come. In all ways. The passage of time marked, for them, and me, on different sides of the planet.

Which is a helluva assignment for a mere background image on a Mac. But leave it to BTS to get it done, even when they were really not even there.

I’m ready for a new photo, and new conversations.