Lucky we survive!

Well, here it is, November 4, 2008. Election Day! I have done my duty and voted, we have finished selling chickens, supper is finished, and I really don't wish to sit and listen to the TV talking heads continually go on about "not being ready to project results, but here are our projected results so far."

I am fully aware of the significance of this election, and feel frustrated at the apparent lack of awareness by way too many people. Like I said elsewhere, people who want socialism (or any other system), and vote for it knowledgably have that right. Too many don't seem to recognize what is at stake with that trend. Take for example more than one conversation overheard at the polling place for my voting district. I will not give specifics, but it is mirrored around the country, I am sure.

While waiting with others to vote, couple X discusses the candidates and other proposed amendments on the ballot. Item one "now who were we voting for? And he wants ...this... right? I'm not sure, but he seems better than the other guy." Item two, between two friends "what does this proposal mean? I don't know, but we need to vote against that one, I think."

I will wake up tomorrow and go about my daily routine, and if things in this country start to change, it will be even more important for like minded people to share their thoughts and feelings about politics in this country. Things will go on, America will muddle through. The people will at some point face challenges that will remind us what this country has always been about. There may be some really bad days ahead, there may be some really good ones, and America will make it, as long as Americans continue to be strong and push America to greatness.

While talking about survival, the big picture, I have also had opportunity to think about other things, which will take my mind off the political craziness that is today.

Kids, and injuries, and "aren't we lucky we survived?" I have had more students with injuries this year, than any other year teaching. One student shredded his arm doing mixed martial arts, and will be in therapy for several more weeks. Another student broke something in his foot or ankle, and came in today upset, because the doctor had originally told him that he should put weight on it ASAP. Now they have decided it was something different, and he really shouldn' t have been putting any weight on it at all. He will be on crutches for an additional 4-6 weeks because of the mistake.

Another student has torn something in her ankle ( I think), and has been hobbling around in one of those hard "boots" for the last 2 weeks. One student broke his arm skateboarding earlier this year. To say nothing of the many twists and sprains and bruises that are typical of high school athletics. The one that reminded me most of teenage injuries was a student who came today with a broken wrist.

Another student asked him if he broke it punching a wall, and that reminded me of my friend Ron. We had been friends since Kindergarten. He, and Rick and I had been nearly inseperable all those years through High School. We had other friends that joined our group later, like Brian and Martin, and the list goes on.

But one of Ron's injuries came flooding back when my student was asked if he had punched a wall. We were in the 7th or 8th grade, attending Sierra Junior High in Bakersfield CA. Life was good, and we were all feeling pretty comfortable. Ron had developed a crush on this really cute girl that we all liked. He had tried several times to get her to go out with him, but she had refused. More than once! Ron persisted, and one morning right as school started, he made what was to be his final attempt.

She shot him down so hard, it shook all of us, and we weren't even standing within earshot. He was visibly upset, and as he walked back toward us, he growled something, and turned and slugged the side of the Auditorium, really HARD! Looking at his hand, we knew only adrenalin could keep him from curling up in a ball. He was bleeding, and his fingers looked oddly shaped. He ended up going to the hospital that morning. He had broken two fingers and sprained his wrist, not to mention the abrasions from punching a stucco wall.

When his Mom asked him what had happened, he told her about the girl. Mom asked who she was, and when she heard the name, she started laughing. (Now, my Arkansas students knew right away what was up, my former Utah students had to wait for the punch line)

Ron wanted to know why his Mom would laugh at his pain. She simply said he would have to go ask his Grandma, next door. We went with them. When his Grandma heard what had happened, and who the girl was, she fell out of her chair, laughing so hard. Imagine 4 teenage boys and two grown women sitting on the floor laughing hysterically. Ron was the only one in the room not laughing, when his Grandma explained that the girl was actually Ron's cousin!!

The family had not gotten along well for many years, and Ron's aunt and mother had not had any contact with each other for all those years. Ron didn't know that his love interest was his cousin. She didn't know, either, and Ron made us promise not to tell. Of course the girl found out within days, and she wouldn't come within miles of Ron for several weeks. :)

Eventually, we went back to all being friends, and after Junior High, she ended up going to a different High School, so we all lost touch wth her, but we still give Ron a hard time about his "southern roots" (sorry to all of my Arkansas friends and relatives, but you have to admit that the stereotype is not historically inaccurate.) See my next post for another Survival of the stupid!