I try to avoid making mention of specific events, but it's a rather pressing matter. Living on the upper, east coast of America [ the USA to be precise ] leaves my neighbors and fellow settlers prone to annual tornadoes and hurricanes and whatnot. The most recent [ and first of this year to reach us, if I'm correct ] was Hurricane Irene. Frankly, I was never intimidated because of the collective confiding in the news reports and the belief that I would be fine - if something happened, then it happened; not too much I could do about that. But, on behalf of all of those who were afflicted by the Hurricane along the East Coast, I want to forward wishes of safety and recovery from all of the willing voices and minds, whether they agree or not.
As it were, the hurricane took lives and property, damaging things in its path. It was made joke by those who were barely phased and abhorred by those who were in its direct path, only to watch it play "chicken" with them. I'd just like to put it out there that natural disasters happen all the time, and yet panic rises at the sign of the routine danger. I speak with my friend of the mindset and perspective of people as a whole, and most often than not, we concur with what Agent K [ Tommy Lee Jones ] told Agent J ( at the time, James Edwards ) [ Will Smith ] in the movie
Men In Black [1997] to leave him in contemplation of his joining:
A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. Fifteen hundred years ago everybody knew the Earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew the Earth was flat, and fifteen minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll know tomorrow.
Fascinating, how accurate that is.
Now, I'm not in a sour mood - not at all. I'll let you know that I'm actually on the underside of mellow, listening to Kimbra's "Two Way Street". I stumbled across her on youtube the other day, and even across all those seas, I adore her and her little jigs. Go check her out - she has a different, unique voice, some strange moves and a captivating aura. I showed her a friends already, and one in particular found a music video creepy and had to flee from it. I found that pretty funny.
Oh, before I forget: Ashycat says hello, everyone!
Right, so what shall we speak of today? Ah! Rekindling and connections seems to be prodding at me. So, let's go with that.
Remember your first day of Pre-School or Kindergarten?
Neither do I.
It's all in bits and pieces, but maybe that's just me. I remember Pre-School because of the teachers and the location itself. I remember Kindergarten because it was where I met my first best friend. Elementary school was the trampoline from where I would leap off into good graces, I suppose, because all of my teachers [ if not most ] loved me. When I look back on my days as a tiny one, I never thought twice that I was anything different from anyone else. But, when I spoke with a few of my teachers and instructors, they had nothing but marvelous things to say. I suppose that's a common thing when we're trying to make connections and go places, to compliment and actually mean it, but I could sense that they were being more than genuine.
"...The best a teacher could ask for..." - Mrs. Politano, my music teacher / chorus director in Elementary School.
I adore Mrs. Politano and Mr. Hagen - they're the best. I'm sure you've all got favorite teachers and memories. Even my art teacher, Miss Jenkins remembers me, and playfully shared that she still has a picture of me knitting. Yeah, I know, I laughed at that too. But, I swear, it was part of a club / extra-curricular thing! And I was barely any good. I can't even find the thing I knitted [ nor remember it ], but it was kind of fun, I'll admit. Anyway! Not the point!
Sometimes... things just fall into place, and more oft than not, they happen for a reason, as I've always been consoling people of.
Do you remember your friends from First Grade? Do you still go to school with them?
I barely remember all of them anymore. And I haven't gone to school with a single person from my elementary school [ to my knowledge ] yet. I think it's a great thing, actually - I get to make more friends! Of course, if you've been going to the same school as most of your original and foremost friends, you're more than capable of doing the same thing - making new friends. So many different paths to reach the same conclusion - it's interesting, really.
So, this sort of happened like a domino-effect, actually.
An old friend of mine found me! She told me that it's been the longest since she actually got to talk to me, to see me, and that she'd missed me a lot! I was surprised because, to be honest, I barely remembered where I knew her from. Rather, I was actually uncertain - whether I knew her from a program or from elementary school. She looked much different, as time would allow, and so I played along. Whether she knows of this miniscule uncertainty now is beyond me, but if she reads this, she will. Incidentally, she was the one who restarted me on my youtube-grind, covering songs for friends.
And for that, I am more than grateful.
But, after her, I wondered how many of the others I remembered from Elementary School... And how many remembered me. Granted, the highlight of my Elementary School days was the greatest thing I've ever done there, and something that would tag along with me for years to come. I barely forgot about it entirely until I was reminded by the few, familiar faces that would pop up - even family members who were present.
Basically, it was a performance at a recital, and I did pretty well. But... That's a story for another time.
So, I asked her how many of the kids we went to school with go to the school she attends now, and she started listing some, a lot of them familiar - even more unspoken of. One in particular popped up in my head that she didn't speak of - my best friend from Kindergarten. I'll share the story of how I remember meeting him, actually. It's a pretty funny one:
From my recollection, it was snack time or something, and I had a box of grape juice. Phasing right through the story, I had the hiccups and then as the class was being ushered and escorted elsewhere, my hiccups elevated into regurgitation of the grape juice. Disgusting, sure, but it's so funny now that I look back on it - who gets a best friend from that? Well, of course, the sentimental and kind soul that helped me and walked with me to the nurse - just down the hall and around the corner, from what I remember - was that same best friend I wondered of when speaking with the familiar girl.
I don't mention names because I haven't asked them if I could use their names, but they'd know who they are. All you need to know is that they're people. And real, at that.
After that, I don't really remember because it wasn't that special. My mother probably came to pick me up for early dismissal or I probably changed my shirt - anything could have happened. After graduation from the Fourth Grade, though, I wouldn't see or speak with any of them for another seven or eight years. That's a lot of time to me, even compared to the entire existence of the world.
Now, I don't know if he remembers that, or if he considers that the solid sealing of what was to be our friendship, but even as we stumbled across one another via indirect contact - as in, not face to face - I still remember that. There's the good aura of an unresolved and continuing friendship, so I'm happy about that. I can't help but wonder, though, why we've run into each other now, instead of keeping ties. Not that we could have done much of that ourselves, but it's something I just wonder of.
Is there anyone you were friends with, anyone who you know is alive and well, but don't see anymore? Or don't consider yourself friends with because you've faded apart?
Surely, I've friends like this, and it's a bit upsetting that I've let less than a handful go, but I work hard to try and keep my friendships alive and well - even if they're as simple and platonic as things can be.
I just want you all to understand that there's no such thing as an eternal rival - a nemesis. We dole these labels of hatred out to people whom we are afraid to befriend because they're unlike us, they've different interested, or we simply don't mingle well together. Everything worth having takes effort, I suppose. And, as we all are aware of, enough hatred can mar something beyond repair.
You wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of the brunt of everyone's hatred, would you? If the whole world beat you up with sticks and stones and spat on you, making you feel worse than you could surmise, wouldn't you much rather bargain to say "hi" to that kid everyone's ignoring, or even take back or apologize for an obscene insult that was completely out of line and hollow as could be [ or even not say it in the first place ]?
It's simple: think. Think before you act. Think of what you're going to do, and who's involved. I don't know what you're going to think, or if it's going to be a good thing, but sometimes -
sometimes - the right decisions just pop up in the center of your mind when you're in a state of contemplation.
I'll revisit my first entry for the closing here: "It's always nice to know someone, somewhere cares. =]"
Thanks for reading along. Enjoy your weekend.
<3 ~ Monty
