Monday, September 18, 2006

Hi Lora

You called at just the right time tonight, while I was trying to write a good-bye to a friend.
You called just when I needed to hear from you, just when I was realizing that we don't stay in touch. We as in friends and family, we as in people that we love and care about, we as in friends who are far away.

It's been weeks since we've talked. Even if it's just long enough to say "hi, how are you", that's all it takes.

I am going to make a promise to myself to get back intouch with friends that I have been out of touch with for far too long. Friends are an important part of our lives. We need to keep them in our lives

Kris, thanks for stopping by at just the right time. You always know when is the right time.

53

Got news that a friend had died today, Marilyn was her name and she was only 53 years old. Two girls, the youngest just leaving home to attend college. Marilyn just started a new job she really loves. Just got her house decorated the way she has always wanted. Just getting things working with her husband after many not so good years.

She found out this past summer that she had a tumor. There were problems with her liver and lungs. Went in last Friday for surgery to have one lung removed. She went into a coma and died. Turns out the cancer had spread to her whole body including her head. She was brain dead when they took her off life support. Her heart was still strong but it was time to go.

53 years old!

I knew she was having surgery so when her sister, my friend through whom Marilyn and I became friends, called today I thought she was going to tell me good news. Well, as good as it gets when we're talking about cancer. But to hear that she was dead left me speechless. I could see her, I could hear her. I couldn't believe she was dead. She was such a vibrant person, so full of life. Never said never. What a shame. What a lose. I will miss her

I haven't seen her in nearly 4 years. We should do a better job of keeping in touch. Moments become days, days become weeks, weeks become years.

53 years old!

Being a Victim

My 14 year old son, who couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag, was beat up at school today. He was beaten up by a kid who thought he had been saying things about him. At it turns out another kid had done the talking but said it was my son. So my son, who has been taught not to use his fists - maybe we will have to re-think that, self-defense might not be such a bad thing afterall. Anyway, get a call from the school's vice-principal asking if Alex had made it home from school yet. Everything was ok, Alex was ok, he was in a fight. Actually, he never got a chance to fight because the other kid jumped him, threw him to the ground and started punching on his head and face. Alex's friend came along and threw the other guy off him.

My son got a one day out of school suspension and the other kid who did the beating got 3. The boy that caused the trouble, as usual, he walked away. And I can imagine the smirk on his hateful little face. Yes, I can imagine the smirk because I have seen the smirk before. I have been a victim of that smirk.

I want to see this boy, the one who lied, have to take responsibility for his actions. This is the same boy who has been bullying me for the past 4 years. The same boy who got caught 2 years ago doing mischief and lied about who he was - he gave his name as my son Alex, even went so far as to name the father. This is the same boy who has been caught numerous times doing damage in our town - breaking things, destroying public property, being apart of harassing calls to my house, has given me the finger on more that one occasion. Called me names. Bullied kids at school. This is the same kid whose mother always defends him, as any GOOD mother would do - the difference being that this child is guilty and this mother bullies anyone who accuses him. I have heard of grown men, twice her size, who refuse to talk to her about her son because they are afraid of her. I have heard her described lately as "ugly" and that person didn't mean her physical appearance - she is simply an "ugly person", characterwise.

Recently her son was seen doing mischief & the events were reported to the parents. The mother went around to an innocent person and commenced ranting and raving at him for accusing her son. Now this person had no idea what she was talking about, although he lives in the vicinity where the damage was done, he had not witnessed anything. Imagine, instead of this mother taking control of her 14 year old son she refuses to accept that he really is the monster everyone else knows he is. She blames everyone else for his problems. She blames the school, she blames the teachers and supervisors. She blames the eye witness'. Everyone is just out to get her son. No wonder this child is the way he is. And no one calls the cops because they either don't want to get involved or they don't want to deal with the mother. So this child thinks he is invincible, no one can touch him.

This boy used to be my son's friend. They started in kindergarten together. They had sleepovers, birthday parties, play dates until grade 5 when this boy turned into this monster who only wants to hurt & destory. He ate at my house. He slept at my house. He was welcomed into our family.

What happens to a child to make him change so drastically? Where does so much hate come from?

Is he hurting my son because of how he feels about me? Is this all about me? This is a child who was under my charge as a noon supervisor in elementary school who took great exception to me not allowing him to bully the other kids.

So if he is hurting my child as a way of getting back at me I will see him at the end. What goes around comes around and I am waiting for that day.