March 2, 2005

• The Daily News

  
  

  1  Yesterday some guy tried to assassinate me.

  
  

  2  I swear. I was just "kicking it" in my room when this missile came flying into my room,  just like whistling by, a fuse, a trajectory, the whole nine yards. It landed in the front of my room, to the exreme left side, and it instantly let out with a large plume of smoke.

  
  

  3  I figure that it was the CIA trying to hush me up. I quickly realized that they wouldn't want to mess with one of their best agents, and so concluded it was more likely than not to have been the work of a classic YB knucklehead.

  
  

  4  Well, that's exactly what it was. No harm. Smoke bomb. As always, the alarms went off, and absolutely NOBODY took them seriously, even though technically there was a form of fire.

  
  

  5  I shrugged it off. Buzz caught the guy, and life was once again restored. Just another day. I stayed outside for the next period, looking out at the school. It was then I realized that it was a beautiful Spring day, and things just looked lovely.

  
  

  6   I love how I can't seem to figure out the weather. Yesterday I was certain it was going to be freezing out, so I put on a sweatshirt, coat, and snow shoes, just to be sure.

  
  

  7  Suddenly, the sun came out, and it was instantly Spring!

  
  

  8  I realize how unobservant I am when it rains. It has been such a wet winter that I didn't really notice the cherry trees all around the lawn until yesterday. When the sun bursts through, everything just looks more crisp and clear.

  
  

  9  I really noticed how nice our school is. I was talking with Michelon for a bit, and we both remarked that YB is a pretty school. And I don't recall who I was talking to about YB just drawing you in, but I do remember the conversation made a lot of sense.

  
  

  10  We talked about how the school captures you, and draws you into all its things. It's funny, because for years I just thought of YB as my "job", and as a place I needed to go in order to pay my bills. The past couple of years, however, I find it has been really enjoyable.

  
  

  11  Yesterday I was in the faculty lounge. They have pictures of the entire staff, but I think the pictures are from 2001, not really a fun year for me. I just thought of how much things have changed, and how much more I have enjoyed coming in each day, and how REALLY not fun things were back in the days when our department had just lost Ken Ponticelli and Shawna Fleming. Those were my two best friends, and in my heart, they actually still probably are, even though we have all been tossed around by life and all.

  
  

  12  My whole life was a daily struggle to keep the Performing Arts alive at YB, and it took its toll. We had teachers come and go, causing tremendous strain on my life, a strain that ultimately made my life a living torture. I found myself praying, which I don't spend a lot of time doing.

  
  

  13   But pray I did, and it seemed nothing was improving, and in fact, that everything was spinning terribly out of control.

  
  

  14  The following Fall, I met the Class of '05. Do you believe in angels?

  
  

  15  I won't go on, because I just won't. I'll save that all for later. But since that time, my life has filled with absolute joy. I look forward to coming here every day, and then days like yesterday, when I suddenly look up and see how beautiful things can become, move in and open up my eyes to the wonder of it all.

  
  

  16  Good times, good times.

  
  

  17  It made me smile, just to look out and see what this school means to a lot of us. Yeah, we moan about this and that. Yeah, it drives me crazy half the time. Yeah, the occasional knucklehead lofts a smoke bomb into your room now and again. Still,  it's a pretty special place. Certain moments allow us to sit back and enjoy things. I saw the blossoming cherry trees, the green lawns, the ghetto clock tower, and most of all, some of the sweet smiles of my Seniors, and I went home with a little extra joy, and I just wanted to share that. The sun can do that to a person. Even me.

  
  

  18  I was in the faculty lounge yesterday, a rare time I actually wander out. In my box was the usual blivet of junk mail, and my annual blue "Request for Transfer to Another School" sheet, which I annually put in my desk until the day before the deadline, and that I usually wind up tossing. I have twice submitted one, but never really wound up going.

  
  

  19  Yesterday I immediately crumpled it up and tossed it into the garbage.

  
  

  20  Yesterday was sweet,with the possible exception of the assassination attempt; yesterday was sweet.

  
  

  21  Right now, I've no intention of going anywhere. I have my Seniors to thank, truly.

  
  

  22  Thanks. You guys all have made a difference.

  
  

  23  That's it.

  
  

  24  Peace.

  • 3:54 am
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