Happenings

I am unsure what to do with this blog. I am still quite lost on the functionality aspect (and just remembered I even had one of these). Let's see where this takes me...

I am bummed.

I just finished watching the 28th Chilean miner lifted out of the mine that has held him and 32 of his colleagues captive for over two months. He was received with cheers and teary welcomes from his family and friends, all praying for him and the others to return to them safe and sound.

I can't help but put myself in the position of the miners and their families. As a miner, what is going to happen? Will I ever see my family again? What can I do to help these men around me? How long until I can see the sun once more? Will I survive?

As a family member, will I ever see my father/son/brother/uncle... again? How will life change for them after this traumatic event? What are the health risks/psychological damages he will face? Will anything ever be the same again? Will we survive?

For now, everything seems to be fine for the miners. There is talk about the psychological damages they may face (PTSD, among other things). I am wishing the best for them and their families.

"But why are you bummed?," you may ask. "A successful rescue mission is something to be happy about!"

This is very true. I am incredibly happy for the miners and their families. They are all happy and reunited once more. I'm guessing what bums me out the most are the circumstances. Watching this last night made me realize we take too much for granted. Which brings me to my next point.

Today I received news about a high school classmate of mine. He was one of the top students of the class, in every honors and AP class imaginable. Tutor, athlete, salutatorian. Also a general pain in my rear. I recall our first interaction taking place in the tutoring room our junior year. I was the new girl, recently transferred from a school where my graduating class was made up of 45 girls, now trying to find make my mark in a graduating class of over 300 students. Intimidating, to say the least.

I did not need any tutoring, but I had to wait around for my little brother to finish up with his algebra tutoring after school, so I decided to be efficient and finish up homework while waiting for him. I found myself stuck on some Italian homework, and since I had overheard him helping a younger student with something Italian related, I introduced myself and quickly asked him for his assistance. What I needed assistance on I cannot remember for the life of me. All I do recall is having a heated discussion on something I was absolutely positive on, and him basically telling me I had no idea what I was talking about. My first impression was that he was an arrogant, narrow-minded ass. It was an impression that mostly stays with me much to this day.

Aside from that even, I had limited interaction with him until our senior year in AP English. First day of class, still not too familiar with everyone there. First thing he says to one of the boys with questionable sexual orientation, "So, you're gay, right?"

Now, even though the world and their mother might be thinking the same thing, you just don't ask someone about their sexual orientation. Especially in a room full of your peers on the first day of class. Sexuality and sexual orientation is a personal thing that should not be brought up for open discussion if the person in question did not bring up the topic first. If they are willing to share and people are willing to listen, then sure. Do NOT put the person on the spot.

If your first impression was not good, second was no where near better.

I remember having two classes with him that year. AP English and Gym/Health. He more than proved his douchebaggery in English, refusing to partake in student led group discussions due to his "higher intellect" and generally refused to go to Health class because it was a waste of his time. He did not think too highly of the instructor, and turned up his nose at the rest of the class, which, I have to admit, wasn't filled with the cream of the crop. There were possibly four students in there who knew what they were doing (myself included) and the instructor wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but none of us were filled with the superior god complex he obviously had. Funnily enough, the instructor was his soccer coach and Big Man on Campus (BMoC, from now on)asked him for a letter of recommendation. BMoC was so full of himself, he offered to write the letter of recommendation for the instructor, only needing his signature at the end. Our instructor read the letter and laughed.

All this annoyed me, yes. But it didn't annoy me as much as the following...

I was really good friends with who you'd call the Class Clown (CC). He was funny, completely lovable, all around good person. Never took himself too seriously. Smart, not a bad looker, hilariously perverted. All around sweetie pie. Also, BMoC's stepbrother.

When I found this out, I had a hard time getting my jaw off the floor. Polar opposites. One I loved, the other I loathed. I never heard CC speak badly of his stepbrother, other than the occasional, "yeah, he can be a jerk" whenever someone complained of BMoC to him.

From what I recall, they had their tiffs, almost always leading to CC taking some serious emotional blows. When CC's father impregnated BMoC's mother, BMoC clearly stated during one English class, "That kid is only going to be half my blood" and proceeded with not great things about his future sister. Everyone was shocked he could say such a thing, but months later he was obsessed with his little sister (bearing a striking resemblance to CC more than BMoC), but was completely fine with CC being kicked out from their home and being homeless for almost a month. BMoC always spoke badly of CC, even wished he never lived. He was a jerk to everyone, even dissing the class valedictorian. He believed she was not worthy of the position, despite her class rank and involvement. He couldn't handle being inferior to anyone. Even threw around his Ivy League acceptance to those going to local schools after graduation.

Safe to say, he never gave me reason to be fond of him.

Today I found out he has brain cancer.

Not exactly what you want to find out during an aggressive class on research methods.

I immediately started tearing up. I haven't really talked to him after graduation (limited Facebook conversation a year ago, that's it), but I still took the news hard. Brain cancer isn't something you expect someone your age to be afflicted with. Apparently the cancer is too advanced for surgery, but he's taking his chances with chemo and radiation therapy. I might think he's a jerk, but he's an extremely smart kid. A lot going for him. Hell, he could be the next president of the United States if he wanted, he has everything going for him. He's in one of the top ivy league schools in the country. Everyone knew he was going places.

I shouldn't use past tense with him. He's not dead. He still has a chance.

Things like these shouldn't happen, but they do. We all know life is going to end one day, but you never expect it when it does. The miners never expected to have the earth collapse and keep them hostage. BMoC never thought he would have to face such a dilemma. At least the miners have a second chance, BMoC doesn't know whether he has weeks or years to tackle everything he's set out to do.

It's crazy how we take every day for granted. I refuse to do this any longer. I am going to do something. Anything. Hell, finally updating this thing is positive action. Let's hope it keeps going...

And the adventure begins...

I am lost.